Talk:Lorant de Bastyai

Redrafting entry on Lorant de Bastyai

To all who have contributed to the original article, many thanks for your care, time and trouble. With the publication of the posthumous 'Memoirs of a Master Facloner' 2014, I felt it time to upgrade and substantiate the Wikipedia entry. I have compiled a thorough biography of Lorant's life and work, created links to the relevant falconry and other associations and completed the bibliography. I intend simply to replace the current article with this new document. I sincerely hope this meets with your approval and await comments before proceeding. Richard de Bastion (Lorant's nephew) — Preceding Wikipedia:Richard de Bastion comment added by Richard de Bastion (talk • contribs) 17:43, 31 July 2014 (UTC)

Personal note by the author of the main text, David Horobin

I never had the privilege of meeting Lorant in person. As a youngster developing a passion for falconry, I had seen him and the famed Morris Traveller (ref Nancy's article) at Game Fairs but never had the confidence to speak to so renowned a falconer. I need not have worried, of course. Kenneth Macleur described Lorant as 'a sincere gentle person who seemed incapable of speaking ill of another, whose immense knowledge he was always so willing to patiently share. A genuine sporting gentleman who will be sorely missed.' (ref p 180)

We now live in an age when modern beginners ask questions of those with pen-names belonging to the playgroung on internet chatrooms and are often ridiculed for their lack of knowledge. Falconers in Britain at least, go hawking in casual dress and, whilst many are highly skilled and dedicated, the traditions and romance of the sport are becoming lost. A great name in his own right, and always impeccably attired in the best traditions of european falconry, Lorant was not only a link to the great days of our sport's past, but also a force for its continued practice and high standards in recent times. He was truly an inspiration to three generations of falconers in his native Hungary, in Britain and beyond. Let us hope there are more to come who, following his example as a gentleman, a naturalist ad a sportsman, will carry his legacy forward.

Original article prepared by David Horobin for the journal of the Hungarian club Magyar Sólymász Egyesület, with the assistance of the Falconry Heritage Trust. Reprinted in the posthumous publication 'Memoirs of a Master Falconer, British Falconry Archive, 2014. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Richard de Bastion (talk • contribs) 17:29, 28 August 2014 (UTC)

Forward to 'Hunting Bird from a Wild Bird' by Brian Vesey-FitzGerald

Lorant de Bastyai, one of the world's great falconers has spent his life in the company of birds of prey. No man, not even the great Pakistani falconers (and their reputation is, and has been for centuries, almost legendary) knows more. And certainly no man has done more for falconry in Britain - no man has done more to educate the public in the merits, beauty and value of the birds of prey – than de Bastyai since his arrival in this country in 1957 — Preceding unsigned comment added by Richard de Bastion (talk • contribs) 17:33, 28 August 2014 (UTC)