From the Derby Daily Telegraph ~ July 19, 1913

Some months ago I opened an account with the British Newspaper Archive and have found some fascinating newspaper articles. Once I start feeding in some family names or places I can soon lose two or three hours.

Take my grandad, Charles Wildgoose ... and his brother, Robert. They appeared in court in July 1913 described as farmers of Darley Dale and were accused of "keeping dangerous dogs and not having them under proper control."

My grandad's greyhound had been found worrying sheep on the moors "five or six miles away from home". My great uncle Robert had a "cur dog" which "was barking at the sheep".

The owner of the sheep shot both dogs but they weren't so badly wounded that they couldn't get home. They were though subsequently found and identified.

The Magistrates "made an order for the destruction of the hound within seven days, and for the cur to be kept under proper control. - Defendants were ordered to pay costs."

I had never heard this story until I read it in the Archive and whilst it might only be a fairly minor incident it certainly adds something to what I know of my grandad.

Fifteen years or so later grandad still liked his greyhounds. Here he is on the steps of Darley House, where the family lived, with his wife, some of his children ... and a greyhound.