The Crufts' catalogue 1907 mentions Huson, Mr J, London Road - Hertford Heath, No 185 Lady Hertford b May 4th 1904 out of Ap Dorothy sired by Ap Thomas. This must have been Mr John Huson born ‘50 at Great Amwell Herts who lived at 26 London Rd Hertford Heath. According to the census ’51 his father John Williams Huson was Watchman at East India College, and his son John became butler at Haileybury College. A source mentions – ‘John Huson came back to Hertfordshire in 1874 on an ‘Irishman' rise’ as Mr Jones called it , and has since been Common-room Butler for many years .’ Note – an Irishman’ rise being a reduction in pay. For many low-paid workers with children, an extra £2 a week may be no more than an 'Irishman' rise'. Another source – ‘Jenningsbury Farm owned by Mr John Huson’. Jenningsbury Farm lies along London Road Hertford Heath and is a listed partly-moated farm house set in approximately three acres of plantsman’ gardens within fifteen acres of ancient moat with extensive wild flower meadow beyond.

Haileybury College – see below -, formerly The East India College founded in 1806 as the training establishment for the Honourable East India Company which provided general & vocational education for young gentlemen of sixteen to eighteen years old who were nominated by its directors to writerships in the overseas civil service. In 1858, in the wake of the Indian Rebellion, the British government took over the administration of India and the college closed. The site was reopened in 1862 as Haileybury & Imperial Service College.

Mr Huson’ Hertford kennels are of breed historical interest through ch Nuneaton Helga bred by Mr John Huson out of his homebred Ap Dorothy sired by Ap Thomas, the latter bred by Cleveland man George Cook out of Marton Princess sired by ch Marksman’ brother Lord Stanley. Ch Nuneaton Helga became owned by Mr Wm Rylands b ‘54, publican of the Falstaff Inn – Rotherham, who bred from her Coatham Daisy sired by Mr G Cook’ ch Felix.

Coatham Daisy was purchased by Mr George Cook and, mated to Adam, she produced Willington Duchess, dam to Cleveland Princess who, mated to Count Willington, gave that famous stud Adamas who a/o sired ch Cleveland Premier & his brindle brother C- Chancellor; another Daisy litter, this time sired by Cleveland Leopold, contained ch Lightning & Thunderbolt, the latter sired Tilly Dunn, dam to Ashenhurst Duke who sired those famous Ashenhurst champions twin Cedric & Bernicea . There’s no picture of Nuneaton Helga on record but - above at left - Lady Colunio & - at right - Bellegrove Beauty sired by Colunia’ brother Wolfram ; both Colunia & Wolfram were strongly related to ch Nuneaton Helga having the same sire [Ap Thomas] and the same maternal grandsire [Mellnotte].

The Our Dogs’ readers article was written by the Dutch gentleman W J Van der Werff of The Hague – see at right – who, exalting the modern Mastiff type as p ex ch Marc Antony’ son Black Anthony – see dark brindle at right - instead, preferred the so-called old type as a/o Am ch Minting’ brother Charlie Wood – see fawn at right – and the dogs of painter Gabriel. Born at Amsterdam 1828, Paul Joseph Constantin Gabriel became a member of ‘The Hague School of painters’. Mr PJC Gabriel resided at Brussels during the 1860s and died in ’03 at Scheveningen.

Archie Gander was a fawn born ’04 & bred by Mr Robt Leadbetter - out of Mother Goose unr sired by ch Hazlemere Archie – and owned by Mrs Helen Jonas of Cambridge; he got 2nd prizes at Darlington ’05 – cc for his uncle ch Czar Peter, and at Crystal Palace ’06 beaten by his other uncle Pinner Beau. Mr Van der Werff’ other favourite, the brindle Flex was born ’06 and bred by Mr George Cook out of Marton Kitty unr sired by Tom Bowling’ grandson Nuneaton Lion; two months after the publication of this article Felix got his 1st challenge award under Lt-Col Z Walker beating Mr Leadbetter’ ch Hazlemere Ronald. Felix got his other cc’s at Edinburgh ’09 under Mr Midgley Marsden and at Crufts ’10 under Mr Fred Gresham. Mr W J Van der Werff also states that Our Dogs ‘largely circulates’ on the continent; this canine journal was founded by Mr Theophilus Marples of Manchester in 1896.

The attempt to stamp out rabies in Great Britain was an experiment undertaken by the government in the public interest. The principal means adopted were the muzzling of dogs in infected areas, and prolonged quarantine for imported animals. The efficacy of dog-muzzling in checking the spread of rabies and diminishing its prevalence has been repeatedly proved in various countries. Liable as other animals may be to the disease, in England at least the dog is pre-eminently the vehicle of contagion and the great source of danger to human beings. There is a difference of opinion on the way in which muzzling acts, though there can be none as to the effect it produces in reducing rabies. Probably it acts rather by securing the destruction of ownerless and stray which generally includes rabid dogs than by preventing biting; for though it may prevent snapping, even the wire-cage muzzle does not prevent furious dogs from biting, and it is healthy, not rabid, dogs that wear the muzzle.

It has therefore been suggested that a collar would have the same effect, if all collarless dogs were seized; but the evidence goes to show that it has not, perhaps because rabid dogs are more likely to stray from home with their collars, which are constantly worn, than with muzzles which are not, and so escape seizure. Moreover, it is much easier for the police to see whether a dog is wearing a muzzle or not than it is to make sure about the collar.

By the spring of 1899 that is, in two years the disease had disappeared in Great Britain, except for one area in Wales; and, with this exception, muzzling was everywhere relaxed in October 1899. It was taken off in Wales also in the following May, no case having occurred since November ‘99. Rabies was then pronounced extinct . During the summer of 1900, however, it reappeared in Wales, and several counties were again placed under the order. The year 1901 was the third in succession in which no death from hydrophobia was registered in the United Kingdom. In the ten years preceding 1899, 104 deaths were registered, the death-rate reaching 30 in 1880. According to KCSB data, the last Mastiff entries - before muzzling rules - owned by foreign fanciers, ie Mr Gerbrand Deetman of A’dam - The Netherlands, were at Birkenhead 1897, namely ch Mark Antony & Jonathan’ daughter Gladys.

Above - Ch Broomcourt Romeo’ paternal half brother Broomcourt John b Aug ’37 out of ch Cleveland Hugo’ dau Broomcourt Revival sired by Broomcourt Jem. Put up for sale in Our Dogs Xmas Supplement ‘39 by his owner Mr John Illingworth and described as – ‘big upstanding dark brindle - winner of two cc’s , good body , legs & feet , dark eye , correct with stop & muzzle such as few Mastiffs have to-day , good shower without trace of shyness’. Mr J Illingworth, of Croft House 36 High Street Brighouse nr Halifax, had owned four champions, ie Ashenhurst Cedric [b ’21 ~ ch Boadicea ex Ashenhurst Duke], Broomcourt Black Mask [b ’31 ~ ch Hellingly Ajax’ sis Arethrusa ex Cleveland Comedian ], Broomcourt Marcon [b ’34 ~ ch Broomcourt Comedienne ex ch Hellingly Marksman], and double Crufts winner Broomcourt Romeo [b ’34 ~ Broomcourt Tess ex Broomcourt Jem].

The author of the article, Mr William Leslie McCandlish b Edinburgh 1868-47, was KC Chairman between 1925-35 and famous breeder of Ems’ Scottish Terriers. He was the son of Mr John MacGregor McCandlish 1821–01, lawyer and first President of the Faculty of Actuaries. Mr William L McCandlish’ grandfather, William McCandlish of the Exchequer 1788-72, was Receiver General of Taxes for Scotland.

Mr John Illingworth, born at Southowram in 1877, married in ‘16 Miss Mary Widdop, daughter to William Widdop, a ‘jeweller & watchmaker’ in Brighouse [see his shop picture ~ c 1883 ~ nearby J Illingworth’ Croft House at 36 High Street Brighouse. Mary Widdop inherited the business just after World War I and her husband John Illingworth ran and diversified the Company into engineering, cabinet making and watch case manufacturing between the wars whilst still retaining the watch and distribution Company. After the war the distribution Co restarted as ‘Widdop , Bingham & Co’ in Manchester and the Company prospered under John' son Bob. - URL link– Widdop & Co is still in business.

Mr Illingworth bred a litter out of Clayton Diane, sis to Jersey Queen [dam to champions John Evans’ Prince & Guy Greenwood’ Duke], sired by Ashenhurst Duke’ grandson Wendycot Peter which resulted in Elvet Barrie [sired Broomcourt Shiela, ie Ben Bennett’ Broomcourt foundation brood] and Brigeawa [dam to Crook’ [Tiddicar] King Leon & Selene whom produced Venus ~ dam to three Tiddicar champions General, Diana & Prudence [of Hellingly] sired by ch Hellingly Cardinal ~, Leon Mc Lean ~1 cc~ & Kinder Monarch ~2 cc’s~] .

Besides champion Ashenhurst Cedric [b ’21 ~ Ashenhurst Duke x ch Boadicea] & ch Broomcourt Black Mask [b ’31 ~ Cleveland Comedian x ch Hellingly Ajax’ sis Arethrusa], Mr Illingworth has owned three other breed cracks, namely the fine brindle ch Broomcourt Marcon [b ’34 ~ ch Hellingly Marksman x ch Broomcourt Comedienne] , and two sired by Broomcourt Jem [Cleveland Comedian’ Broomcourt Prince Boris x ch Broomcourt Comedienne], namely the fawn ch Broomcourt Romeo [b ’34 ~ out of Broomcourt Tess] , 5 cc’s a/o at the 2 last pre-war Crufts , & the brindle Brooncourt John [b August ’37 ~ out of Broomcourt Revival sired by ch Broomcourt Comedienne’ & ch Broomcourt Black Mask’ brother ch Cleveland Hugo] whom got a cc under Sam Crabtree at Manchester , March ’39 , another under S Warburton at Harrogate , September ’39 , the last cc show before war began . - The Our Dogs’ advert presents a head study of Brigedric – out of ch King Baldur’ dau Girl sired by ch Ashenhurst Cedric.

After the war he contributed to ‘Our Dogs’ Mastiff breed notes and judged the breed in ‘54 at Paignton [ch Mansatta Vilna] , ’56 at Crufts [ch Aethelred & ch Havengore Diann] , ’57 at Richmond [ch Moonsfield Baron & ch Havengore Diann] , ’60 at Richmond [ch Havengore Hotspot & Dr Allison’ Wythybush Izod] , and finally being 85 years old in ’62 at Blackpool [Weatherhill Guide ~bred by Dr Allison Havengore ~Adam x Wythybush Izod~ & Dr Allison’ ch Milf Manetta ~ch Havengore Hotspot x Sparry Serena~]. Dr Rhoda Allison, also a Brighouse resident [Weatherhill, Woodhouse Lane], bred the following year a litter out of ch Milf Manetta [Murias’ sis] sired by Copenore Jason producing a grand champion called Weatherhill Thor , who a/o influenced the famous Hollesley strain of Mrs Pamela Day.

