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The Gamekeepers' Welfare Trust Podcast
Linda Mellor talks to Ben Randall
Season 3, Ep. 14
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Gundog trainer Ben Randall joins Linda Mellor to trace the spark back to wildfowling days with his dad, a teenage start on a £35-a-week YTS gamekeeping scheme, and the road to building Beggarbush Gundog Kennels. From breeding Cockers, Springers and Labradors to residential training and one-to-one tuition, Ben describes a packed and purposeful life with gundogs at its heart.
He also talks about creating a wild bird shoot designed with gundogs in mind, working alongside family, and the enduring pull of days in the field with his father and his own sons. The conversation turns to balance too, carving out time away, planning a proper holiday, and the focus that keeps everything moving forward, including a new book on the horizon.
Gundog Trainer of the Year, Double British Cocker Champion, Kennel Club approved, panel judge, and trainer to well-known names, but at heart it’s still about dogs, family, and the countryside.
👉 Listen now for a conversation about building a life around gundogs, family roots, and keeping pace with a demanding countryside career.
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20. Linda talks to Jonathan Howell
52:59||Season 3, Ep. 20Linda talks to Jonathan Howell about a lifetime immersed in country sports, from shooting at the age of four to deer stalking, fishing and falconry. Jonathan also talks about his 27 years as a funeral director, running a family business with the help of his daughters, and the unusual ways his professional and country life sometimes come together. Jonathan shares his advice on staying safe when shooting alone, and how fishing and other outdoor pursuits help him switch off from the pressures of work.
19. Linda talks to Ross Dakers
01:01:14||Season 3, Ep. 19Linda talks to Ross Dakers about a lifetime in country sports, beginning as a young boy helping his father on a wild bird shoot in Fife and continuing through decades spent working with deer in the Scottish Highlands. Ross reflects on working with deer ponies, changing weather patterns, and the realities of managing deer in a changing landscape. He also gives a first-hand account of tackling the recent Cairngorms wildfire, discussing the challenges on the ground and why better preparation, firebreaks and public awareness are essential for the future.
18. Linda talks to Tom Radford of Eat the Country
01:18:24||Season 3, Ep. 18Tom Radford of Eat the Country joins Linda Mellor for a lively conversation about foraging, venison and rediscovering our relationship with the land.With his trademark humour, infectious enthusiasm and nomadic soul, Tom weaves together wild food, venison, storytelling and our ancestral connection with the land. He reminds us that the countryside is more than somewhere we visit. It's part of who we are. Through stories, laughter and curiosity, he invites us to rediscover the knowledge our ancestors once carried as second nature.
17. Linda talks with Cara Hutchens of International Hunting Scotland
48:22||Season 3, Ep. 17Cara Hutchens of International Hunting Scotland joins Linda Mellor to discuss life at the heart of Scotland's sporting tourism industry.Drawing on many years of experience welcoming visitors from around the world and representing Scotland at international hunting and field sports shows, Cara shares her perspective on what attracts people to Scotland, the realities of running a rural business and how social media has changed the landscape for field sports.👉 Listen now.
16. Linda in candid conversation with Scott MacKenzie
01:06:28||Season 3, Ep. 16In this candid conversation, Linda Mellor is joined by Skye gamekeeper and deer stalker Scott MacKenzie to discuss the emotional pressures surrounding traditional rural professions including gamekeeping, stalking and ghillie work. Together they explore the realities of isolation, public perception, mental health stigma, firearms concerns, long hours and the struggle to balance a way of life with modern expectations. The conversation also reflects on the importance of storytelling, friendship, support networks and why the sporting sector must modernise to better support the people at its heart. Rural workers, they argue, are very used to being spoken about rather than listened to.
15. Linda talks with Colin Murdoch about working the land and a deer tour business
01:15:23||Season 3, Ep. 15Deer manager Colin Murdoch joins Linda Mellor from Reraig Forest in the Scottish Highlands to talk about a lifetime spent working the land and the unexpected success of his deer tour business.The conversation explores starting work under his father with the Forestry Commission in 1977 and the unexpected success of his deer tour business, where visitors are taken into the hills by Argo to experience red deer at close quarters. What began almost by accident has grown into a popular attraction for tourists, photographers and film crews, especially during the autumn rut. 👉 Listen now for a fascinating insight into Highland life, deer management and a lifetime spent working the land.
13. Linda Mellor talks to Glenn Kershaw
51:33||Season 3, Ep. 13In this episode, Linda Mellor is joined by Glenn Kershaw from the North Yorkshire coast, whose journey into shooting began with a simple invitation from a friend.Glenn reflects on how a lifelong love of the countryside grew from birdwatching into training and working his own Springer, alongside shooting and fishing. The conversation also touches on the occasional “them and us” divide found on shoots, and the quiet pride and responsibility of turning up as a beater: properly dressed, ready to play your part, and doing the job well.They also explore a different kind of challenge: dating in your 60s. Glenn shares his thoughts on finding someone who understands and shares a countryside way of life, and how modern apps, built on quick swipes and snapshots, have replaced the more human ways people once connected.👉 Listen now for a conversation about benefits of a country living, the importance of eating what you shoot and searching for a genuine countryside connection in the fast-moving digital world of Apps.
12. Linda talks to Laura McMahon of the British Deer Society
50:35||Season 3, Ep. 12Linda Mellor and Laura McMahon of the British Deer Society discuss the importance of community within deer management, the need to support women and younger people entering the sector, and the growing concern around an ageing workforce and future skills shortages. Laura explains how the British Deer Society is helping to bring people together through collaboration, education, and events.The conversation also celebrates the magic of deer themselves, the powerful connection people feel when spending time watching them in the wild, and the role photography and shared experiences play in bringing people closer to nature. They also explore the BDS Annual Photography competition, and how the society slogan 'Together for Deer' is at the heart of everything they do.