Dave Dimond; Club President

I well remember the first time I met Dave Dimond. Early in 1980 I was hunting with my regular fellow club members of the time, Rob Rowe, Martin Cooper and Alan Flower. Dave was a shooting and field sports friend of Alan’s and had been invited along with his son Steve to see what falconry was all about. Usually on these kinds of occasions when you have guests, nothing happens or goes quite right. This was just one of those moments when it couldn’t have been scripted better for an onlooker. I was flying a female Harris at the time and a rabbit was bolted by one of the dogs and following a very short flight, the rabbit was literally caught between Dave & Steve’s feet. They were speechless, it looked so easy and I think it fair to say that this was the beginning of Dave’s long involvement with Falconry and the WHC.

To begin with, it was Steve who became the active falconer, ably supported by Dave and his wife Jean. Jean was the next to get a bird and as they say the rest is history.

The whole family became active as club members and in club affairs, with Jean & Dave becoming more and more involved in Club management by way of various committee posts.

In the past twenty years, I don’t think there has been one major Falconry or Game Fair where Dave has not been in attendance manning the WHC stand and offering hospitality to all comers from his caravan (mobile café)
It should be also pointed out that along with Jean, he has represented the club at countless minor country fairs, waving the WHC and falconry banner.

Following a 10 year period as Club Chairman, Dave now deservedly continues representing falconry as your Club President.