This extract written by the only twenty-one years old Mr Malcolm Bush Wynne can be considered as part of a blazing plea called ‘The British Mastiff ~ Defensio non offensio’ [16 pp] against the content of ‘ The old English Mastiff ’ article [20 pp] from the hand of the experienced 57-years old breed connoisseur Mr Harry De Spencer Kingdon presented as the Mastiff chapter of Mr Henry Webb’ book [1873] figuring also the first photographs of dogs in history .

Mr Henry Webb hereby mentions ~ ‘Desirous of being impartial, we have inserted the foregoing, the contribution of a gentleman [ed - HDS Kingdon], who argues in defence of the Mastiff in his unmixed purity, but we must state that many well-known breeders hold different opinions, and advocate crossing the Mastiff with the Bull-Dog, to give greater courage and strength.' - He goes on saying ~ ‘We hoped for some valuable information from Mr Edgar Hanbury of Highworth, who, however, wrote as follows ~ ‘I must, on consideration, forego my promise relative to the information on Mastiffs. The fact of my being a breeder makes it extremely difficult to express my opinion on the subject without criticising other strains.’ -

At right - Mr Edward Field' ch King b '65 & bred by Mr J K Field aka John Kingsford Field, member of the wax bleachers firm of JC & J Field of Upper Marsh - Lambeth London. Ch King was thé stud of the day and foundation sire of Mastiff kennels at Scalford Rectory nr Melton Mowbray. The first KC recorded ‘Wynne’ litter was born '67 out of Old Norah – bred by Captain Cox - sired by ch King, and it actually may have been bred Mr MB Wynne' father Rev Robert Wynne, rector of Scalford. The next year Mr Balls' Phoebe – bred by Mr Hanbury -, mated to Rev Wynne' Wolf - bred by Mr L L Pemberton -, produced Mr Hanbury' Phillis - dam to ch Queen (by Lindoe' Druid), ch Rajah (by ch King' maternal nephew Griffin), & ch Taurus (by ch King).

The book ‘Records of the Corrie family’ written by Mr M B Wynne’ cousin Miss Jessie Corrie states p 67 – ‘Uncle Bob Wynne – ed then vicar of Corhampton - owned the ‘tallest horse in Hampshire’ – and according to the booklet 'Lincolnshire leaders, social & political', Rev Robert Wynne was a scolar of Wadham College Oxford who educated his son Malcolm privately at home. So it's not a long shot to presume he provided young Wynne jr - born 1852 - a substantial amount of breed historical research published in his book dd 1886, five years after the death of his father who, together with his cousin Fanny Corrie, had the good fortune to inherit in 1861 some £ 14,000 - present value £1,000,000+ – from his aunt Mary Wynne, widow of Mr Henry Dickinson 1790- 1856 of London.

Ch Wolsey was bred in 1873, the year Mr Henry Webb’ 1st edition of his ‘Dogs, &c.’ was published and the Kennel Club was founded too. Lukey’ Baron was brother to Lukey’ champion Beauty; Hodge’ Charlie sired Harold’ & ch Peeress’ dam Y – Empress; ‘ Alp, the reputed Lyme Hall bitch ‘ was owned by Harry De Spencer Kingdon of Colyton Devon. At right - countryman MB Wynne in a wheelbarrow.

The owner of Mr Malcolm Bush Wynne’ Terror - Young King II’ granddau Phoenix ex ch Beaufort -, Mr John Satchell Hopkins of Birmingham, bred in 1896 one of the grandest Victorian Mastiff bitches, ie champion Marcella – out of Tom Bowling’ maternal niece Honeysuckle sired by Tom Bowling' paternal half brother ch Marc Antony -, Tom Bowling renowned for having sired ch Peter Piper. Mr Hopkins’ Terror was described by Mr Harding Cox as – ‘a good male but of a very washy fawn colour, having a somewhat sour expression, with what rabbit fanciers, I believe, term as a blue-smut muzzle .’

Concerning the table - Wynne is the correct spelling!

Mr Malcolm Bush Wynne mentioned as Reverend M B Wynn or a persistent misconception in Mastiff history. - Because 1) census records, historian Mrs Brenda M Pask, and a/o also the book ‘Records of the Corrie family’ written by Mr M B Wynne’ cousin Miss Jessie Corrie mentions his father as Robert Wynne, so not Wynn; and 2) in 1888 he resigned as a member of the OEMC, disappeared from the Mastiff scene and became trained at the Gloucester School; in 1889 he was ordained a deacon and the following year finally priest. He became Rector of the parishes East - & West Allington [some five miles north of Belvoir castle] nearby Grantham until his death on 3 March 1909. He was President of the Grantham Clerical Society & Co-Manager of the School. Which makes clear he never was a Reverend during his years of 'active' Mastiff fancy.

Thanks to the Archivist Ms Amanda Jane Boxford of the Grantham Library it was possible to trace another interesting reference in a local book ‘Allington ~ The history of a Lincolnshire Village‘ written by Mrs Brenda M Pask. Quote - ‘Our knowledge of Allington at the turn of the century is greatly increased by the work of the Rector, Reverend M B Wynne. For a number of years he published a Christmas Newsletter entitled ‘Allington East and West ~ Past and Present‘ . This was a pamphlet of some eight pages in which he made observations on local events, interspersed with pastoral exhortations.

Rev. Geo Crabbe [at left], Rector of West Allington from [1789-1814], from a painting of Rev M B Wynne’ daughter Lilian G G Wynne, was reproduced on the cover of Reverend M B Wynne’ Christmas Newsletter dd 1905. The publications are particularly valuable for the detailed information he gives on local flora and fauna. He mentions the appearance of a Manx Shearwater on the Glebe land [1902], he describes the Green Woodpecker as common in the parish and mentions that a spotted Flycatcher had built a nest in his summer-house [1904] and that a Golden Crested Wren – see centre - has suspended its nest in his yew trees [1905]. Each year he records the date of first hearing the Nightingale and Cuckoo, and the appearance of the Swallows.

The weather of the year 1903 received special comment ~ ‘ The season will long be remembered as the wettest for the last 50 years. A spring with fruit blossom cut off by frosts, followed by a late hay-harvest. Newark Church windows having been damaged by the storm of hail that passed over us on July 25th. Our corn crops fairly good, and harvested much more fortunately than in many other villages, but the potatoes sorely affected by disease.’ - Mr Wynne, a keen lepidopterist, regularly recorded the appearance of Red Admirals – see at right -, Peacocks, Tortoiseshells & Painted Ladies. In 1906 he published, as an appendix to the Christmas Newsletter, a list of twenty butterflies [nine common in Allington] and a hundred and twenty-five moths [twenty-four common in Allington] observed within a mile and a half of Allington, during the seasons 1900 to 1906.

At left ~ The Village Cross of Allington with the Dutch gabled Manor House owned by Lord Baron Reginald Earle Welby [1832 – 1915]. Centre - Reverend MB Wynne, writing in his parish letter at Christmas, 1904, describes the finding of a polished green Neolithic axe in his potato patch at the Allington’ Rectory [built in 1870]. At right – Mr M B Wynne’ Young King b ’75 out of ch King’ dau Juno sired by ch King’ son Mr Elwell’ ch Taurus.

At left~ Allington Hall, the residence of the Welby family. Sir Geo Welby [1851-1936], the last Welby owner of the Estate, was educated at Eton and Trinity College [Cambridge] before entering the Diplomatic Service. Later on he became Her Britannic Majesty’s Minister Resident and Consul General in Bogota, Columbia. He had a home in London as well as Allington and became Mayor of Westminster in 1915. Centre ~ Holy Trinity Church of Allington, showing the 14th century bellcote; in front is the mower drawn by a leather boothed horse.At right - The Allington Salt Well’ earliest reference is to be found in a document of 1226. Several Sixteenth Century’ wills record bequests for the repairing of the Holy or Salt Well and clearly it has been an important element in Allington life, being the only village well which not dry up , even in drought conditions. It became something of a mecca for early photographers. At right ~ Reverend Malcolm Bush Wynne at the Allington’ Well in the company of a/o Charlie Handley [Post Office], Dick Drury and Sam Howitt.

This 'The Field' article published in The Grantham Journal dd April ’08 – less than a year before his death - indicates that Mr M B Wynne’ opinions re the Mastiff fancy were still appreciated. Rev Wynne mentions a/o - 'I commenced to breed some thirty-seven years ago' which substantiates the belief that it was his father - Rev Robert Wynne vicar of Scalford between '65-81 - who bred Mastiffs in former years, ie five KCSB recorded litters from '67 up to '70 and so-called bred by his son. Quite interesting is also that he believed - 'our modern English Mastiffs - lacking in activity and muscular power, in fact in fighting properties - might be improved by a judicious cross with some specimens of the true French Mastiffs (le Dogue de Bordeaux)'. -

Quite interesting is also his statement - re Mr Kingdon' stock - 'But in 1873 I put it on record - In an in breeding seems to me against all rule, and tends to diminish size. Blood which has to revolve in too close a circle is sure to degenerate, &c' -. Looking at Mr Wynne' litters since '73, there was a/o 1) Formosa b '73 out of a sis/brother mateing, 2) Young King b '75 out of a half sis/brother mateing.

Note – 1) In the 3rd column Rev MB Wynne is puzzled whether the Lyam hound might refer to Lord Newton’ estate Lyme Hall, but lyam refers to the lyam - or leash - used by the handler during a hunt with a Bloodhound in order to track game, a/o deer or boar, by scent. And , as far as known, there’s no source which substantiates that the Lyam hound was derived – ‘from crossing the progenitors of the Bulldog with larger breeds.’ -

Below - The Black Bull Inn and its sign at Sleaford - ca 20 mls E of Allington - figuring the Bull & three dogs described by Rev M B Wynne. The Nottingham Evening Post dd Aug ‘ ‘07 – ‘The ancient sport of bull baiting was often associated with this animal as sign. The Black Bull at Sleaford, in Lincolnshire, retains its ancient sign, built into the wall. It represents a bull being baited, with the date 1689 and and the initials B R M. Underneath is the date 1791, with the letters I W.’ - His particular interest in the ancient 'sport' of bull baiting and - in his own words - 'having owned very active Mastiffs and fast fighters', may perhaps explain that he was a breeder & successful show exhibitor of Game Cocks too.

At left – newspaper article dd Feb 1880 about a hidden gem for breed historians. At right – Rev Wynne’ obituary dd March ’09 which mentions that he was a great lover of sports, especially of cricket, and - erroneously - 'a noted breeder of St Bernards’. The Wynne family moved from Allington Rectory to Upton House Upton nr Southwell Notts where his wife - Mary Alice Butterworth Wynne née Sunderland born ’59 at Halifax - died in '43. Their children were all born at The Elms Rothley Barrow upon Soar nr Loughborough Leicestershire, ie 1) Abraham Sunderland Bindley Fountayne Peter Wynne b ’83 who died in ’64 at Worksop Notts in ’64 aged 80, 2) Lilian Gladys Georgina Wynne b ’86 who married in ’18 Mr Owen Jersey Law b ’71 of Mains Sanquhar – ca 50 mls S of Glasgow, one of the leading stock-breeders (shorthorn cattle) and farmers in the North of Scotland who died in ’32 at Inverness, and 3) William Henry Wynne b ’88 who died dd Oct 13th ’15 at Loos * en Gohelle Pas de Calais France - Lincolnshire Regt - aged 27.

