HOLCOMBE huntsman and joint master Alex Sneddon (68) lost his fight against cancer last weekend, though earlier this year he was able to turn out to parade with hounds immediately after the ban on hunting became legal.

He was with the Holcombe for 40 years - a record unrivalled by any other huntsman in the country.

Born near Edinburgh, Mr Sneddon began his career at the age of 15 when he became a stable/kennelman at the Linlithgow and Sterlingshire Hunt where he stayed for five years, learning his trade.

In 1956 he moved to the Vale of Lune Hunt where he was a whipper in, but returned to whip in at the Linlithgow and Sterlingshire in 1958 for just one season before coming to the Holcombe to whip in with well-known huntsman Ernie Read in 1959.

In 1961 he took over as first whip with the Fife Foxhounds for four seasons before coming back to the Holcombe in 1965.

At the time he was the youngest huntsman in the country, serving what is considered by many to be oldest hunt in the country. Established in 1400, King James gave them a Royal Warrant in 1617 and leave to wear his own scarlet livery at the same time. Mr Sneddon knew that plans were afoot to keep the Holcombe going as a drag hunt with hopes that the ban may be lifted in the future.

He leaves his widow Christine and four daughters, Sally, Jean, Kathy and Claire. The funeral will be held on Friday at noon at Emmanuel Church Holcombe, adjacent to the spot where the Holcombe Hounds were kennelled.

Cremation at Overdale, Bolton, will follow the church service. Donations to the Marie Curie Fund are invited through undertakers Relphs of Blackburn Road, Bolton.