This document is a snapshot of content from a discontinued BBC website, originally published between 2002-2011. It has been made available for archival & research purposes only. Please see the foot of this document for Archive Terms of Use.

28 February 2012 Accessibility help Text only

BBC Homepage Home A gamekeeper's life Last updated: 22 March 2006 William Henry Jones (better known as Heny Prince), from Llangadwaladr, , recalled his days as a gamekeeper more from this section on a local estate. Mr Jones died in 2009, three years after this article was written. BBC Local My Story 35 years on from Hong Kong North West Wales A gamekeeper's life Things to do I started work in 1932 as a trainee Airborne aid Aunty Enid People & Places gamekeeper on the Bodorgan Estate. It was a very good job and I was on 25 Author of many names Nature & Outdoors shillings a week. As I was young and Before the NHS History Caernarfon to Canada unmarried I wasn't provided with a Religion & Ethics Creating a family house and so I still lived at home. Discovering Aled Arts & Culture Dragon far from home Music The head keeper taught me how to Eric Roberts baritone TV & Radio I didn't realise I was deaf shoot and breed pheasants. I enjoyed Inspirations from the past Local BBC Sites the times we went out shooting, at the Jet pilot News time it was with Sir Charles McKyber Life gets in the way Sport from . My job was to go Mindfulness helps My real home Weather with the dog and to flush out the birds, Record breaker Travel then when they were shot the dog went Remembering Dick to get them. I enjoyed my job very much. Richard's story Neighbouring Sites Roving for Radio Wales Mid Wales I got married to Lucy in 1940. We met when she came to Seafaring life North East Wales Spreading knowledge in Pakistan work as a nanny locally. Sadly she died very young, just 46 The art of storytelling Related BBC Sites years of age. We had four children, but I lost a daughter Toffeelady for a night Wales recently, but my family has grown with grandchildren and Tom Jones, Colwyn Bay Cymru great-grandchildren. Gogledd Orllewin related bbc.co.uk links Part of my job as gamekeeper was to look out for poachers. Anglesey index I caught some. Some were given warnings, others summoned. More than one came from Gwalchmai from what I more from North West recall. You have to remember though that it was a hard time, Wales and many people were very poor. History I was given a suit every year by the estate - the tailor would The Romans come and measure you. You could choose plus fours if you Find out what the empire- liked, but I preferred breeches. Then every five years we building legions got up to. would be given a new top coat. Useful links Let us guide you In April 1940 I was called up to the Army. I went to The web at a glance for Monmouth, Ross-on-Wye, Brecon, Ireland, Stoke-on-Trent , Conwy and and Maidstone before going over to France. I was lucky, I Anglesey. wasn't injured, but many of those with me were killed. Hall of Fame Public life After the war I came back to being a gamekeeper, then left Meet heroes and historic that work in the 50s to work at Ty Croes army camp, on the figures raised in the region. security there. When that closed I moved to RAF Valley where I was a steward serving food in the sergeants' mess. There was always plenty of food there.

I've been hunting every year since 1932, apart from the time Tai Hanesyddol when I was in the Army. O blastai crand i ffermydd gwledig, camwch dros I've always had a dog. When I was on security at Ty Croes I drothwy rhai o dai mwyaf had German hepherds. I have a spaniel now - Sian - who I've hanesyddol yr ardal trained myself.

I went again this year as a beater with Sian, so I must be quite fit. I'm not sure if there is a secret to a long life - I have a sister of 92. I think it's more down to luck, because I lost my wife very young.

No-one knows me as William Henry Jones around here, it's always Henry Prince, because my family moved to the Prince Hotel in when I was about two years old. In fact, when I was at school I was called Heny Prince, because there was another Henry there at the same time.

When we go shooting it's for pheasant, rabbits or hares, although there are less of them than there used to be.

Things have changed now and I don't think being a gamekeeper is such a good job as it used to be. There were six keepers on the estate when I started, now there are only three. It was a well paid job, especially compared to what my friends were earning at the time.