At left & centre - postcard sent from Whitby Yorks dd Aug '12 and adressed to W(illiam) Wynne Upton House Upton. An omen of what will happen three years later? - Wiki quote - 'The Battle of Loos took place from 25 September – 8 October ‘15 in France. It was the biggest British attack of ‘15, the first time that the British used poison gas and the first mass engagement of New Army units *. The French and British tried to break through the German defences in Artois & Champagne and restore a war of movement. Despite improved methods, more ammunition and better equipment, the Franco-British attacks were contained by the German armies, except for local losses of ground. British casualties at Loos were about twice as high as German losses. * The New Army, often referred to as Kitchener' Army - see poster at right -, was an (initially) all-volunteer army of the British Army formed in the United Kingdom from 1914 onwards following the outbreak of hostilities in the First World War in late July 1914. It originated on the recommendation of Horatio Kitchener 1850-16, then the Secretary of State for War. Kitchener' original intention was that it would be formed and ready to be put into action in 1917, but circumstances dictated its use before then. The first use in a major action came at the Battle of Loos.' -

This standard, adopted by the ‘ Mastiff Breeding Club’ dd ’73, was published in Mr Henry Webb’ book ‘Dogs, their pecularities, &c’ together with Mr M B Wynne’ article ‘Defensio non offensio’ of twelve pages in which he a/o states – ‘One observation Mr Kingdon makes I agree with, and that is on the point of colour. This is a point I would prefer seeing done away with. I care little what colour a Mastiff is, and would just as soon have a dog with a white face and neck, or pie, as Peveril, as a fawn with black ears and muzzle. Old pictures show many of the best dogs possessing white faces and neck: Lukey’ Bruce; Garnier’ Lion – edit Lukey Governor’ sire -; Hanbury’ Lady, sister to Lion; Lukey’ Cardinal; Lukey’ Bell; Dan, the sire of Saladin - edit Cautley Quaker' sire -; and many others, all with more or less white on head or neck, and Vandyke’ picture of the Mastiff of Charles I’ day. All breeders must become converts to this opinion sooner or later, I feel sure.’ –

Below - part of a tableau published in the Illustrated London News dd Dec page 545 figuring the prize winners of Poultry and Dogs at the Birmingham Show where Peveril - labeled by Mr M B Wynne as pie in colour - got the champion prize. Nothing in this drawing, by the renowned artist Harrison Weir, indicates that Peveril was heavily patched in colour, but only presenting a white blaze. - Note - Peveril was full brother to the Wynnes' Old Druid.

Mr M B Wynne’ point of view is grist to the mill of some Mastiff fancy to-day. Fact is that the Mastiff Breeding Club led by a/o Mr Wynne was dissolved due to a/o the penalty of expulsion of members who showed their Mastiffs under judges who weren’t member of the Mastiff Club or at shows who were not approved by the Mastiff Club. The result was an utter lack of support and the Northampton show of 1876 held under their auspices had only four entries, a similar fiasco occurred at Bristol in 1877, and a revised breed standard dd 1880 aside, the sputtering flame of the 1st Mastiff Club faded away. - All in all - Mr M B Wynne could never persuade the then Mastiff fancy of his ‘colour’ opinion and it’s a vain question if present-day acolytes adhering his ‘colours’ and - on top of that - even heavily patched dogs, are beating a dead horse.

The author of the Stock-Keeper article dd Feb ‘81, Mr R Balderston, may have been Mr R M Balderston of Station road Sandbach – Cheshire ca eighty mls West of Scalford where the Wynnes’ kennels were located. According to the KCSB Mr Balderston owned several Mastiffs, ie Byron’ son & daughter Griffin & Vera, b July ’74 and ch King’ grand-daughter Meg, b ’75 . The KCSB doesn’t mention the subject of the court case against MB Wynne, ie 'Rowena' bred by Mr Balderston(e) but perhaps she was progeny of the Mastiff(s) mentioned hereabove.

The article mentions rightly Mr Wynne' Norah being described by the Stud Book as -' white blaze on muzzle, white neck, legs and tip of stern' -; Mr Wynne' Norah was the result of a sis/brother - Muna ex King II - mateing back to the Wynnes' foundation brood Old Norah - bred by Captain Cox - ex ch King, the latter described as - 'a fawn, black ears and muzzle' -. So it's possible the Wynnes' foundation brood Old Norah possessed markings similar to her daughter Norah who produced British King sired by a maternal nephew of the white-faced Peeress, namely Young King, Mr Wynne' last homebred stud. It might be clear that the white markings ran through the entire history of the Wynnes' kennels, and certainly had influenced Mr Wynne' opinion re the colour of the breed as a whole. Prejudiced or not, one never shall know.

According to the KCSB, the Wynnes' white-faced Peeress was only once shown, namely at Birmingham Dec '72 judged by Mr Edgar Hanbury who was co-instrumental in founding the Mastiff Breeding Club around that time; Peeress got 1st prize seconded by the Wynnes' Empress b '68 & bred by Mr Hodge - out of ch Turk' maternal aunt Slut sired by Charlie -, the latter out of Mr Kingdon' Alp sired by Lukeys Governor' son Mr Hanbury' Prince -.

The painting by the artist Robert Home 1752-‘34 presents one of the greatest anatomists of all time, ie Scotsman John Hunter b 1728-’93 founder of experimental pathology in England together with a Mastiff type showing semi-erect ears and light creamy coat incl white blaze.

Scalford in times of the Wynne family, ie Rev Robert Wynne being Anglican rector between March 1865 – December ‘81. A village & civil parish in the Melton borough of Leicestershire, lying four 4 mls N of Melton Mowbray at the southern end of the Vale of Belvoir and situated on the Jubilee Way footpath from Melton Mowbray to Belvoir Castle and a 'stop off' for walkers between Melton & the Vale of Belvoir. The name of the village is derived from Old English and originally meant shallow ford. The Scalford parish church, which is on a small hill in the centre of the village, is named after St Eglewin and is believed to be the only one in the country named after this saint, a Public Elementary School was built here in 1861 and enlarged in 1873.

Like many villages, Scalford has lost a number of industries and amenities over the years. There used to be a dairy which produced Stilton cheese, three bakers, a blacksmith, stonemasons, builders, a shoe mender and a range of shops - one incorporating the post office -. Around 1875-1930 , there were also flourishing brickyards a/o ‘Lionville brickyard’ and bricks with the Scalford imprint burned in can still be found; the master' house remains and is called ‘Lion House’ - see at left - after the company name . At right – Scalford railway station.

Scalford dd 1871 - 2,520 acres, real property £3, 855, population 553, and houses 124 including the Plough Inn & the Black Horse. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Peterborough, value £355, Patron the Duke of Rutland. There are chapels for Wesleyans & Primitive Methodists, a national school & and charities £25. - Source - John Marius Wilson' Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales. The Anglican parish church, built in the 13th c, is dedicated to St Eglewin the Martyr, the church chancel rebuilt in 1845, the church restored in 1859 and counts 320 seats. The Wesleyan Methodists built a large chapel here in 1844 to replace an older one and the Primitive Methodists built a chapel here in 1835, a new one was constructed in 1870.

Newspaper snippets re Scalford - October 21th 1865 – ‘A very interesting game at cricket was played Thursday, on the grounds of the Rev R Wynne Scalford, between eleven of the Scalford club and eleven of the Morning Star club.’ - December 30th 1881 – ‘The Vicarage of Scalford is vacant by the sudden death on Dec 27th of the Rev R Wynne. The living returned in the gift of the Duke of Rutland.’ - January 07th 1882 - 'On the 24th of November, after long suffering, Eva Charlotte Reeve Wynne, only daughter of the Rev Robert Wynne, vicar Scalford Leicestershire, aged 28 years.’ -

This KC show dd July 1887 - see above at left drawing by the artist R H Moore - was hosted by the Ranelagh Club on the northerly loop of the River Thames between Barnes and Fulham; Barn Elms is derived from the Georgian house – see above at right - & parkland which stood on the site. Mastiff judge of the day was Mr Malcolm Bush Wynne whose book ‘The History of the Mastiff’ – dedicated to a/o Mr John Lyall of Glasgow and Rev Henry Waters, Chaplain of Bedford Prison – was published the year before and therefore an extra point of attraction. Interestingly, in Challenge Class Mr Wynne gave the first three prizes to ancestors of the highly outstanding ch Peter Piper born '93, ie maternal G3 sire ch Beaufort, maternal & paternal G4 sire ch Montgomery, and paternal G4 sire ch Victor Hugo; 3rd prize in Open Class Bitches, ie ch Montgomery' brindle daughter Zillah III was commented by Mr Wynne as a/o - 'still, she is strong in some points calculated to make her a useful brood bitch', an estimation which became confirmed by her son ch Ogilvie, ch Peter Piper' paternal grandsire. Ch Ogilvie sired ch PP' paternal aunt ch Brampton Beauty and ch Marc Antony, the latter renowned for having sired ch Marcella, ch Clarice sire The Cadet, and ch Ha Ha, the latter bred by Mr Wm Norman Higgs..

– Notes 1) – re the words of Augustus recalled themselves ‘Ergo sum inter suspiria et lacrymais’ and the lines of Ovid ‘Et hic praedam pedibus petit , ille salutem ; alter inhaesuro similis’ written by Mr MB Wynne to describe the scene’ or translated freely – ‘Hence I’m between the sighing and weeping ones ’ - ‘and this one seeks prey with its feet , that one safety ; one like one about to grasp’. 2) Mr Gambier Bolton 1854-29 was - Wiki quote - 'an English author and photographer of subjects on natural history and 'psychical phenomena'. Bolton made numerous photographs of animals during his travels to many countries, including one with the party accompanying the duke of Newcastle on his tour. His interest in animal photography was professional, amongst the first intending to profit from this pursuit. His works are sometimes preserved as scientific records for societies, though their value was not widely recognised, and appeared in journals and books of zoology. He was a founding member of the club devoted to Siamese cats, founded in England in 1901.'

Mr M B Wynne, the man who – dixit – ‘did not care what colour a Mastiff is’, reported about ch Beaufort’ Black Prince’ dam Gerda – ‘2nd prize, except for want of blackness of ears, is a little model, &c’ - and about her sis Frigga – 3rd prize, is not so good in a/o … colour, &c’. As far as known, this Ranelagh show of 1887 was Mr Wynne’ last Mastiff judging appointment.

The 1894 annual report was published in the Kennel Gazette dd Jan ‘95 and written by Mr Charles Court Rice ’61-36 - who bred a/o ch Frigga Secunda, ch Elgiva & ch Ha Ha' sire Dynevor -. The article mentions a/o 1) Miss Constable b ’93 & bred by Mr W N Higgs out of ch Beaufort’ dau Coombe Biddy sired by ch Hotspur’ paternal grandson Dick Constable; 2) Jonathan - owned by the Dutch fancier Mr Dobbelmann – who sired a/o ch Holland’ Black Boy & Am ch Black Peter; 3) ch Ilford County Member b ’89 & bred by Mr Richard Cook out of ch Beaufort’ dau Ilford Lady Cobrey sired by ch Orlando’ son ch Jack Thyr; 4) Ingestre b ’92 & bred by Mr J S Cockerton out of ch Jack Thyr’ dau Amalaswintha sired by ch Beaufort’ son Lord Stafford; and 5) the rising star Peter Piper b March '93.

