It is with great sadness that I have to report the death of Marian Crook in her 99th year. She was truly one of the greats within Skye Terriers, having bred innumerable champions and breed record holders, both with her beloved Creams and her Silvers. She also bred the breed record holder in Maltese Terriers and behind modern Maltese you will find the Rhosneigr prefix, writes Lynne Richardson (Talyot)

She was renowned throughout the world and when Skyes were mentioned, Marian’s name was sure to come up. To those not in the breed she was the only person to judge the breed three times at Crufts.

Marian was born in Vienna on the 28th December 1911 and was an only child. Her father died when she was 12 and Marian with her mother went to live with her extended family. She finished her education in Vienna. When she was 18 she met Bob Crook, who was a director of the forerunner of ICI; within 3 weeks they were married and she had moved to the USA. They lived in New York for a couple of years where they had a suite in the Waldorf Astoria. They returned to the UK in the 1930’s and she bought her first Maltese Terrier, as she had owned one as a child in Vienna.

Marian divorced Bob Crook and eventually married her second husband Paddy Tighe and went to live in Shropshire. A few years later Paddy wanted to move to Malta but Marian had fallen in love with the UK and did not want to leave.

Marian moved to Rhosneigr in North Wales from where she took her world famous prefix. Marian had her first Skyes from the Meerend, Bracadale and Peacehaven kennels, Meerend supplying her foundation stock. She soon became a force to be reckoned with. Between 1955 and 1958 she won Crufts every year, I believe the only Kennel to win four years in a row. Numerous champions and influential stud dogs followed including Ch Rhosneigr Silver Ravissant. Many of today’s kennels were either founded on Rhosneigr breeding or had bought in Rhosneigr stock to strengthen their lines. Among those who started with Rhosneigr are Alan Stevenson and Peter Chappell’s Mariquita, Muriel Bailey’s Marjayn, Margaret MacDonald-Cross’ Tarskavaig, Jim Newsham’s Drewsteignton and our Talyot. In Finland Doris Westerholm’s famous Skyeline kennels had Ch Rhosneigr Silver Flash who was the first Skye to go Best In Show in Finland
Unfortunately Douglas’ health was not too good and he needed to move to a drier climate. Marian gave away all her dogs and moved to Spain to be with him. After a couple of years in Spain, Douglas’ health improved and they decided to moved back to the UK settling in Stoke Gabriel Near Totnes in South Devon.

Marian managed to get back stock from her lines from Margaret McDonald and Joyce Steadman to start again.

She was soon back at the top producing Cream and Silver champions. She was a mine of information about the breed and would always help.

Two stories come to mind regarding her ‘dress sense’. At Crufts in Olympia, Reg Gadsen was judging and as usual Marian had several dogs entered. She was hoping to do well with 2 of them and had brought with her complementary outfits. This plan was thrown into confusion when Reg gave her BOB with one of the other dogs. In the lunch break she went out, had her hair restyled and bought a new outfit to compliment the BOB!!

She was a one off and when she was made they broke the mould. We will not see her like again and dog shows will be poorer for it. Yes, she could be obstinate and opinionated but throughout history it has always been that way with the truly great.

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