A Brandsby gamekeeper who fulfilled his life's ambition through his work, has died aged 72.

Herbert Richardson was born at Sinnington on December 12 1930, the eldest of five children.

He left school at 14 with the ambition to become a gamekeeper, and farmed at Sinnington.

He moved to Ampleforth, where he worked for the Rabbit Clearance Society, later moving to Brandsby.

During his career he farmed at Ellenthorpe, Kirby Fleetham and Dishforth, before fulfilling his ambition to work as a gamekeeper on Lady Scott's estate in 1979.

He was a well-known gamekeeper for the Brandsby Shoot, run by Geoff Nicholson and Henry Gorwood.

Mr Richardson raised more than 33,000 pheasants and organised shoot days during his employment before he was made redundant in 1990.

He had an abundance of dogs which he raised and trained, including lurchers, spaniels, labradors, Jack Russells and whippets. He kept ferrets, goats, hens, and, at one point, provided a home for seaside donkeys.

During his retirement Mr Richardson continued his interest in birds and bred redrumps, bourkes, lovebirds, cockatiels and parakeets.

Mr Richardson died in his sleep. He leaves a widow, Catherine Ann, a son, Simon, four stepchildren, one granddaughter, nine step-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren.

Updated: 10:14 Thursday, March 13, 2003