In his 1894 annnual report Mr Charles Court Rice mentions a/o – ‘there can be no doubt they – ed present Mastiffs – have reached a healthier position than at any other recent period’ and ‘I am sure I am right in saying that the Mastiff’ position is in a healthier tone than it has been for years’.

Just a year later Mr C C Rice’ comments have changed drastically leaving the reader with an unadulterated lamentation about the state of the breed, ie the Mastiffs, their breeders & judges, thereby yearning for times gone by. One may wonder what has happened to change his mind, and if such kind of report was a cue that the 34 years old Mr Rice was about done with the Mastiff fancy in England as only a few years later he and his family left England to start a new life in Australia, particularly Sidney.

This report dd Jan 1890 was written by ‘A YOUNG BREEDER’, most probably Mr Charles Court Rice too. Ch Jack Thyr owned & bred by the Belgian Rev Henry Van Doorne - out of ch His Majesty King Canute' dau Lady Canute sired by ch Orlando - got a/o the Crufts '91 cc. Ch Lord Stafford’ brother Sir Stafford – see 4th alinea – sired Mr Rice’ first two litters, ie 1) out of ch Orlando’ dau ch Frigga resulting in ch Frigga Secunda & Beaufort Cardinal, the latter exported to the US, and 2) out of ch Frigga Secunda which produced ch Ha Ha’ sire Dynevor & her sis Osburga II. Mr Rice’ 3rd and last litter was out of Sir Stafford’ daughter Lady Lena sired by Iron Duke’ son Ethelred and gave ch Elgiva & Elfrida. Note – Iron Duke sibling to Tom Bowling – was ch Peter Piper’ cousin. - The 2nd column mentions a/o 1) Capt Piddocke’ Don Juan II who sired ch Plutarch - ch Marcella' maternal grandsire -, and 2) ch Toozie who, mated to ch Victor Hugo, produced Peter Piper’ sire Tom Bowling, ch Ha Ha’ dam Stella III, Iron Duke & ch Brampton Beauty. The 3rd column mentions a/o Seabreeze bred by Mrs Geo Willins out of ch Cambrian Princess sired by ch Beaufort; her brother Ayrshire was the well-known last prize winner for ch Beaufort’ breeder Dr John Sidney Turner. - Ayrshire’ photograph is to be seen in the page spent on ‘Dr J Sidney Turner’.

The article written by Mr Edmund Giffard Oliver, of Hellingly fame, was published in the Kennel Gazette dd 1936. - Mr Rice' 1st Mastiff Gelert b May '85 was out of Am ch Ilford Caution' sis Claudia sired by ch Orlando. As mentioned in the article Mr Rice was the Secretary of the New South Wales Kennel Club; his 'great friend' Mr H A Richardson was President of that same Club. - Miscellanea Five contains info & photographs regarding - sic - 'the finest Mastiff dog' Mr Rive ever saw, namely Hazeldene Noble. - At left - Ch Frigga Secunda with her dam ch Frigga drawn by artist Arthur Wardle. At right - a photograph of Mr Rice' Ethelred published in the Mastiff chapter p 323 of Count de Bylandt' Les Races de Chiens dd 1904.

The 29 years old Mr C C Rice got in 1891 the honour to be appointed Mastiff judge at the first Crufts provided with Mastiff classes. Dog cc went to Rev Van Doorne' ch Jack Thyr preceding Capt Piddocke' youngster Ogilvie, Mr Taunton' ch Hotspur & Dr Turner' Ayrshire; the Bitch cc was awarded to Ayrshire' sis Seabreeze owned by Mrs Geo Willins, 2nd Capt Piddocke ch Jubilee Beauty & 3rd ch Hotspur' dau Firefly owned by Stafford breeder Mr Albert Andrews. Here below are selected three show reports written by Mr C C Rice; ie 1) Crystal Palace KC show '92, 2) Crystal Palace KC show '94, and 3) Portsmouth show Aug '94.

The quote - 'It would be idle to deny that the fact of my being appointed to judge very seriously affected the entry, numerically' might indicate that Mr Rice' straightforward, not to say harsh, comments yielded him more foes than friends... Notes re names mentioned - Ch Carshalton Prince b '88 & bred by Mr Taunton out of ch Orlando' dau Lady Doughty sired by ch Hotspur; Carshalton King b '88 & bred by Mr Taunton out of Kepler' dau Brentwood sired by ch Hotspur; Noble VIII b '88 & bred by Mr Taunton out of ch Hotspur' dau Carshalton Belle sired by Young Colonel' son Arabi; Waterloo Belle b '90 & bred by Mr Harry Ralph out of ch Beaufort' dau Grave Beaufort sired by ch Hotspur; Lady Florida was sis to ch Lord Stafford & Sir Stafford. The bitch Truant b '88 & bred/owned by Honorary Major Robert Gayer Traill ‘39–08, barrister-at-law of Heathstown House Athboy Co Meath, out of Colleen More sired by ch Prince of Wales' son Napoleon owned by Dr Chas A Lougest of Liverpool.

Notes re names mentioned - Lyndhurst Bounce - b Dec '92 & bred by Mr John Beanland MRCVS, out of Kaiser Frederick' dau Vistula II sired by Stella III' and Tom Bowling' brother Iron Duke - was shortly after the Portsmouth show dd Aug '94 purchased andrenamed Ethelred by his owner Mr C C Rice who transferred him to Mr W N Higgs soon. Ethelred' brother Lyndhurst Boy became maternal grandsire to Mr A W Lucas' ch Marchioness, and the Hazlemere champions Czar Peter & Archie owned by Mr Leadbetter. Mr Wm Norman Higgs' ch Ilford County Member b Nov '89 & bred by Mr Richard Cook out of Beaufort' dau Ilford Lady Cobrey sired by ch Jack Thyr; ch Coombe Baroness b Aug '89 & bred by Mr Mark Beaufoy out of ch Hotspur' dau Coombe Daphne sired by ch Montgomery; Lady Lena b June '91 & bred by Mr Mr Arthur Pengaley Mann, of Cavendish house 48 Calabria road Highbury place London, out of ch Cardinal' grand-dau Lady Cavendish sired by Sir Stafford.

At left – a Kennel Gazette article re the show year 1891 ‘Review of Mastiffs’ – written by Mr C C Rice - wherein Captain JL Piddocke’ Lord Clive, sibling to ch Plutarch b Sept ‘89 out of ch Beaufort’ Lady Dudley sired by by ch Jack Thyr’ son Don Juan II was severely tackled as ~ ‘of bad construction and bad in forelegs , and has no end of other faults ! ‘ . At right – A photograph dd April '91 of Lord Clive being about 18 months old or even younger.

At the Birmingham Show Dec ‘90 the judge Mr T W Allen [ch Montgomery’ owner] reported ~ ‘Lord Clive - a young dog of good promise, having size and bone with capital legs and carriage. His ears are full large, and at present he is too flat-sided and wanting in cheeks, and his expression, though kindly, lacks dignity. Increasing age should remedy most of his faults, and if so he will, I think, generally find a place in the money.’ At the Manchester Show March ‘91 Mr Mark Beaufoy described him as following ~ ‘Lord Clive won easily. He is a grand young dog, with enormous bone, a good head, deep square muzzle and perfect markings. He is a little inclined to be monkey faced and might be a few inches longer in back.' - Captain JL Piddocke’ phlegmatic reaction dd 22nd January 1892 sounds rather diplomatic and also his balanced judge report of the Manchester Show dd March ‘93 oozes gentlemanship! After Capt Piddocke’ death Lord Clive was purchased by Mr Luke Crabtree who entered him at Birmingham Dec ‘95 and the same Mr T W Allen reported – ‘So far as head proporties went – indeed his whole front, Lord Clive would have been easily first, but he was sadly handicapped by his weak hindquarters, and the terribly bad action of his hind legs. A grander headed dog I have never seen.' -

The hereabove copy of ‘The St Bernard & English Mastiff and all about them’ has been purchased from Mr Stewart Higgins of Poulton Farm Frith Road Ashford nr Lympne where the Cinque Ports Mastiff kennels of Captain & Mrs Frances Samuelson were located in the 1930s. It has been in his family and has been kept in good condition on his grand book shelf. His great-grandparents, his gran & her brother had Mastiffs on their farm in Kent and purchased the book all those years ago. Mr/Mrs Les & Julie Wilson , of Halson Gallery – Rare Canine Books - The Oaks Farnworth nr Manchester , have only ever come across two copies of this book , one (with Library Bookplate of Buckfastleigh Abby annex a tipped in signed and dated letter from the author) sold in 2007 for £950 and another that Clifford Lionel Barry Hubbard had for sale at Crufts in the 1990s. According to them Clifford Lionel Barry Hubbard '13-00, of Wales, stated there was a note about the history of the book, the book having a legal dispute in one of the chapters which meant it could not actually be issued, ie only a few presentation copies from the authors where issued for review and actually may still exist. Clifford Hubbard did confirm at some point that he thought there was only eight in existence. Another source mentions that – ‘every copy was recalled except for 35 that had already been sold in the shops.’

Quote from the National Library of Wales – ‘Clifford Lionel Barry ('Doggie') Hubbard, author and bookseller, was born in Clydach in 1913, but he spent his boyhood years in Aberaeron and Bath. After leaving school he worked for a year in the kennels of the Bath Dog Bureau. He spent a brief period doing heavy manual labour for charities in London and he made an unsuccessful attempt to emigrate by stowing away on board ship, before returning to work with dogs, first at the European Supreme Dog Bureau in Bayswater, then at kennels in Llanarth. Around that time he began to accumulate information on the care, breeding and history of dogs. For a period between 1951 and 1956, he and his family emigrated to Australia, where he was employed in the ordering department of a government printing office. During his stay he loaned his collection of books to the Commonwealth National Library of Australia and, upon his return, to the National Library of Wales for a short time. During the 1960s Hubbard worked on orders in the book department of Harrods and spent his free time accumulating a substantial collection of his own. In 1972 he established the 'Doggie Hubbard Bookshop', which was situated in Buxton Derbyshire, then from 1981, in Ponterwyd, Ceredigion. He was an acknowledged expert on antiquarian and other dog books, and his collection comprised many thousands of volumes, both in English and in other languages. His own writings consisted of books on various canine subjects, including the earliest editions of The Observer's Book of Dogs, and articles for journals such as Dog World, Our Dogs and the Kennel Gazette, often using the pseudonym 'Canis'. Some of his early articles were on non-canine subjects, published in the Southampton Star under the pen-name 'Barry Fraser.' He was also editor of the Dog Lover's Library series, based at Grosvenor House in Aberystwyth, during the 1950s and Kennel Editor for the Kensington News. Other activities included travelling to dog shows with his book stall, broadcasting on radio and television, lecturing, serving on the committees of the local Sea Cadets and Aberystwyth Carnival, and participating in a busy family life. He died in June 2000 and was buried at Aberaeron.’ -

William Bullen, Treasurer of the 'English St Bernard Club' and judge of the St Bernard breed at Crufts 1930, does not mention a particular name of Mastiff but he definitely refers to 'a brindle Mastiff of high repute', that on page 22 of his breed review - 'The St Bernard - King of Dogs - The History with illustrated St Bernards of Notability', part of the booklet 'The St Bernard & English Mastiff and all about them' by W Bullen & Mrs Norah Dickin, published early 1936. Note - In those days brindle Mastiffs of 'high repute' were proportionately rather very scarce which may make believe it perhaps could have been ch Ogilvie. - Remark re 402 Monarch' 12 by 10 inches painting in gilt frame by E F Holt dated 1868 about which Mr Hubbard suggests - 'He is probably Green' Monarch' might be an error as the KCSB states Mr Green' Monarch was born dd 1871, so arguably it goes about the other Monarch mentioned by the 1st KCSB registrations, ie Monarch b '67 & bred/owned by the Wynnes of Scalford.

