Passing of Cecil Ross marks end of an era

Sir, - The recent passing of Cecil Ross, a wonderful racing and hunting man of Westmeath, was very sad news and signals the end of an era.

Having seem him out hunting when a boy, I should have met Cecil at the first ever meeting of the Westmeath Pony Club on the Sunday after Christmas in 1956. However, he was too old at 18 for the PC but brother Alan and his recently departed sister, Olive, were there instead.

I met Cecil many times subsequently, mainly with the foxhounds or harriers, generally on some skittish young thoroughbred. My most endearing memory was the last time I saw him, all dressed up when his most recent stable stalwart, Six Of Hearts, was running at Royal Ascot in 2009.

A very kind man, like his father Willie before him, he will be sadly missed. -

Yours etc.,

GERALD DELAMERE

Co Westmeath

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