Falconry display raises £600 for West Berks village church

A FALCONRY display by ‘local legend’ Ray Prior thrilled an audience on Saturday in aid of St Marys Church, Aldworth. Held in the village cricket field, his birds performed their magic much to everyone’s delight.

“With gentle humour and a ready smile Ray was clearly enjoying sharing his passion and knowledge of his art,” said organiser Dawn Morris.

He encouraged volunteers into the ring to engage with the birds as they showed off their flying skills to spectators.

“Swooping overhead, they skimmed past within a whisker and at one point disappearing behind some trees for a breath-taking moment before reappearing to a cheer from a spellbound audience,” said Mrs Morris.

“The Harris Hawk flew through a corridor of volunteers, who on each repeated pass took a step closer together until the corridor was only a few inches wide.

“On its final pass the skilled hawk folded its wings a little and flew through the tunnel of fascinated adults and children, barely touching them as it passed by.”

The barn owl obligingly and delicately hovered above his hand, displaying its natural hunting skills to those watching.

Mr Prior’s popular shows have been in demand across the South of England for the last 36 years – at one time he was travelling to 40 shows a year, ably assisted by his wife Pauline. However he is now looking towards retirement.

This was part of his farewell tour, fittingly in the village where his passion began, when as a young boy he found an injured kestrel on the Aldworth Downs. This interest grew following a motorcycle crash several years later.

The convalescing Ray, then a teenager, took on another kestrel with a broken wing, nursing it back to health while he recovered from his own injuries.

In 1971 he trained his first bird, becoming a full-time falconer in 1988.

As the birds rested after the event, he took questions and enabled some lucky volunteers to don a gauntlet and hold his barn owl for photos.

Mrs Morris entered the ring to thank Mr Prior and his wife and all the volunteers behind the scenes who had given their time to make this such a successful event.

More £600 was raised for St Mary’s Church, home of the 14th century Aldworth Giants.

If you would like to see this lovely church and enjoy tea and homemade cake, visiton Wednesdays, 2.30pm to 4.40pm until the end of September.