The St Bernard above at right is described by Mr Bullen as following – ‘ Last, but not least, is the grand typical and handsome dog champion Abbots Pass Romeo, beautiful colour, rich in bloom & markings, magnificent square skull with lovely benevolent expression, strong, powerful & symmetrical throughout. His weight –220 lb– without doubt the finest and most glorious specimen ever produced, bred & owned by Mrs Evelyn Kate Staines '80-41 of Hook Farm, Leigh Reigate. At all shows , &c , this dog attracted great attention and admiration, and naturally greatly sought after. In fact very large sums of money has been offered for him, very considerably over thousand pounds.’ - Shove away his colours, and Romeo reminds - incl the domed skull & abrupt stop - at quite a number of Mastiffs in more recent times… Below Mrs Dickin' crew of Mastiffs. - At right – another breed booklet of the same series issued by Dog World Watmough Ltd Co - Idle, Bradford & London.

The author of this article dd June 1881 published in the Kennel Club' newspaper 'Kennel Gazette' mentions a/o - 'A London breeder who has shown great keenness in advocating the principles laid down by Mr Hanbury & Rev W J Mellor, and others, as to what real Mastiffs should really be.'- Interestingly, he does not mention the name of Mr M B Wynne, notwithstanding the fact the Mastiff Breeding Club - with Mr Wynne as Secretary & Treasurer - had adopted a breed standard in 1873 and revised in 1880, that three years before the foundation of the Old English Mastiff Club and followed by the adoption of the OEMC standard laid down by Rev W J Mellor, Mr WK Taunton & Dr J S Turner.

Mr Walter Kelsey Taunton is to be considered as a real 'Cockney', being born at Holborn London within earshot of the Mary Le Bow bells. His 'Kelsey' kennels were situated at Manor Farm seven miles out of city on the Essex side, ie at Forest Gate, in those days a quiet refuge for busy citizens going out fishing at Heronry pond. His first litter dd '73 was out of Saxon' maternal aunt Nell sired by ch Wolsey' brother Mr Nichols' Prince who sired ch Beau too. More about Mr Winchester Clowes' Saxon to be found in Miscellanea Three about half-way. - The next seven Kelsey litters dd '73-81 were sired by ch Cardinal - three out of ch Gwendolen, the other four out of Vixen, Thekla, and ch Cardinal' daughters Cleopatra & Columbine. Mr Taunton' Modoc b '73 was out of ch Turk' dau Nell sired by Mr Octavius Green' ch Monarch who sired his ch Gwendolen out of Mr Lukey Baron' dau Grace; ch Gwendolen was sibling to Mr Mark Beaufoy' ch Nero. Mr Taunton' ch Cardinal was out of ch Wolsey' dau Princess sired by ch Punch' huge brother Big Ben.

Ch The Lady Gladys' measurements - according the Kennel Encyclopaedia 1910 - height 26 i, weight 128 lb, girth of chest 36 i, girth of skull 23 i, girth of muzzle 14 1/2 i, girth of fore arm 10 i, length from nose to occiput 10 i, length from nose to rest of tail 51 i. Note - the mateing between ch The Lady Gladys and ch Beau has not resulted in progeny.

Ch Cardinal' dau Tayra b ’79 - mentioned page one 2nd column – was owned by Mr Abraham Dee Bartlett 1812 – 97 – see centre with the dead gorilla -, superintendent of the Gardens of the Zoological Society of London at Regent’ Park between ‘59-'97 . He published numerous articles on the observations he made at the zoo. These were published after his death in two books, Wild Animals in Captivity ‘98 & Life among Wild Beasts in 'the Zoo' 1900. He had great wizardry with animals, and was always to be seen around the Gardens in his ‘working uniform’ of top hat and frock coat - even when performing such a task as sawing off a deformed horn which was causing distress to a Rhinoceros. In 1876 the Zoological Society obtained a Esquimaux dog from the Arctic explorer Sir Allen Young whom became a cornerstone of Mr W K Taunton’ breeding of Esquimaux dogs, a/o the much prized ‘Myouk ‘ owned by the wife of renowned Bloodhound breeder Edwin Brough. Mr W K Taunton, a Fellow of the Zoological Gardens, collected all kind of rare breeds a/o the Chinese Crested and brought them to display in Mr Bartlett’ Zoological Gardens.

At left - Tayra’ younger sis Lily II, a brindle owned by Dr F J Campbell of the Royal College for the Blind, was made up a champion in ‘86. –Tayra, owned by Mr A D Bartlett, got in '81 1st prize at the Alexandra Palace Show – see above official KC report -, and 1st prize & medal at the Maidstone Show - ‘The Mastiff bitches were not such a good lot as the dogs, and it was an easy win for Tayra, the second, Mr Mark Beaufoy' Dinah, being a fairly good bitch but deficient in colour, and the third, Dr J S Turner' The Lady Rowena, has hardly filled up to what was expected of her when she won at the Crystal Palace, Thekla being altogether outclassed in this company.’ - The official KC report about the Bristol Dog Show dd Aug ’82 mentions – ‘A capital bitch won in the brindled Tayra, belonging to Mr A D Bartlett, but bred by Mr Taunton, and got by champion Cardinal. She won at the Alexandra Show, and it will take a very good one to beat her.’ At right - Ch Lily II' & Tayra' maternal grandsire Mr Octavius Green' ch Monarch. Note - The page concerning 'W K Taunton' includes a drawing of Tayra by artist R H Moore.

Mr Wynne’ 1st Open Class prize went to Wodan - Cedric The Saxon' dau Gytha II ex ch Beaufort - seconded by Alfgar - Gytha II' sis Wunna ex ch Hotspur or ch Orlando -. Only few days later The Oxford Times announced the death of Mr John Lampitt, of the Vulcan Foundry Neithrop, which took place suddenly at Edgehill. Lionel was purchased and renamed Brahma by Mr Joseph Evans, a London breed fancier who has owned quite a lot of well-known Mastiffs, a/o ch The Emperor, Moses & Orion.

A pity Mr Oliver had - re Crown Prince - not the hands-on experience of the gentlemen mentioned in the former alinea, and arguably relied upon one photograph of Crown Prince past his prime, the one published in the Hutchinson Encyclopaedia - see above at left - and which certainly not validates Mr Wynne' words - 'he will always remain one of the planets of Mastiff history'. -

At right - Mr Beaufoy' ch Pontiff - out of ch Cardinal' dam sired by ch Rajah - and - at the foreground - ch Crown Prince' brother ch Prince Regent who defeated ch Crown Prince at Crystal Palace July '83 - Communicated - 'Prince Regent, the winner, certainly lacks the massive character of his distinguished brother Crown Prince, but in length of body, mask and stifles he is certainly superior.' - The Crystal Palace July ’84 judge report by Dr J S Turner mentions a/o – ‘Prince Regent died a few days ago, and in him the Mastiff world lost one of the best all round dogs which had shone in its sphere for many years, as he had fewer bad faults than any dog I know.’ – Ch Prince Regent sired Dr Renton’ ch Prince of Wales b Feb ’83, the latter maternal grandsire to Dr J S Turner’ ch Isolde bred by Dr Eadon.

But ch Prince of Wales' most important descent was Duke of Fife linebred by Mr Wm Shearer Clark of Wishaw - nr Glasgow - out of ch Prince of Wales' dau Lady Florence sired by ch Prince of Wales' maternal grandson Captain Marryatt. Duke of Fife became maternal grandsire to 1) Cleveland breeder George Cook' foundation Marton Princess, and 2) to the famous ch Hazlemere Ronald.

The Kennel Gazettes of 1882 include a selected list of stud dogs; the Mastiff chapter mentions the weight of champion studs - Beau b '76 160 lb, Crown Prince b '80 180 lb, Nero b '75 180 lb, Pontiff b '79 147 lb, and Prince Regent b '80 155 lb.

– Hertfordshire Show Sept ‘82 - 'Mastiffs formed one of the features of the show, as there were entered forty-two entered, Crown Prince and Cardinal again leading off for the Champion Cup, and once more the palm of rivalry went to Crown Prince, who never looked better, show going apparently agreeing with him wonderfully well, and it is one of the proofs of his good temper and even disposition that nothing puts him out. It was a red letter day for Dr Winslow' crack in more particulars, also, than his own victory, as several of his progeny came to the fore in subsequent classes.’ – Maidstone ’82 – ‘Champion Mastiffs were represented by Crown Prince and Cardinal. Both dogs are so well known that it is only necessary to say Crown Prince won, but if Mr Taunton could only get Cardinal in the splendid condition Crown Prince is always shown, it might be a closer contest. They are both splendid dogs’. – Sheffield ’82 – 'In the Champion Class Crown Prince rightly carried off the prize; he was in tip-top condition, and if one could only be disabused of his Dudley coloured face, and he were longer in body, I – Mr Hanbury – consider him the finest specimen extant.' - York Show Aug ‘83 - 'Four champions entered in Mastiffs. It was as good as a walk over for Crown Prince, looking in splendid form.’ – Crystal Palace Feb ’84 – ‘The fight lay between Crown Prince and Pontiff. Both dogs were shown in the pink of condition. Crown Prince has a better loin, more massive head, and, taking him all round, he is the better of the two.' - Crystal Palace '85 – ‘Crown Prince beats Cardinal in head, and his body, though a little too short, is well ribbed up and very massive. His straight hocks are very unsightly, but do not seem to interfere with his action as much as might be imagined.’ - Rounding up the Crown Prince saga, it might be true that the leading breed fanciers of his day had a particular penchant for the massive barrel-ribbed character shown up so well by Crown Prince.

The four Crown Prince litters bred by Dr Turner out of ch Colonel' maternal grand-dau The Lady Rowena resulting in a/o ch Beaufort' dam ch The Lady Isabel, ch Ogilvie' grandsire ch Orlando, and Mr W K Taunton ch Hotspur are other successful examples of the Crown Prince/Colonel line. Mr Alston' ch Colonel b '75 grandsired Dr Winslow' ch Crown Princess, ch Ilford Chancellor' dam Brenda Secunda, and ch Count Orlando' dam Idalia too.

Although Mr Edmund G Oliver' quote re – ‘Crown Prince was used enormously at stud’ does not stand the test within the then KCSB data, the presence of Crown Prince within the KCSB reg pedigrees of champions born after his 1st litter – April 1881 – is yet even more than 'enormously', ie apart from Cambrian Princess b '82 , her brother His Majesty King Canute, ch Crown Prince' younger half brother (or brother?) Maximilian b '82, Albert Victor b '83, and finally Victor Hugo b '84, ALL other British champions born before the end of the Victorian era - numbering about 35 or 7/8 of the whole pack - carried Crown Prince’ blood. And it might be plausible that since then every single KCSB reg Mastiff was/is a Crown Prince' descent.

