Mrs Caroline Dowsett
(Terichline)

Caroline died at home on 17th December 2003, and her untimely death shortly after her 60th birthday, has left her many friends full of sorrow as we were very fond of her.

Terence had forced their GP to get her admitted to hospital a month before, but by then the secondary liver cancer had taken a deadly hold. Perhaps nothing could be done, but it seems doubly sad that nothing was done. Caroline managed to get to a few shows during the summer, and everyone could see something was seriously wrong, she was vanishing in front of our eyes. What a huge effort it must have cost her to keep going.

Caroline's grandmother encouraged her to treat dogs and riding ponies as a normal part of life. Caroline's mother, Margaret, told me that her daughter had no fear but a natural affinity with animals, especially with a nervous or frightened pony - Caroline would sit and talk, and 'gentle' the animal. Certainly Caroline knew how to get the best out of her show dogs. Terence and Caroline were married for 37 years, son Richard is now over 30, and they are the source of TERICHLINE - TERence, RICHard and caroLINE. Welsh Cob and leading rein ponies were Caroline's first love, and it was not until the Arthritis started to attack her that she really launched into the dog scene. She has bred some very good coursing and show whippets, and it was through whippet coursing that she met Kenneth Cassels, who encouraged her to get a deerhound.

Her first deerhound was Champion Laird of Terichline JW whelped in 1985, sired by Miss Hartley's Ch Rotherwood Brandon out of Sorisdale MacDeva. Laird gave Caroline lots of fun, and did some very nice winning - 7 CCs and 14 Reserves. An all-round athlete, he thoroughly enjoyed lure coursing. Laird had amazing courage in the coursing field, keeping going whatever the conditions - but he pulled in slips. Poor Caroline, Laird earned Miss Noble's displeasure when in slips with one of Tasia's bitches - and pulled! It may not have helped that Laird did a lot of winning as well - top coursing hound for two years. Tasia nagged for a couple of seasons, and then decided Caroline was all right, and they became friends which was lucky as both found the pace of some walked meetings too fast, but they always managed to keep in touch. Laird x Ch Rosslyn Antic produced the four Champions Rosslyn Dagger, Dirk, Dawn and Dusk - Caroline won 3 CCs with Dusk, who didn't actually enjoy showing. Dusk was the dam of Ch Terichline Osprey (born 1994) who won well. 'Ossie' was the sire of Ch Terichline Ripple (born 1996, out of Terichline Minx) and it was Ripple who really did cause a stir. Ripple won 19 CCs, 5 Groups, two Group 2, and two Group 4. Reserve BIS at 3 Counties, and Joint Top Hound in 1999. She won BIS at two open shows, and the Deerhound Club Breed Show twice. Ripple had to be put down this July, which was a sad business for Caroline. What an achievement in such a short space of time.

Caroline was a superb dog handler, showing her dogs to perfection. She would also tell you what to do to get your own exhibit to look better! She judged deerhounds in the UK, Europe, Scandinavia and in Australia. The November 03 Kennel Gazette pictures Nick Bryce-Smith as ring steward "keeping an orderly ring at Crufts", and there is Caroline with Ripple - good as gold, and as always alert and concentrating on proceedings. Caroline took Ripple to Scotland for a mating to a hound that avoided some over-used bloodlines, driving through the teeth of the Foot & Mouth outbreak and having to stop and spray her car entering various borders. Sad that she was denied the chance to take her breeding plans forward.

Terence and Caroline were grateful, touched and amazed by the wonderful cards and kind messages from so many friends. Caroline was surprised that people held her in genuine affection and esteem. But Caroline was a thoroughly nice and pleasant person, you knew exactly where you were with her. Ask her opinion, you got it. It was genuine, unbiased and truthful. Maddening at times, but totally up-front. I don't remember Caroline being moody, but there must have been times when the arthritis was crippling her. As Terence said, "she touched the lives of all who knew her".

