The organisers of an exemption show scheduled for Sunday 30th September at Saham Toney in Norfolk were faced with the dilemma of having to cancel at very short notice when fire totally gutted a barn at the venue owned by Lancashire Heeler exhibitor Mrs Anne Bowes late on Friday evening. All the show equipment, prizes, signs, etc were destroyed, along with much of Mrs Bowes’ own property including a car only bought two days previously, containing all her dog cages, trolleys, etc.

Fortunately, no animals were injured, although one Lancashire Heeler was missing for three hours, returning when all the fire engines had gone and things were quiet.

As it would have been impossible to contact everybody, it was decided to go ahead, albeit on a much smaller scale, with a small raffle and no prizes. However local dog people came up trumps and by the time of the show there were enough prizes for a large raffle, tombola and for the winners. An excellent turnout enabled the organisers, the East of England Lancashire Heeler Club, to donate £391 to research for a D.N.A. test from primary lens luxation in Lancashire Heelers. Club chairman Jacky Cutler says the committee were overwhelmed by the reaction of people who rallied round to help in practical terms and by donating prizes and equipment. Special thanks go to Mrs Bowers for allowing the show to go ahead despite the trauma involved when the fire struck.