The KCSB lines of Cambrian Princess, Maximilian & Albert Victor died out soon, whereas the two other champion lines survived, ie - His Majesty King Canute & Victor Hugo, resp G4 & G3 sire to the well-known stud pillar Mellnotte b 1897, ancestor of the paternal stud line which passes through Copenore Jason, and still going on till present-day.

This much discussed dog was born Sept ’25 & bred by Mr Henry Young, a milk vendor of Berwick-on-Tweed, out of Tweedview Belle sired by Wantley King Baldur. His dam Tweedview Belle was sis to Cleveland Chancellor - Hellingly ch's Cardinal' & Marksman' grandsire - & younger brother ch Cleveland Premier and bred by Cleveland breeder Mr George Cook of Marton Middlesbrough. Joseph’ sire Wantley King Baldur was brother to Menai Markie, ch Menai Yosemite & Mr W H Calcott' ch Beechwood Queen, all bred by Menai breeder Mr Bob Thomas of The Hydro Buxton.

Joseph aka ‘Joe’ was purchased as a puppy from Mr Henry Young, a milk vendor of Berwick on Tweed, by Studland breeder Mrs Walton of Innisfree Old Mill Mayfield and was very successful at local shows in ’26. She was the wife of Dr Albert James Walton KCVO Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, the Harley street physician who has been appointed Surgeon to His Majesty’ household in ‘30. Mrs Walton owned ch Havengore Bill' sis Studland Sarah Jane too, but the KCSB recordings for show results in '27 mention her as owned by Santa breeder Mrs Dorothy Gabriel, of Epsom Downs, who mated her to Mr Guy Percival Greenwood' ch Benvolio resulting in a/o Santa Alftruda - see her pic at the end of Miscellanea Four -. owned by Mr Pieter J Derek Spaanderman, chemist of Huthwaite - Notts.

At right - two photographs taken from the Our Dogs Xmas Supplement Dec '27 figuring the renowned stud ch Havengore Bill at 15 months old - born May 10th '25 - and his sis Studland Sarah Jane, also born May 10th '25 and not '26 as described by the Our Dogs' advert.

1929 began with ch Cleveland Premier’ cc at Crufts seconded by Joseph and judged by Mr Wm Hunter-Johnston; the 2nd show, ie Manchester judged by Cleveland breeder Mr Herbert Cook, Joseph got a 3rd Limit preceded by Mr Guy P Greenwood ch Benvolio & Miss Bell’ ch Woden. Joseph got his 1st cc at Richmond July ’29 under Mr Sam Crabtree who awarded the reserve to ch Woden, 3rd prize went to ch Benvolio. The next show Mr Theo Marples gave the cc to ch Benvolio, seconded by ch Cleveland Premier and 3rd prize for Joseph. At the last cc show of ’29, namely Birmingham Mr Chris Houlker awarded the 2nd cc to Joseph, 2nd Mr Greenwood’ ch Duke, and 3rd ch Havengore Bill.

Joseph sired mainly Hellingly litters but also litters bred by others, ie 1) Benton breeder Miss Liddell out of ch Westcroft Blaise' dau Benton Elizabeth and containing a/o Hellingly Brian & Jasper; 2) Ileden breeder Mrs Woods out of ch Ileden Volo which gave a/o Ileden Biddy; 3) Trelyon breeder Mrs Thomas out of Menai Comet’ dau Hellingly Sylvia producing a/o Trelyon Dick, recipient of one cc, and Trelyon Girl, the latter dam to Hellingly Maud bred by Miss Reid and dam to Valiant Diadem’ paternal grandsire Altnacraig Eric; and 4) Viscount Weymouth out of ch Cleveland Premier’ dau Hellingly Hanna producing Hellingly Elaine, the latter dam to Hellingly King who sired Altnacraig Eric, the latter thus along both parents going back to ch Hellingly Joseph in 3rd generation.

Mr Edmund Giffard Oliver ’80-39 did not take a leaf for the mouth and regularly outed his opinion in comprehensive eloquently written breed articles published in the Kennel Gazette, a/o dd Nov ’30 and Dec ’32. Here below - some extracts from the one dd Nov ’30.

In his Kennel Gazette article dd Nov '30 Mr Oliver, once again, laments about ch Crown Prince b '80, ie – ‘It is curious that the beginning of the decline in popularity of Mastiffs seems to have synchronised with the advent of Crown Prince.’ - But here Mr Oliver warps not only the Kennel Club data, ie the 1880s were by far the breed hey-day in numbers of registrations, but also disregards the then newspaper articles and show reports which, regularly, pointed out the increase of Mastiff breed popularity in that particular decade. All in all, an understandable stance that Mr Oliver highly disliked Crown Prince, the latter in so many breed points different to the Olivers' ch Hellingly Joseph of whom he wrote in '37 - 'the best dog of his day having never seen a dog I thought so good on the whole though doubtless like all good animals he had a few - very few - faults.' -

Extracts taken from Mr E G Oliver’ Kennel Gazette’ article dd Dec ’32. The Mastiff breed had not the least rivalry of the 'German Boarhound' breed in those 1870s when dog showing was booming, thereby extra fueled by the foundation of the Kennel Club dd 1873, an institution which, only ten years later, admitted the German Boarhound breed to the Studbook and was given a class both at Crystal Palace and at Birmingham. In 1884 it appeared as the Great Dane and at the end of the 19th century the Great Dane Club was one of the most flourishing specialist clubs counting a hundred members, even more than the National St Bernard Club.

In the centre alinea Mr Oliver mentions – ‘Even as late as about 1865 the Mastiff was still a rare dog’, nevertheless he mentions in another alinea of his K G article dd Dec '32 Mr Lukey’ Countess born '59, Mr Hanbury' Prince born '62 and Mr Hanbury' ch Duchess born '60 amongst – sic - 'The most famous Mastiffs during the period of the greatest popularity of the breed, such as Mr Field' ch King, his son ch Turk, the latter' maternal uncle ch Lion owned by Miss Hales, Mr Octavius Green’ ch Monarch, Wynnes Monarch’ son Anlaf bred/owned by Rev Yearsley, Mr Alston’ Colonel, Mr Lukey’ Countess, Mr Hanbury’ Prince, Mr Hanbury’ ch Duchess (much longer in foreface than were Crown Prince, Beau & Pontiff) would certainly be described as very long faced and would probably be turned out of the show, just as many of present-day - 1932 – would in the seventies have been turned out of the show ring for being unsound.’ –

Summing up 'the most famous Mastiffs' might always be an incomplete attempt, nevertheless it’s curious Mr Oliver doesn’t mention Mastiffs, such as a/o ch King' son ch Taurus owned by Mr Elwell, Mr Hanbury’ ch Queen, his ch Rajah – arguably the most prominent stud of the seventies -, and his sons ch Wolsey & ch The Shah, all Mastiffs which would certainly NOT be described as ‘very long’ faced. Which might suggest that Mr Oliver has been quite 'selective' in order to make his point.

The Kennel Gazette article dd April ’37 about ch Hellingly Joseph and written by Mr Oliver – to be read on this page a bit higher up -, it is quite amazing because of two reasons; firstly it doesn’t mention Joseph’ breeder, namely Mr Henry Young of Berwick-on-Tweed, and secondly it doesn’t notice any stud career, although Joseph sired twelve litters of whom siblings entered the KC Studbooks and in that way it keeps discrete silence about the siring of one of the most memorable Mastiffs of the interbellum, namely ch Hellingly Ajax. The articles accompanying the pics of – from l to r – Joseph, Arolite, and Ajax, were published in the Our Dogs Mastiff Mems dd Nov ’32, or about five years before Mr Oliver’ biography about Joseph. - Note - the initials F J H stand for Mr Fred J Hawkings of Goldhawk kennels.

One sentence of Joseph' owner is rather peculiar - ‘Ch Ajax was registered by me at the Kennel Club at about six weeks, and, without thinking, I gave the sire as Arolite, but later the Kennel Club insisted that both dogs’ names should be registered.’ – Was the curious incident of Joseph breaking down the door of Ajax’ dam overlooked or came the recognisition of Ajax’ qualities only a time later, thereby realising the connotation of this specific siring regarding ch Hellingly Joseph’ future stud prospects? For Mr Oliver, being a prominent solicitor and thereby the OEMC delegate at the Kennel Club, a piece of cake to settle the matter as known by now? Note - The last article, the one written by Broomcourt breeder Mr B(en) Bennett, mentions Ajax' sis Hellingly Arethrusa who, mated to ch Woden' son Cleveland Comedian, produced three champions, ie Broomcourt Black Mask, Cleveland Hugo & Broomcourt Comedienne, the latter dam to ch Broomcourt Marcon and granddam to double Crufts cc winner ch Broomcourt Romeo and Broomcourt John who got two cc's just before the outbreak of WWII.

To conclude - the pedigrees of Joseph & Arolite are almost similar in blood lines – their dams are sisters; their sires are cousins [respective grandparents Cedric & Bernicea are brother & sis] and are grandsired, respectively great grandsired by ch King Baldur. So there remains only ch Arolite’ great-granddam Pomana Countess but she’s a sis to Ashenhurst Duke who sired ch Ashenhurst Cedric & sis Bernicea! Ch Arolite’ sis Retour Rational became granddam to ch Uther Penarvon, full cousin to ch Havengore Christopher whilst Joseph’ sis Goldhawk Fairy became granddam to ch Cinque Ports Michael sired by ch Ashenhurst Cedric’ son Goldhawk Imperator. Ch Arolite is Copenore Jason' double G8 ascent along the paternal line G1 Saxondale Brutus, G2 Saxondale Buster, G3 Alters Big Jumbo, G4 Parkhurst Rufus, G5 Heatherbelle Sterling Silver, G6 Wythybush Magnus, and G7 Weyacres Lincoln. Further info re ch Arolite bred & owned by Mr John George Joice to be found at the end of page Miscellanea One.

At left - Their grandfather, Thomas Oliver, solicitor of the Old Jewry Chambers London, acquired in 1845 the Manor of Walthamstow Sarum aka Salisbury Hall incl twenty-eight acres for the sum of £700. From 1856 to 1870 Thomas Oliver was lord. The manor continued in the Oliver famil , his son Edmund Ward Oliver, the last lord, dying in 1917. Their father , Edmund Ward Oliver 1845-1917 , solicitor at 1 Corbet-court Gracechurch-street – London , under the style or firm of EDM WARD OLIVER & SON , having been dissolved by mutual consent as and from the 31st day of December, 1915 by the retirement of Mr Edmund Ward Oliver, will be continued by his Son , Mr Edmund Giffard Oliver. E Ward Oliver was a member of the Council of the Surrey archeological Society and wrote a/o a book – ‘Notes from Ruckinge wills affecting Ruckinge Church’ publ 1880. In ‘04 fifteenth century mullions* were found at the family seat New Place Lingfield. * Non-structural vertical strips between the casements or panes of a window or the panels of a screen . Mr Edmund Giffard Oliver' brother Sir Roland Giffard Oliver was appointed in ’26 as the Recorder of the Borough of Folkestone, on 11th June ’38 as Judge at High Court of Justice and on 11th January ’58 to be granted an annuity of £3500 for life.

