Via the website I received a request from Erica Crouch to help to find out where Neville Crouch’s partner was.

My father and his wife bred Chow Chows many years ago.  He was Neville Crouch She was Ursula They were not married. I am wondering if you could assist me in finding out the name of a friend of theirs who bred Boerboels or someone who can assist with Ursulas surname or who could assist me with what happened to Ursula after my father passed away.
Thank you in advance.

I wrote to a few “oldies” to see if they could remember or help. Most of them reacted but had no idea where Ursula, Neville’s partner was, or what her surname was. One person told me she had gone to the UK to live there. Others wrote what they knew of the old times and one was amazing to find out more about Ursula.

One reaction was quite interesting about Neville and Ursula’s time from Meryl:

I think you are right about Ursula’s surname being le Kok.

Roly and I were invited to their place for several excellent lunches over the yrs – I seem to remember that Gordon and Judy  were there on at least one occasion?….

I remember a couple who they were very friendly with who were not members of the Kennel Club, and were always at their lunches or braais, but have no idea if they had Boerboels?

I know he was very friendly with a couple in Gweru and used to stay with them when he went down to their shows, can’t remember their names, but she was involved on the Committee – seem to remember they had Boxers – but did not show them.

Roy wasn’t Neville very friendly with John Ripley’s son? – seem to remember they used to drink together in the bar at KCH – think his name was Steve? – I am in touch with Yvonne, so she could possibly ask Steve?

Another reaction was from Roy, amazing he managed to find  this:

Hi Ilse,

Follow this link on YouTube. I am sure it is Ursula La Cock which is the name of Neville’s partner.

Here is a picture of her with a Bar Throated Apalis on her arm.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDqitnnugI9wWxgl_2u_L2g

She must be getting on now. I remember her telling the story of when she went to the passport office she was told to go to the front of the queue. When she got there, there were about six people in front of her. She said “If any of you are older than 81 you can go in front of me”. They passed her to the front.

And Erica’s response.

I cannot thank you enough I got the e mails tonight and straight away hopped onto youtube and giggled like crazy, this is so how I remember Ursula, full of beans, life and mischief.  I then did a search on facebook and found her still going strong at 92 doing a pushup challenge.  She is on facebook as Ursula Lacock.

Please thank everyone for me. 

Hugest hugs 

Erica

Last weekend was the Christmas Party:

Two more races were participated by many: Fastest recall and 11 legged race.

Hi All doggy friends,

Today was the Dog Christmas party and what fun to be able to come and watch all the various dog morning fun. It was so good to see Joyce and Alan Lester there too to watch it all.

I would like to thank all committee members for their fantastic input throughout the year for us members and dogs. Amazing the work they have put in and hope they will cary on doing so much for us.

Sadly Cherie Blake was not able to be there as she had a vary nasty experience and had to stay home for a rest, keep well Cherie and get better soon.

I have taken some pictures of the event today and need to look at them, put them onto my laptop and see what is good to go onto the web. This will take some time.

A very happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year.

Ilse.

Arranging of the first fun tunnel race

Long time members of the cub: Joyce and Alan Lester, great to see them.

Gee some great German Shepherds were there too, beautiful to see these.

A Lovely family who came too.

Such an appealing face did this little one have

Tunnel competition: is she coming out of the tunnel?

Preparing for the musical chairs

Each handler has a helper and the fun just starting

Yes thy are all sitting and helpers try to keep the dog into the required sit position.

Some different kind of dogs? Here one with ‘spiky made up’ hairdo?

Well cut poodle hairdo, amazing what you can see on a fun day.

A shame that Stephany and Dorothy left to go back to the UK,

Stephany sitting with their beloved dogs at a KCH show in 2008.

NEWS DIRECT FORM STEPH:
We all set off in the cab of this van with our cases and Mitts’s travel box in the back and the four of us (Mitts, Dorothy, Steph and our very kind and efficient host, Bryn) for our first base.  I travelled with my feet against the windscreen and we had a delightful stop half way to relieve the cramp!  All safe and sound and VERY happy to be together.

We set off for Lincolnshire tomorrow in convoy: Dorothy and Steph with Mitts in the car acquired today and Bryn in the van with Mitsi’s Mansion, the eight (+) suitcases and sundry other bulky acquisitions with a picnic lunch and great optimism.

Love to all
Steph

Good morning all,

on my travels in Chelmsford I did not see any German Shepherd dogs, instead a whole pack of German Lion dogs. Amazing to see, cuddle and touch.

These dogs can be shown in the Working Group such as Crufts, but not at the world Dog show.
The Löwchen once had the dubious distinction, like the Portuguese Water Dog and the Havanese, of being the rarest dog in the world. In 1973 there were only 65 registered examples of the breed. Even today, the breed generally has fewer than a few hundred new registrations each year worldwide.

To be an excellent watchdog requires some special training. Often called a gentle giant, the Leonberger is serious, eager and willing to please, responding well to training and get along with other dogs.

This breed was established in 1846 in Leonberg, Germany, in the region of Wurttemberg by the German breeder Heinrich Essing from a crossing of the Newfoundland, St Bernard and the Great Pyrenees, Heinrich Essing’s goal was to create a breed that would closely resemble the look of a lion. the medium to long, water-resistant, double coat comes in lion-yellow, golden to a darker brown with a black mask which should not go beyond the eyebrows.

German Lion dogs

When we

Were in Zimbabwe were we never had time to get together.

When we

were at the Kennel Club Gladys was never too busy to train people and help  them.

When we

Were at a Kennel Club seminar we were too busy to listen

When we

Were in the middle of London at the top of the Eye we had plenty of time!!

Ilse & Gladys London Eye