And she knew so many people through whippets, deerhounds, South Eastern Hound Club and she had an overall interest in lots of other hound breeds and owners. She was involved in local dog training classes, and also sold dog-related antiques at Championship shows. For several years she shared a stand with Nick Waters and quickly learned about antiques. What a quick, clever brain she had - if you had a problem, ask Caroline. She always gave good advice - homoeopathic remedies, feeding tips, she never had to check a reference it was all there for the asking. She also worked with her Mother, their company making period costumes for plays and film sets. Very pressured work at times of deadlines.

Caroline was Chairman of South Eastern Hound Club at the time of her death, and was also a member of the Deerhound Club Committee. A good committee member, if she said she'd do something, it was done. She organised Teach Ins for the Club, the printing of coloured greetings cards, and undertook the printing of the Earl prints. She had all sorts of useful contacts amongst artisan workers. Terence wasn't a 'professional' kennel lad, as he got no pay! His help in exercising and feeding Caroline's pack was invaluable and enabled her to show and course the deerhounds and whippets. Both of them happily took hounds to game fairs, Parades of Sporting hounds, lure coursing or whatever was vaguely local to them. Caroline was passionate in her support for field sports and coursing in particular.

A private cremation service had music from Nimrod (The Mighty Hunter) and Terence's choice of 'Who Wants to Live Forever' by Queen’ and hymns that Margaret felt lacked volume, and then said that it was Caroline's sweet and true singing voice which was missing, but she also said how grateful she was to have had 60 years of happiness from Caroline. We all took something from Caroline - she was naturally giving, generous of her time, of her self.

She packed so much into every day, perhaps she knew she must live for the moment. We hope that Margaret celebrates her 80th birthday on 1st January - as Caroline would certainly expect. We can only give Terence and Richard our sympathy and support.

M J Girling

 

Mr Fred Tripptree

It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of Fred Tripptree of the Brambletyne Golden Retrievers. Having known Fred and his wife, Maggie, since the 50s, and always being great friends, I send my sympathy to his wife and sons.

I remember giving a CC to their first Champion, Miss Rebecca, from whom most of their dogs descend. Amongst the many other winning dogs, Fred and Maggie have produced 2 other Champions in Ch. Brambletyne Boyd and Ch. Brambletyne Carock Fell of Daryock. Fred was very keen on working his dogs, and had some who won at Field Trials, but his greatest interest was in "picking up" on various shoots - which he was still doing during the 2002 season. He it was who introduced me to "picking up", when I accompanied him with two of my dogs on Lord Carrington's shoot, near High Wycombe, where Fred was a regular picker up.

He was a very respected judge of Goldens, and had the honour of judging at Crufts, as well as many countries abroad. He was also a member of the Committee of the Golden Retriever Club for many years, and a member of the Kennel Club.

He will be very much missed by his friends, and as a dedicated and conscientious breeder.

Joan Tudor

 

Lord Hardy of Wath

Lord Hardy of Wath died on 16th December 2003, aged 72 - he was created a Life Peer in 1997. A member of the Deerhound Club for some years, he often sent donations for the club shows, although rarely showing his own deerhounds.

His forebears were miners, but as Peter Hardy he entered Parliament in 1970, and survived an attempt by Scargill left-wingers to deselect him. I do remember he crossed the floor of the House to vote against the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act - despite a three line Labour Party whip. He invariably visited the deerhound ring at Crufts, when I enjoyed a natter with him.

A full obituary and a nice photo were in the Daily Telegraph and I see that he 'advised the Kennel Club on policy issues, also had Irish wolfhounds, and served as a judge at dog shows'. I did show under him when he judged the breed at an open show, and he really enjoyed expounding his decisions afterwards. He always seemed a very pleasant man, with a genuine fondness for deerhounds. Our sympathy goes to his wife, and two surviving sons (his eldest son died from cancer aged 12, and an adopted son died aged 9).

