(Updated 3/8/01)

Obituary - Mr Peter Meanwell

Peter Meanwell, who died on the 25th of July 2001, was a man of varied interests and great abilities.

A Lincoln man and proud of it, he spent all his working life with a Lincoln company. Starting as an apprentice he became a Chartered Engineer and finished his career as Managing Director. The determination, application and flair demonstrated in his professional life carried through into all his activities. Fishing and golf were early interests; golf was to remain a hobby throughout his life. Peter’s first involvement in dogs was in Obedience where he worked up to and including Test C. Then he heard about Working Trials attended one and that was it.

I first met him in the late 1960s when I had been out of trials for few years. Peter was working a WSD. W.T. Ch Petricas Laddie CD ex. TD ex. PD ex. Laddie was to win 9 CCs 3 TD and 6 PD.. In 1971 he won four out of the six PD tickets available that year three of them at consecutive trials. When the K.C W.T. Championships were first held in 1975 Peter was entered with a son of Laddie, Jamie of Petricas CD ex. PD ex. TD ex.. Jamie was also to become a Champion winning a total of 10 CC's, five TD and five PD.. Jamie qualified for the Championships each year until his retirement at the 1980 Championships at the age of 91/2yrs. He was absent although qualified in 1977 because Peter was judging the PD stake. Jamie won the Championship PD stake in 1976 and 79. Another PD ticket was gained in 1973 with Amber of Brayside a GSD bitch. Although he worked a friends GSD bitch for a while Peter never seriously competed again, having won a total of 20 W.T. CCs. This record is all the more remarkable in view of the amount of time Peter spent abroad in his job. On one occasion when he had been abroad for ten days or so Peter was met at Heathrow with his car with dog on board, came to SATS Trial and won the ticket.

As a handler Peter was a joy to watch. His timing was superb and he was always in complete harmony with his dog. His dogs were family dogs, always in first class condition and cared for by Erica, Peter's wife and the other partner in the team, sharing the triumphs and the disappointments in equal measure. In 1978 having become Chairman of the Working Trials Council and being well known at The Kennel Club, Peter was asked to devise a form of dog jumping demonstration to go into the Main Ring at Crufts. He came up with the idea of Dog Agility. The rest is history. Almost twenty five years on Agility is still the fastest growing dog sport and has been exported around the world.

Peter’s interest in dogs extended beyond competition and for over twenty-five years he had run a Pet Dog training class for the Lincolnshire Education Authority. When the KC Good Citizen Dog Scheme was started Peter was an obvious choice to join the Working Party set up to organise and develop the scheme. His vast knowledge, expertise as a Trainer, and natural ability as a presenter have all contributed hugely to the success of the scheme.

Similarly when the Working Party was formed to advise the General Committee on Dog Training was formed Peter was a natural choice as a member. That work has led to the KC Accreditation Scheme for Instructors in Dog Training & Canine Behaviour. The development of this scheme is ongoing and Peters input has been invaluable.
Previously a member and Chairman of the WTOA Sub-Committee Peter was elected a member of the General Committee of the Kennel Club in 1994 and although ill health forced his resignation from the Committee this year he remained a member of both working parties until his death.

At the age of seventy Peter completed the London Marathon an achievement of which he was justly proud. He was elected an Honorary Life Member of The Kennel Club at this year’s AGM.

Peter suffered considerable pain in recent months which was borne with great dignity, courage and fortitude.
The world of dogs has lost an enthusiast and ambassador. Those of us who knew him well have additionally lost a wise counsellor a fount of knowledge and most of all a great friend

All our sympathy at this time is extended to Erica and his family.

Bill Hardaway

Peter Richard Meanwell died On 25th July 2001, at St Barnabas Hospice, after a long illness, aged 74 years of age.

Loving husband of Erica, father of Michael and Patricia, father-in-law of Val and Stewart, grandfather of Matthew. Funeral service to be held at St George’s Church, Swallowbeck, Lincoln on Thursday 2nd August at 1.15pm, followed by cremation at Lincoln Crematorium. Donations, if desired, to St Barnabas Hospice, which may be sent to Lincoln Co-op Funeral Services, 12 Portland Street, Lincoln. Telephone Lincoln 534971.