At right - An article from ‘The Advertiser’ Adelaide May 13th 1939 about the solicitors Edmund Giffard Oliver & Harold Manaton Ommanney 1885- ‘64 who married in 1913 Sybil Maude Haigh Bury but divorced in 1927.

Quote 1) – ‘The Duchess of Westminster - Loelia Mary Ponsonby 1902–1993 married the Duke of Westminster on 20 February 1930 but they were divorced in 1947 after several years of separation. Young Loelia once occupied the lap of Edward VII and amused His Majesty by seizing his beard and demanding ‘But King, where's your crown?’ Her childhood - spent variously at St James' Palace, Park House at Sandringham & Birkhall – was, as she recalled, made irksome by a succession of fierce foreign governesses. She escaped from the stiffness of her parents' world into the hedonism of ‘the Bright Young People’. Their pranks included treasure hunts & impersonating reporters to obtain interviews from famous people. The older generation were duly shocked although Loelia Lindsay insisted that it was 'just light-hearted fun'. Her own contribution was to invent the ‘bottle-party' in 1926, when, for economic reasons, guests were bidden to bring their own drink. The first guest was the author Michael Arlen, bearing a dozen bottles of pink champagne. Towards the end of the 1920s Loelia met Bendor Westminster, a selfish, spoilt, twice-divorced playboy, though a generous landlord and gallant officer. The diarist 'Chips' Channon summed him up as 'a mixture of Henry VIII and Lorenzo Il Magnifico'. The Duke courted Miss Ponsonby in style, showering her with diamonds. A typical incident occurred one night in her sleeper en route for Venice when she woke with an uncomfortable lump digging into her - it was an emerald and diamond brooch. They married in 1930 in a blaze of publicity with Winston Churchill as best man. The new Duchess became chatelaine of the Gothic palace of Eaton in Cheshire, as well as houses in Scotland, Wales and France, to say nothing of the steam yacht & a sailing ship. But the marriage was not a success. The Duchess found Bendor a man of changing moods - charming and generous one moment , furious and cruel the next. Their choice of friends differed considerably. James Lees-Milne described the Duchess' married life as 'a definition of unadulterated hell'.

Quote 2) Major John Sewell (JS) Courtauld 1880-‘42 of 9 Grosvenor Square & Coates Castle Fittleworth West Sussex. English Conservative Party politician who descended from the Courtauld family of silk/textiles/carpets, saw active service in the First World War and owned a company of architects. At the 1924 general election he was elected as Member of Parliament for the constituency of Chichester, re-elected at subsequent general elections in 1929, 1931 and 1935 until his death in ‘42.

Major John Sewell (JS) Courtauld was one of the six children of Sidney Courtauld, head of a successful business empire based on the production of rayon (artificial or art silk). It seems Mr EG Oliver must have been quite familiar with the Courtauld family as there’s a source which mentions – ‘To mountaineers Courtauld' name will be associated with that of EG Oliver; the two often climbed together, so that 'Courtauld & Oliver' (plus the Aufdenblattens) came to have something of the earlier ring of such a compound name as 'Ryan & the Lochmatters'.

This ‘Courtauld’ was Stephen Lewis 1883-’67 and brother of Major John Sewell Courtauld. He did not join the firm but inherited shares which generated an important fortune, which he used to pursue cultural & philanthropic interests, most notably the redevelopment during the 1930s of Eltham Palace in Eltham, south-east London. In World War I Stephen Lewis Courtauld joined the Artists' Rifles and in 1918 was awarded the Military Cross. He rose to the rank of Major.

After the war he resumed one of his major passions - mountaineering in the Alps. In 1919, together with EG Oliver, he completed the pioneer ascent of the Innominata face of Mont Blanc; their Courmayeur guides were Adolphe and Henri Rey, as well as Adolf Aufdenblatten. The same year he met his future wife, Virginia née Peirano, whom he married in 1923.

Courtauld, Oliver & the Aufdenblattens baptized this magnificent route which is considered the most classic and beautiful of all, with the Peuterey ridge on the south face of Monte Bianco. It presents more difficult tracts over rock than Peuterey but it’s not as long or as delicate. The ridge clearly shows the watershed between the Frêney and Brouillard glaciers. It was the last of Monte Bianco’ great crests to be climbed. Although the gradient above Pic Eccles is considerably difficult, the condition of the rock is excellent. The part leading to the summit of Monte Bianco of Courmayeur is extremely steep and long, which makes this itinerary suitable for expert alpinists with outstanding fitness and technical levels. The Innominata Ridge on Mont Blanc is a tour-de-force of mountaineering, the climb has ‘atmosphere’. Note - The first recorded ascent of Mont Blanc was on 8 August 1786 by Jacques Balmat & Dr Michel Paccard .

Stephen Lewis Courtauld was financial director of Ealing Studios , a trustee of the Royal Opera House in London' Covent Garden, provided financial support for the Courtauld Galleries in Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum and was Chairman of the British Arctic Expedition 1930-’31. Quote – ‘It was however, mainly owing to the Courtauld family and in particular the generosity, hard work and advice of Mr Stephen Courtauld, that the expedition was made successful‘. Mr Augustine Courtauld being Treasurer.

Stephen Lewis’ oldest brother, the art collector Samuel, founded (with Viscount Lee of Fareham & Sir Robert Witt) in 1932 the Courtauld Institute of Art in London. He took charge of the family firm from 1908 as general manager and as chairman from 1921 to 1946. He became interested in art after seeing the Hugh Lane collection on exhibition at the Tate Gallery in 1917. However, his career as a collector started in 1922 following an exhibition of French art at the Burlington Fine Arts Club. Courtauld was one of the first collectors to display interest in French Impressionist & Post-Impressionist paintings. During the 1920s, he assembled an extensive collection including masterpieces - Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear & Peach Blossom in the Crau by Vincent Van Gogh, A Bar at the Folies-Bergère by Édouard Manet, Montagne Sainte-Victoire by Paul Cézanne & La Loge by Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

Mr Edmund Giffard Oliver died on Tuesday the 17th January 1939 at Endsleigh Court where he had his London’ residence at Flat N° 6, about two-hundred thirty mls away from his country residence Bedale Hall. His business companion, solicitor Harold Manaton OMMANNEY of Hill House Harpsden Henley-on-Thames and lately carrying on business at 7 & 8 Great Winchester Street London – was taken to the HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE N° of Matter—505. Date of Order—July 11, 1939. Date of Filing Petition—June 14, 1939. It must have been a quite shocking period for not only Edmund’ wife and daughter but also for his brother Roland being in those days a Judge at the High Court of Justice…

Quotes - Viscount Weymouth was noted for his forestry work on the ancestral estate Longleat. It was he who developed the safari park claimed to be the first outside Africa and also opened the Elizabethan house to the public being the first stately home to do that. Longleat is situated nearby Warminster & Frome in Somerset. It is set in over 900 acres parkland landscaped by Capability Brown and 8,000 acres of woods annex farmland. The move by the Viscount Weymouth to sell heirlooms to safeguard the future of Longleat is not the first time his family has courted controversy to save one of England' finest Elizabethan houses . After all , this was the first stately home to open to regular paying customers. And thereby hangs a tale that would not be out of place in a novel by PG Wodehouse. It started with chauffeur Harry Hillier' vegetable patch - ‘At the time ( 1946 ) his father was still alive but had passed control of the estate to his heir, Henry Frederick. And, while the old father was prepared to suffer Hillier' unkempt allotment near the grand house, Henry Frederick was not. Orders were given to grub up the patch just as the strawberries were coming into fruit, and his father, a nervous and chronic diabetic, was so upset that he passed away that very night. ‘

The late 1940s was not a good time for aristocrats to die. The death duties imposed by the Labour government were swingeing and, for the new owner of Longleat, they added up to a bill of pounds 600,000. The problem might have taxed even the finest brain, and Henry Frederick Thynne did not seem to have that, being deemed ‘moronic beyond reach‘ by his headmaster. When elected Tory MP for Frome, he served for four years and made one speech: it was about tea.

But hidden qualities lurked inside the 6ft 2i tall frame of this eccentric, qualities that were to be the salvation of his great house . He arranged for the sale of the ‘ spare ‘ lands, and began planning his great commercial coup - to open the house up to the paying public. Although other great homes would sometimes allow in the great unwashed , none at that time did so regularly. Henry changed that and on Easter Monday, 1 April 1949, the first day-trippers rolled up the drive to pay the 2s 6d admission charge . Within a few years, the millioneth customer had trooped in.

The Mastiff Breeders Association’ Vice President, Lady Michelham of Hellingly - neé Beatrice Capel, was married to Herman Alfred de Stern, son of Herbert [1851-1919] 1st Baron of Michelham, British financier, son of Hermann de Stern, Portuguese baron and banker &, and Julia Goldsmid. He entered his father' banking house, Stern Bros of London, Paris & Belgium and inherited from his father the Portuguese barony and a fortune of £2,000,000 which was much increased by his own financial ability. He presented to the nation the quadriga surmounting the arch on Constitution Hill, and subscribed liberally for the purchase of pictures for the National Gallery, besides forming a valuable private collection and was also well known as an owner of race-horses. During the World War Herman Alfred de Stern bought the Hotel Astoria in Paris for use as a British hospital and established and maintained a convalescent home for officers at Cimiez . In 1915, during the Great War, Lord Michelham set aside £10,000 to reward airmen who shot down Zeppelins at £1,000 each. He also paid for a large number of works of art which are in the National Gallery.

Comparing Ansdell’ Mastiff in the painting with ch Turk’ full drawing , there’s a definite sameness in balance of appearance re proportions head/neck/body/legs. In both cases there’s no single doubt, these were no Boarhounds as one only has to look at the depth of flanks to consider their great substance annex weight for mastering the evil.

One big step further one can also compare the heads of EG Oliver’ ever lasting Pride & Joy, or ch Hellingly Joseph versus one of the few photographic head studies of ch Turk to realise much likeness between them, and that nevertheless the different level of giving attention. Was this train of thoughts, in some way , also present in the Olivers’ mind ? An unbroken chain back to the ‘ ancient laurels ‘ of Lord Newton’ Lyme Halls?

At the foundation of the Big Breeds Canine Society in 1932, it was proposed to call it the San Rocco Society. After the matter had been considered the committee decided that it would be better to give the society a title that was more obvious, ie the Big Breeds Canine Society, with Mr E G Oliver as committee member and his wife Jessie as Hon Secretary pro tempore.

