Father, and I want to help, but I’ve been told by my commanding officer that by the endof the year I’ll be gazetted as a major in the Life Guards – my future responsibilities will be split equally between the regiment’s ceremonial mounted duties, and the Household Cavalry’s armoured reconnaissance operational activities. I’ve been given the chance to lead the Life Guards’ half of the Sovereign’s Escort at the next Trooping of the Colour.’ Sebastian looked down. ‘I don’t want to give it up. It’s my life, it suits me and to tell you the truth, I don’t think I’m cut out to run this place, much as I love it.’
Although this was not the response that Sir Colin would have wished for, he was delighted with the success of Sebastian’s military career. ‘Quite right,’ he acquiesced. ‘It seems the Life Guards is the place for you for the time being – you stay put. What about you, Mathew?’
Sir Colin found his younger son’s future career path more difficult to comprehend.
‘Well, for my part,’ began Mathew, ‘I’m hopeful that I’ll be awarded the PhD by late autumn, and after that I plan to come back to Hartington for Christmas and New Year. That’s when I’ll be looking at all my options – which, in years to come, could well include taking over the estate.’
However, Mathew had gone on to explain how his current ambition was to return to Africa for a few years to continue with his studies on primate behaviour. ‘I really believe there is so much that could be learnt from the communicative skills of the monkey kingdom that could be very relevant to human knowledge. I want to expand my studies into other groups of primates.’ Mathew’s plan was to study within the African guenon group of primates, belonging to the Cercopithecus species.
‘So you’re planning to go back to Africa . . . What do you think of Rhodesia, would that be any good to you? I’ve just heard from a great friend of mine, Sir Roger Willock. He served as a brother officer of mine in the 12th Royal Lancers during the Italian Campaign. He’s soon to take up theappointment as Britain’s senior representative in Ian Smith’s Republic of Rhodesia. At the end of the year, if you’re still keen to return to Africa to carry on with your field studies, I’ll write to him – I’m sure he’ll be only too pleased to help you in any way possible.’
This was exciting news; Mathew was already aware from Osman Hill’s primate monograph No. 6, which included all members of the superfamily Cercopithecoidea , that both the Vervet monkey, Cercopithecus pygerythrus , and a rarer sub-species of the Samango group of monkeys, Cercopithecus albogularis , inhabited the south-eastern district of Rhodesia.
So it was agreed that if Mathew had still got his mind set on pursuing post-doctorate primate studies in Africa, his father would write to Sir Roger when he returned to the UK for Christmas. Sir Colin felt immense gratitude towards his younger son for giving him a glimmer of hope that one day he might take on the management of Hartington Hall.
Sebastian and Mathew, in spite of their very different careers, had always been the greatest of friends and they both relished the week that they had together prior to Mathew’s return to the USA. On their final ride out in the Home Park, the brothers discussed the idea of Mathew taking over the running of the estate. ‘What do you think of the idea, Sebastian? You are the older brother, and I certainly don’t want to tread on your toes, but I can see you don’t want to give up the Life Guards.’ ‘I think it’s a splendid idea! Father will be absolutely delighted that one of us is considering the idea of running the estate, and you’re quite right, it really isn’t for me. You go ahead with my blessing, Mathew – you know I’m always there for if you need my help.’ Sebastian was well aware that his father would never have requested him to resign his commission, for
Although this was not the response that Sir Colin would have wished for, he was delighted with the success of Sebastian’s military career. ‘Quite right,’ he acquiesced. ‘It seems the Life Guards is the place for you for the time being – you stay put. What about you, Mathew?’
Sir Colin found his younger son’s future career path more difficult to comprehend.
‘Well, for my part,’ began Mathew, ‘I’m hopeful that I’ll be awarded the PhD by late autumn, and after that I plan to come back to Hartington for Christmas and New Year. That’s when I’ll be looking at all my options – which, in years to come, could well include taking over the estate.’
However, Mathew had gone on to explain how his current ambition was to return to Africa for a few years to continue with his studies on primate behaviour. ‘I really believe there is so much that could be learnt from the communicative skills of the monkey kingdom that could be very relevant to human knowledge. I want to expand my studies into other groups of primates.’ Mathew’s plan was to study within the African guenon group of primates, belonging to the Cercopithecus species.
‘So you’re planning to go back to Africa . . . What do you think of Rhodesia, would that be any good to you? I’ve just heard from a great friend of mine, Sir Roger Willock. He served as a brother officer of mine in the 12th Royal Lancers during the Italian Campaign. He’s soon to take up theappointment as Britain’s senior representative in Ian Smith’s Republic of Rhodesia. At the end of the year, if you’re still keen to return to Africa to carry on with your field studies, I’ll write to him – I’m sure he’ll be only too pleased to help you in any way possible.’
This was exciting news; Mathew was already aware from Osman Hill’s primate monograph No. 6, which included all members of the superfamily Cercopithecoidea , that both the Vervet monkey, Cercopithecus pygerythrus , and a rarer sub-species of the Samango group of monkeys, Cercopithecus albogularis , inhabited the south-eastern district of Rhodesia.
So it was agreed that if Mathew had still got his mind set on pursuing post-doctorate primate studies in Africa, his father would write to Sir Roger when he returned to the UK for Christmas. Sir Colin felt immense gratitude towards his younger son for giving him a glimmer of hope that one day he might take on the management of Hartington Hall.
Sebastian and Mathew, in spite of their very different careers, had always been the greatest of friends and they both relished the week that they had together prior to Mathew’s return to the USA. On their final ride out in the Home Park, the brothers discussed the idea of Mathew taking over the running of the estate. ‘What do you think of the idea, Sebastian? You are the older brother, and I certainly don’t want to tread on your toes, but I can see you don’t want to give up the Life Guards.’ ‘I think it’s a splendid idea! Father will be absolutely delighted that one of us is considering the idea of running the estate, and you’re quite right, it really isn’t for me. You go ahead with my blessing, Mathew – you know I’m always there for if you need my help.’ Sebastian was well aware that his father would never have requested him to resign his commission, for
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