Awards Galore from the Gamekeepers' Welfare Trust!

The Gamekeepers' Welfare Trust received a record number of applications for the Lady Scott Award this year. While the GWT panel feel everyone is a winner, they awarded the title to a very worthy recipient in North Shropshire.

 

Zoe Corney was nominated for the Award by husband Stuart, who is head keeper of the Shavington and Cloverley Estate. Stuart told us “Our first proper date was ratting with terriers before heading to the pub! Something her fellow arts students couldn’t quite get their heads around!” Stuart worked on an estate on the arable side and dreamed of being a keeper, with Zoe providing support and motivation, which paid off. Zoe and Stuart have been together quite literally though sickness and health, and are heading towards celebrating their 25th Wedding Anniversary and their 25th shooting season!

 

Stuart also said “Zoe is an amazing mum. She has steered Harry and enabled him to always achieve his dreams; last year he received his green beret as a Royal Marine Commando.”

 

Zoe works full-time across two jobs: she is PA and planner for a master saddler and, after many years, she is officially Stuart’s colleague, having started a new role on the estate as office administrator. Alongside these, she runs the game cart on shoot days, picking up with her labradors Bertie and Whinny.

 

Helen Benson, CEO of the GWT said “All the nominees deserve a medal but Stuart told us Zoe is his hero, which we think is wonderful recognition of all she does to support him.”

 

It’s been an especially busy time for the GWT, with more recognition to deliver in the form of Game Bird of the Year Awards. Helen says “The joint recipients of Game Bird of the Year, both with young families, are inspiring examples of a can-do attitude. Although geographically apart, they have worked brilliantly together to raise thousands of pounds for us with two fantastically successful balls in the North of England.”

 

Chloe Stonehouse and Samantha Ring have both juggled fundraising with moving home for new jobs beside their respective husbands, young families and work of their own.

Chloe’s husband Marcus says “She is an outstanding gamekeeper's wife, who fully understand the job role of her husband. Brilliant housewife and fantastic mother to our 2 boys Billy and Angus. The majority of the year especially throughout springtime I know she sometimes feels like a single parent and even though our relationship feels like we are ship's passing in the night, she still carries on. She helps with shoot days which are the cream, but she's also there when times are tough”.

 

The friend who nominated Samantha says “Not only is Sam an incredible mother and wife, but she is also has her own business and has helped raise lots of money over the last 2 years for the GWT. Sam was put into a position earlier this year of their shoot been given up, meaning they had to move a long way away to a new shoot. Throughout all of this going on in her life. She still managed to help plan the 2024 GWT Ball, run her business AND be the best mother and wife. She's truly such an incredible, selfless person and deserves this so much”.

 

Stuart Corney summed up the difference a supportive partner can make to a gamekeeper with “I’m the first to admit at the end of a successful day or season the keeper stands and takes so much praise, however without a strong partner keeping all the cogs and wheels spinning, none of these things would ever be possible.”