M J Girling

 

Miss Cecily Cox
(Dufault)

The death of Miss Cecily Cox on 14 December 2003 deprived the deerhound world of the last of the well-to-do ladies who loved the breed during the last century.

Cecily would have been 90 on 25th March next, and her passion for the breed goes back to the early 1960s. Her childhood also involved dogs, when she lived in Japan and she and her 'aya' carried home strays. Even her Father (I think an Admiral in the US Navy) was eventually moved to protest. I remember her telling me her Father gave her an allowance when she went to college - flush with money, Cecily treated all her chums, and then wrote to her Father for more. She learned the hard way how to manage her affairs, living out the rest of the term on a pittance.

I know her parents retired to live in Santa Barbara in California, and on the outbreak of World War II Cecily came over to the UK. She joined the FANYs, but transferred to more 'active' life in the ATS. Cecily told me she learned to drive on an army tank - I found driving with Cecily a terrifying experience, and felt the army had a lot to answer for! I know she took pride in being a sought after driver for Officers. She enjoyed a fast car, invariably a large Volvo. I think she was a bit shaken when she tangled with the entrance pillars at Ascot racecourse, and changed to a smaller but just as fast model.

Mr Ron Germany, an old friend and the Club accountant, recalls meeting Cecily in 1944, when both were on a gunsite in the East End of London, trying to intercept flying bombs. Ron next met Ces in a corridor in the War Office. She had been transferred to MI6 military intelligence when it was discovered she could read, write and speak Japanese. After the war Cecily worked in the Pentagon in Washington, USA. Her story then leaps to the 1960s, by which time she was living in Rudgwick, Sussex - a very dog-oriented area and where I got to know her well, going over to help with stud work and being given a silver deerhound (male) brooch, which Cecily had herself made. She carefully researched the foundation stock for her Dufault deerhounds - Dufault from a friend's Lake Dufault Mine in Canada, and she named a puppy in each litter after a mined gem or mineral.

Her first hound was Dufault Flute of Rotherwood, who died young but was 'a very beautiful dog', winning 2 CCs and he won the New Members Cup for Cecily in 1964. He is remembered by the Flute Trophy donated by Cecily for Best Hound not bred by exhibitor. Dufault Gliska of Rotherwood became the foundation bitch of all the Dufaults, and the Dufault Trophy is modelled on Gliska, and the Best Puppy trophy at the Breed Show is named after Gliska. Ch Dufault Victor of Geltsdale was her first big winner with 14 CCs, bred by Nessie Linton in 65, and the sire of Dufault Holly - her first home bred Champion, and Ch D Ilona - both out of Gliska. Holly was the dam of Dufault Kilchoan JW (or Blair as Cecily called him) - only the second male in the breed to win a Junior Warrant, a good coursing hound and good at stud work - 5 UK Ch. and 4 overseas Ch. Cecily always had a good stud dog. Ch Cranford Justin of Dufault (bred by Miss Lawrence Ch Ossie of Portsonachan x Dufault Jacinth 73) died at 4, but sired my Champion Pyefleet Elspeth. Justin x Ilona produced Dufault Morning Mist of Lealla, Mary Churchill's foundation bitch.

Dufault Oriana (1976) was a Champion at 2 years of age (Kilchoan x Cranford Jasmine of Dufault). Kilchoan x Jasmine also produced Dufault Roxanne (1978) who was bred from three time by various people, and most notably is the dam of Ch Rotherwood Brandon JW who is behind many of to-day's deerhounds. Manshay Loch Katrine JW was sired by Justin, and was the mother of Ch Dufault Palladium (by Kilchoan) and Kate and Palladium (same litter as Pallas) between then won most of the prizes during 1981 and 1982. Palladium x Oriana produced Ch Dufault Victoria (1981), and Champion Fair Rose of Dufault was bed by Lord & Lady Rosehill from Dhu Mohr The Laird of Dufault & Glenure out of Dufault Portia. The Laird died young, and was imported from America by Cecily and Richard Marples, then Editor of OUR DOGS. Fair Rose epitomised the Dufault head - she was lovely. Rosie was also a brilliant coursing hound, unbeaten over two seasons after losing her first course. Dufault Beryl was Cecily's last Champion, out of Victoria and gaining her title in 1991. Dufault Zodiac (2000) is by Dufault Hallmark, and he is proving himself a keen coursing hound under the guidance of Gill and Toby Smith. So the last decade has proved disappointing for Cecily, but she was still keen to breed just one more litter, to keep her lovely heads and shapely hounds.

