HERTFORDSHIRE—OCTOBER 30 – NOVEMBER 8, 2026
THE ITINERARY
FRIDAY 30 OCTOBER
Our week will launch with lunch—a very special lunch in the card room at White’s in
Mayfair. Established in 1693, White’s is the oldest and most exclusive club in London;
current members include Charles III and the Prince of Wales. Former Prime Minister David
Cameron, whose father Ian Cameron was chairman of White’s, resigned his membership in 2008 over the club's declining to admit women. Thus, unfortunately, our ladies will be unable to attend. (They will be more than welcome at tomorrow’s posh evening.)
The dress code is dark suit & tie.
The occasion will be the second Ken Duglan Memorial Address.
SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER
Tonight we gather for a formal dinner in a private dining room at the elegant Cavalry &
Guards Club, on Piccadilly in London, again at the invitation of Dr. John Thalgott, a
founding member of the AASS and captain of this week’s shoot. Established in 1890,
Cavalry & Guards is also members-only and also one of the most prestigious clubs in
London, with premises that can only be described as palatial.
Dress will be white or black tie.
SUNDAY 1 NOVEMBER
Guests will be collected from their London hotels at 10:30 and brought to Carl Russell & Co.Gunmakers at Hatfield House, about an hour’s drive to the north, where many Society
members store their guns. We then depart to St. Michael’s Manor, a townhouse hotel in St.
Albans that will be our base for the week. Everyone is free this afternoon and evening toexplore the historic cathedral city of St. Albans—the Romans called it Verulamium—with its many shops, pubs and restaurants. Dinner this evening is in a private dining room at the hotel.
MONDAY 2 NOVEMBER
Today will be a 300-bird day at the Buttermilk Shoot on the Woburn Abbey estate in
Bedfordshire, about 20 minutes away. This is a highly regarded and long-established shoot on about 1,000 acres, showing mainly pheasant with some duck and with drives to suit any wind conditions. Dinner this evening will be at one of our favourite restaurants, the Golden Elephant, in the nearby village of Wheathampstead.
TUESDAY 3 NOVEMBER
As usual when we shoot Hicknaham Farm, one of our annual favourites, we need only a late start this morning. After a leisurely breakfast, we will depart St. Michaels Manor at 11:00 to drive 45 minutes to the farm. Hicknaham is the home of England’s best high-volume duck shooting, and we have a 350-bird day waiting for us, crowned by the hospitality of our hosts, Jason and Judy Rayner.
WEDNESDAY 4 NOVEMBER
This will be a 300-bird pheasant & partridge day at Brocket Hall, another top-notch
Hertfordshire estate that dates to the 13th Century. With its rolling hills and mature
woodlands, it presents excellent driven game as well as a renowned shoot lunch. The Ayot
Shoot at Brocket is an AASS favourite—the gamekeeper, Clive Colclough, works closely
with his son Matthew, who is the gamekeeper at tomorrow’s shoot at Gorhambury.
THURSDAY 5 NOVEMBER
Today we depart St. Michael’s Manor at 8:45 for Gorhambury, a nearby estate that has been in Lord Verulam’s family for some 300 years. This is one of the best shoots in Hertfordshire, showing mostly pheasants in 30-plus drives on some 3,000 grassy acres. We will have the usual elevenses in the field between drives and a light lunch in the Well House at the shoot. After our 300-bird day, we return to St. Michael’s to prepare for a special evening: a private champagne reception and tour of the grand house at Gorhambury, which recently underwent an 8-year restoration and renovation, followed by dinner.
Note: This will be a special occasion; not only our farewell dinner but also our AASS dinner. With all due pomp & ceremony we will invest new members (if any!) into the Anglo American Shooting Society, and—should any member have proven so deserving—once again award the Don Foster Cup. As always, the dress code will be AASS regalia; guests who are not members are asked to wear jacket & tie or elegant dress/suit.
FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER
Subject to your departure times, we will arrange transport to Heathrow Airport or back to
London, as you wish. When booking your flights, please bear in mind that St. Michael’s
Manor is an hour’s drive from Heathrow and you must be at the airport at least two hours
before your departure time, so afternoon flights are most convenient.
INCLUDED
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All activities and shooting as described
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All accommodations as described
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All meals as described, including table wines
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Airport or hotel transfers and transfers to and from each venue
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UK Visitors Shotgun Permits
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Loaner guns if desired
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Loaders if desired
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Unlimited cartridges
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All keepers’ and loaders’ gratuities
NOT INCLUDED
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Travel to and from the UK
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Accommodation in London on Saturday, 1 November
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Alcohol other than wine with meals
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Personal items (laundry, souvenirs, etc.)
NOTES
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You are welcome to bring your own guns, and we will arrange the required documentation.
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Guns must be double-barrelled break-action types, side-by-side or over/under; pairs are not necessary.
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Loaner guns will be available; please let us know well in advance if you prefer this to bringing your own.
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Loaders are included; they accompany you during the day, carry your gun and cartridges, guide you to the stand, offer shooting instruction if desired and clean your gun at the end of the day. Loaders must be booked in advance, so please let us know if you’d like one. (Their cost is included in the price.)
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Daytime temperatures in November will typically be 45 - 55 degrees F and rain is possible at any time, so wellingtons or similar boots and a waterproof coat and hat are advisable.
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Gun slips and cartridge bags will be available.
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If you have special dietary requirements, please advise us in advance.
COST
The total cost is £16,950 per shooter. Non-shooters are welcome at £1,950 each, double
occupancy. (A car and driver will be available for non-shooters who wish to go off on their
own, but of course non-shooters are welcome to join their Guns in the field at any time.)
A 50% deposit is due with your booking and the balance will be due on 3 August 2026.
PAYMENTS
Initial deposit is $12,000. The final payment will be reconciled with the US – UK exchange rate.
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Please make checks out to:
Anglo American Sporting Agency
4 Bonnie Brae Street
Camden, ME 04843 USA
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Anglo American Sporting Agency is a business account for Silvio Calabi;