This prick-eared Jack Russell facing its first rat was also the first sculpture I made deliberately to sell, over 40 year ago.

It was when rabbits were multitudinous and lived in warrens. My elder son was very keen on ferreting and I made a model of boys ferreting. Someone saw it and said I ought to take it to the Game Fair, and arranged for me to join the ferret stand.

I made more copies and added a lurcher and this one. I asked the local rat catcher if I could use his famous dog as a model. He came with the dog for several sessions and when I had finished making it in wax I showed it to him. His face fell. HELP! What is wrong? I fearfully asked. “There wouldn’t be a moment in seeing the rat and catching it” he complained. I suggested calling it “The First Rat”. He was satisfied and it’s proved a seller ever since – in resin bronze (cheap). I had to make a drop-eared version to satisfy others but it loses intensity. Now it is only available in bronze.