When Miss Edwards (Manshay) died, it was Cecily who was instrumental in publishing Margaret's mass of deerhound pedigrees and pictures she had so painstakingly researched (remember this was before computers). Richard Marples (Ch Dufault Pallas of Glenure) generously helped Cecily produce an invaluable record published in 1980 'Champion Deerhound Pedigrees' - from Bevis in 1878 to Champions of 1979. Cecily also produced 'The Deerhound Club Trophies' to coincide with the Club Centenary in 1986 - detailing donor and conditions for winning.

Mike Weddell's photographic and printing skills ensured the trophies are beautifully illustrated. Mike was again instrumental in helping (with others) Cecily produce a wonderful calendar in 2002 'The Early Breeders'. Cecily hoped this would become a collector's item.

An expert in presenting her own dogs in immaculate showing condition, Cecily judged the breed in Europe, Scandinavia, America (the SDCA Specialty), Crufts - twice, and the Club Breed Show as well as awarding CCs in the UK. She was the Referee at the 2002 Breed Show, and her critique was brilliant. She did get annoyed when some judges failed to publish an intelligent written critique. Breed Show 2002 was one Cecily thoroughly enjoyed, winning the best dressed hat contest as well as receiving a computer printer from the Club in thanks for all her hard work over the years. Born with a love of gadgets, she launched into the world of computers and e-mail in her 80s. I do wonder how many hundreds of hours of phoned instruction she received from deerhound computer literate pals!

Cecily was incredibly kind to me when I started 'progressing' in the breed. I remember staying at Rudgwick the first time I judged. The night before the open show she told me to judge her dogs - going over 5 Champions, what a privilege. I chose Oriana, she thought I'd prefer Loch Katrine. Generous, impulsive, clever and kind, Cecily was her own worst enemy and could be very intolerant on occasions - like the deerhounds, friends learned to duck out of sight until the storm passed. Her tall, slender frame became very frail, but few would have flown back from America with a cracked hip - and survived, which Cecily did a few years ago. Indomitable in coping with age-related problems, she sought the experts, got the problem sorted, and was off again. One enduring memory is of telephoning Cecily at home, and hearing a small, husky voice tentatively saying 'Hello', to be instantly followed by a loud 'shut up' - to her deerhounds, as they have always howled when the phone rang.

Patron of the Deerhound Club at the time of her death, she served on the committee for many years and enjoyed being the Trophy Steward. She was also Club Treasurer for several years. Fortunate in Rudgwick in having the help of Mrs Bell, Cecily moved to Quennington some 15 years ago. She must have blessed her lucky stars when her next door neighbours, Freda and Donald Collett took her under their wonderfully caring wings. Donald had worked at Lodge Park as a lad, and the three of them really enjoyed the lure coursing there this October, Cecily in particular loved the day. Freda has been a wonderful friend, caring for the deerhounds and ensuring that Cecily was able to stay at home.

Having caught up with the LKA results, Cecily went to sleep looking forward to Christmas Lunch (which she had organised) with deerhound friends in the local hotel. Deerhounds were the major interest of her life for over 40 years but, alas, it was not to be and many have lost a good friend. Our sympathy goes to the American children of Cecily's brother, 'Little Ces' and Dougie.

M J Girling