It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Estella Fryer who passed away on 6th September. Estella, together with her devoted husband Godfrey, showed Afghan Hounds under the well known Severndene affix. Their love of the Afghan Hound began in the early 1960’s and a dedicated breeding programme developed the type of Afghan for which they became so well known and the type for which many aspired to achieve.

Estella’s knowledge of the breed was second to none, and despite ill health in latter years her interest in the breed never waned, and she was always on hand to give words of wisdom and encouragement to those who took the trouble to learn from her vast experience. Successes in the showing world with Severndene were wide and the bloodlines of the dogs she bred were the lynchpin behind many of the top winning dogs and kennels; Estella owned Ch Severndene Marionette of Landhavi, Ch Barnesmore the Baron of Landhavi and Ch Zareenas Firedragon at Severndene.

Her judging was always consistent and she first awarded CCs in the Breed in 1982, and it was tragic that the ill health that dogged her for many years, prevented Estella from completing her judging appointment for dogs at Crufts in 2004; she would have been so proud to have done that. Estella steered and guided the Western Afghan Hound Club by becoming Chairman and subsequently, its Patron. She was always a great supporter of the Club and was full of ideas and enthusiasm, promoting its shows and more than often sponsoring every event, she will be greatly missed. She was also a Vice-President of the Afghan Hound Club of Wales.

Our thoughts and sympathies go to her husband, Godfrey, and family. We have lost a great lady of huge integrity whose knowledge of pedigrees, breed type and history of the Afghan Hound would be hard to surpass.