CAPTAIN Tom Morgan MFH sadly passed away recently at his home Hunter’s Lodge, in Lismore, Co Waterford, at 94 years of age.

Tom was a gentleman, wise, widely read, passionate about horses and hounds, and a diplomat that had a wonderful relationship with neighbours and landowners across the hunting country. His house was very traditional, welcoming visitors with that lovely gentle Welsh accent, and they seldom left without the customary cup of tea, and talk of hunting and horse breeding.

Originally from Newport in Wales, Tom served in the British Army Royal Artillery during World War II, travelling to a remarkable 32 countries. He proposed to Elsie who was whipping in to the Llangibby Foxhounds when home on leave. He was on the Polish/German border when peace was declared and rescued 25 abandoned German cavalry horses. With 15 soldiers, they hacked the horses on the long journey of 975 miles to Munster in Westphalia to safety. But the horses also formed the nucleus of horses to follow the pack Elsie and Tom founded in Schleswig Holstein as Tom stayed on to help with the aftermath of war.

Tom and Elsie fell in love with Waterford when on a hunting holiday in 1949, settling down to become masters of the West Waterford Foxhounds together from 1953-1989, with Tom continuing in the mastership until his passing. He founded the West Waterford Pony Club with Alison Trigg and worked with the team that designed the new kennels.

Tom and Elsie bred horses like Red Fox, Gone Away and Hill Fox that competed at Nations Cup and Olympic level for Italy. Elsie represented Ireland on Finola and Rooney in showjumping in Nations Cups in Ostend and Rotterdam and rode the winners of over 150 races including the European Derby in Belgium.

Probably the most iconic figures in foxhound breeding in the last century were the American Isaac Bell, Tom and Elsie Morgan and Ben Hardaway. Bell master of the South & West Wilts, Galway Blazers, and the Kilkennys had rocked the hunting establishment by breeding what is now the Modern English Foxhound using a cross of Welsh bloodlines.

Bell then living in Lismore Castle, joined forces with Tom and Elsie to develop a crossbred with the College Valley bloodlines, and then together with Ben Hardaway, joint master of the West Waterford and the Midland Hounds in the USA, to develop the Midland Crossbred from July Hounds, dating back to two Irish hounds, Mountain and Muse, that were imported into Maryland in 1812.

Although Elsie passed away in 2008, Tom continued to be active despite his great age, attending weekly meets, and presented the Isaac Bell Trophy at the National Hound Show in Stradbally last year.

Tom’s funeral service was held at St Luke’s Church in Knockmourne, escorted by mounted outriders, all in hunting pink and hounds. His coffin was carried by six hunt staff and officials and was laid to rest beside his beloved wife Elsie to the sound of ‘Gone Away’ on the hunting horn by West Waterford huntsman Colman Walsh. Tom is survived by his nephew Ewart Richards and his wife Barbara, grand nephews Nigel and his wife Toni, great, great, grand nephews James and Dominick, neighbours and friends.

N.M.