IT IS with deep sadness that I report the passing of Roy Andrews
of the Rodento Toy Poodles.
Roy, his wife Denise and son Tony, first came to England from
Belfast in the early eighties and settled in Plymouth, where
Roy worked for a very well known Assurance Company.
In 1985 they purchased their first show Toy Poodle from Pam
Gould, Blewgould Wot’s Zis, later to have ‘for Rodento’
added to her name. In 1986 a male Toy Poodle arrived in the
Andrews’ household, Vanitonia Nick of Time for Rodento.
The affix Rodento derived from their three names was applied
for, and once granted the Kennel of the Rodento Toy Poodles
was founded.
The Andrews family moved around the UK for a while with Roy’s
job, eventually settling in Totton near Southampton about
eleven years ago.
Ted and I first met Roy & Denise at the Tavistock and
District Canine Society Show, on the 6th April 1986, when
they were showing Ziggy as a puppy and I was judging. From
that meeting a long and lasting friendship was formed.
Over the years, Roy and Denise have successfully bred and
shown Toy Poodles. They have supported most of the major championship
shows with entries and all of the local shows in the south
of England. Roy was, until his death, a committee member of
the South Western Poodle Club and Denise is a member of that
committee.
For the past few years Roy did not enjoy exceptionally good
health, but could always be found on the caravan sites of
many of the shows, where their motorhome was always Open House
to everyone. Many doggy people will recall the barbeques,
the warm welcome, the friendly smile and the wicked joke that
Roy could not resist.
The first job, when pulling on to a pitch at the shows, was
to set up the generator for the TV, especially if the Motor
Racing was on. Roy will be greatly missed around the shows,
and I’m sure all who knew him send their condolences
to Denise his wife, son Tony, daughter in-law Hannah and grandsons
Steven and Ross. Roy and Denise would have celebrated their
Ruby Wedding Anniversary on Sunday 3rd February.
The funeral service was held on Wednesday 30th January. There
were no flowers, but if anyone wishes to make a donation in
Roy’s memory, please send your donations to: South Western
Poodle Club Rescue c/o Ann Coppage, Vulcan Kennels, Houndsmoor,
Milverton, TA4 1QD.
Muriel Prince