The Big Breeds Canine Society held championship shows from ’33 to ’39 with Mastiff classes mainly dominated by Hellingly stock or those related to them – 24th May ’33 at Ranelagh Barnes London Mastiffs judged by Mr Chris Houlker cc’s for ch Hellingly Joseph & Hellingly Honor’ dau ch Ileden Volo – 8th August ’34 at Harrogate Yorks Mastiffs judged by Mr Holland Buckley cc’s for Hellingly Arethrusa’ son & daughter ch Broomcourt Black Mask & ch Broomcourt Comedienne bred/owned by Mr B Bennett - 9th August ’34 at Harrogate Yorks Mastiff judge Mr Norman Walker Hall cc’s ch Hellingly Joseph & ch Hellingly Joy – 4th June ’35 at Olympia London Mastiff judge Mr Wm Norman Higgs cc’s for ch Hellingly Marksman & ch Hellingly Joy – 16th June ’36 at Olympia London Mastiff judge again Mr Wm N Higgs cc’s for ch Hellingly Mark & ch Hellingly Josephine – 4th May ’37 Mastiff judge Mr Arthur Croxton Smith cc’s for ch Hellingly Mark & Hellingly Anita – 11th May ’38 Mastiff judge Count V C Hollender cc’s for Hellingly King Baldur & ch Hellingly Cardinal’ dau ch Hellingly Beta – 10th May ’39 Mastiff judge Mrs Lucy Scheerboom (Havengore) cc’s for ch Uther Penarvon’ grandson Mrs Norah Dickin' Goring Brockwell & ch Uther Penarvon’ dau ch Petronella bred by Miss Ianthe Bell & owned by Hammercliffe breeder Mr Fred Bowles.

Below – An article by Mr Arthur F Marples F Z S Editor of Our Dogs published in the Supplement December 1934. Mr J V Rank’ Ouborough kennel manager Mr Bill Siggers became a world famous allround judge and judged Mastiffs regularly, a/o at Crufts ’68 awarding the BOB at Balint’ son Mrs P Turner’ Frideswide Rupert, Mr Richard Cogan’ Taddington Emma taking the opposite cc.

Above at left - American trade card advertising Mikado soap made by ‘Arthur Newell and Brother Soap Co’ - est 1872 - with a factory at San Bruno avenue and Army street - San Francisco. The Mastiff drawing resembles early Continental Mastiff types - see 2nd row - drawn by the German artist Johann Elias Ridinger 1698- 1767, commonly accepted as a reliable source regarding the 18th c Bullenbeissers. Quote – ‘The most old time German hunting packs were made up of coarse haired, big dogs with bushy tails and wolfish heads, supplied to the courts by the peasants in immense numbers and suffered great losses at every hunt, therefore no particular pains were taken to breed them. The Bullenbeisser, however, knew instinctively how to tackle the game from behind and hold it in a way that kept them from serious injury yet gave the hunters time to reach the kill, therefore they were more valuable to the hunt and were accordingly highly prized and painstakingly bred.’ -

At left - Ch Havengore Christopher b March ’34 out of ch Havengore Bill’ dau Havengore Diana sired by her paternal half brother Havengore Mark got 5 cc's, ie at Crufts Feb '36 under Mr Sam Crabtree res ch Hellingly Joseph' son Trelyon Dick - see judge report at right -, at Crystal Palace '36 under Mr Sam Woodiwiss res Hellingly Beau, in '38 at Manchester under Dr Aubrey Ireland res ch Broomcourt Romeo, at Birmingham under Mr Guy P Greenwood res Goring Brockwell, and at Alexandra Palace under Mr Arthur Croxton Smith res Goring Brockwell; he also got two reserve cc’s, ie at Birmingham ’36 under Dr Aubrey Ireland cc ch Hellingly Ajax’ son Kinder Monarch and at the KC Olympia '38 under Mr Sam Woodiwiss cc ch Hellingly Mark. –

Ch Havengore Christopher became paternal grandsire of the only ‘original’ English post-WWII brood Coldblow Sally, and also of Knockrivoch Hector who sired Valiant Diadem which means ch Havengore Christopher was along both parents G4 ancestor of Mrs Scheerboom' first post-WWII champion, the brindle Havengore Rodney.

Articles resp published in the OEMC Year Book 1929 and the Our Dogs Supplement December 1935. - Mr Arthur Croxton Smith [Officer of the British Empire] 1865-52 of Burlington House Wandle road Upper Tooting owned the 'Wandle' Bloodhound kennels, was a prolific writer of many canine books and contributor to a/o Country Life Illustrated. He awarded following Mastiff dog certificates ~ 1926 Joseph Evans’ ch Prince reserve ch King Baldur' son Torquil, ‘29 Miss MC Kennett’ ch Bulger, reserve ch Havengore Bill, ‘32 Captain F Samuelson’ ch Michael reserve Hellingly Victor, ‘34 Mrs EG Oliver’ Trelyon Dick by ch Hellingly Joseph reserve ch Cleveland Hugo, ‘37 Mrs EG Oliver’ Hellingly Mark reserve ch Hellingly Ajax' son Tiddicar Prince Michael, ‘38 Mrs Lucy Scheerboom’ ch Havengore Christopher.

In 1884 there were two KC Crystal Palace shows resp judged by Rev Wm J Mellor & Dr J Sidney Turner. The parentage of a number of Mastiffs mentioned in the judge reports were well-known to the public; amongst the others in Rev Mellor' report - 1) Boatswain – ch Crown Prince’ sis Princess Royal ex ch Beau, 2) The Prince – Lady ex ch Crown Prince, 3) Moses - ch The Shah’ dau Linda ex ch The Emperor, 4) Prussian Prince – ch Colonel’ dau Negress ex ch Crown Prince, 5) Titus – ch Nero’ dau Berenice ex ch Pontiff’ brother Gwalior, 6) Bal Gal – ch Wolsey’ niece Lady ex ch Beau; amongst the other in Dr Turner’ report – 1) ch Minting’ sire ch Maximilian – ch The Shah’ dau Merlin ex ch The Emperor, 2) ch Toozie’ brother Rudolph - Mr Lukeys Baron' dau Lena ex ch Crown Prince, 3) Dictator - Motive ex Young Colonel, 4) Bismarck - The Boss' dau Lady ex ch Crown Prince, 5/6) Kaiser II & Lorna Doone – ch Beau’ dau ch Ilford Baroness ex ch Prince Regent, 7) Beaumaris - Niger' dau Mischief ex ch Beau, 8) Princess Ida – Prussian Prince’ sis Abbott Bell ex ch Beau’ son Goth.

At left ~ A decorum close by the statue of Friedrich Wilhelm II [1744-97] situated into the castle garden of Babelsberg nearby Potsdam, artist unknown; centre – portrait of Dr John Brown; at right – The Carrier’s Quarters Howgate Penicuik – The Home of ‘Rab and his Friends’. – Dr John Brown was an Edinburgh' physician and a man of letters who possessed an unique insight into dog-nature. He was born on 22 September 1810 in Biggar Lanarkshire, the son of a minister and bible scholar. In 1822, the family moved to Edinburgh. Brown was educated at The Royal High School & Edinburgh University, where he studied medicine under the eminent surgeon James Syme whom Brown revered. As an adult, Brown lived two lives - he was a well-respected doctor and also an essayist with a wide circle of literary friends, including Lords Jeffrey and Cockburn, Thackeray and Ruskin. A popular man and a brilliant conversationalist, he wrote on a variety of subjects, including medicine and theology, but he is best remembered for his entertaining essays. He died in May 1882 and is buried in New Calton Cemetery in Edinburgh.

The essay 'Rab and His Friends' - first volume in the series 'Little Prose Masterpieces' issued by Foulis - treats of the Midlothian story of an old Mastiff, called Rab, and the way he touches the lives of those around him.

~ An excerpt ~ ’There are no such dogs now. He belonged to a lost tribe. As I have said, he was brindled, and grey like Rubislaw granite; his hair short, hard, and close , like a lion’s; his body thickset, like a little bull - a sort of compressed Hercules of a dog. He had a large blunt head; his muzzle black as night, his mouth blacker than any night, a tooth or two – being all he had - gleaming out of his jaws of darkness. His head was scarred with the records of old wounds, a sort of series of fields of battle all over it . Rab had the dignity and simplicity of great size; and having fought his way all along the road to absolute supremacy, he was as mighty in his own line as Julius Caesar or the Duke of Wellington and had the gravity of all great fighters. Fit end for Rab, quick and complete. His teeth and his friends gone, why should he keep the peace and be civil? He was buried in the braeface, near the burn, the children of the village, his companions, who used to make very free with him and sit on his ample stomach, as he lay half asleep at the door in the sun, watching the solemnity . There, under the single arch of the South bridge is a huge Mastiff, sauntering down the middle of the causeway, as if with his hands in his pockets; he is old , grey, brindled and as big as a little Highland bull, and has the Shakespearian dewlaps shaking as he goes. The Chicken [a Bull Terrier] makes straight at him, and fastens on his throat. To our astonishment, the great creature does nothing but stand still, hold himself up, and roar – yes, roar; a long, serious, remonstrative roar. How is this? Bob and I are up to them. He is muzzled! The bailies had proclaimed a general muzzling, and his master had encompassed his huge jaws in a leathered apparatus. ‘A knife! ‘cried Bob; and a cobbler gave him his knife. I put its edge to the tense leather; it ran before it; and then! – one sudden jerk of that enormous head, a sort of dusty mist about his mouth, no noise – and the bright and fierce little fellow is dropped, limp and dead. A solemn pause; this was more than any of us had bargained for. I turned the little fellow over, and saw he was quite dead: the Mastiff had taken him by the small of the back like a rat, and broken it. He looked down at his victim, appeased, ashamed, and amazed, snuffed him all over, stared at him, and, taking a sudden thought, turned round and trotted off.’

‘Rab and His Friends’ was John Brown’ most popular work. Originally given as a lecture, Brown felt that he had not delivered it very well, but the story struck a chord with his audience and was an immediate success. It was published in 1859 and brought the author considerable fame. The narrator recalls his boyhood encounter with Rab, a majestic grey Mastiff, and his master James Noble, a simple horse-cart driver. A few years later, James brings his wife Ailie to the hospital where the narrator is now a student. She has breast cancer and the surgeon tells her that it must be operated the following day. James and the dog are allowed to remain nearby and to watch the operation. Described as a ‘gentle, modest, sweet woman, clean and lovable,’ Ailie endures her ordeal in brave silence, commanding respect from a boisterous group of students. James nurses her tenderly, but she develops a fever and dies a few days later.

‘James buried his wife,’ says the story, ‘with his neighbours mourning, Rab watching the proceedings from a distance.’ Shortly after her burial, James also falls ill and dies. Rab refuses to eat, becomes hostile and is killed by the new driver. Hugely popular in its day, Rab and His Friends is considered one of the finest examples of Victorian melodrama. Modern readers are unlikely to sympathise with its maudlin sentimentality, but the story is valuable for several reasons. It contains a vivid description of an operation carried out in the era before anaesthetics, the kind of operation John Brown would have witnessed as a medical student. The story captures the simple honesty of ordinary country people, something that the author had often experienced and greatly admired. Ailie and James accept their fate with great dignity and courage, trusting in God’s grace and their love for each other, and never uttering a word of complaint In addition, the story reflects the extraordinary insight that James Brown had into canine temperament and the human nature of dogs. The dignity and devotion of the elderly couple are reflected in Rab’ noble behaviour towards his owners and the annoying lesser dogs that trouble him in the street. Brown further developed his ideas in his essay Our Dogs, which was published in 1862. Both stories have continued to enchant dog-lovers ever since...

Mr William Herbert Calcott 1886-29 & his kennel manager W Smith of Thornby kennels [Fox Terriers & Mastiffs], Thornby - Windy Arbour rd Kenilworth nr Coventry Warwickshire. The ‘Our Dogs’ advert mentioned ~ ‘Mr Calcott has gained a very special knowledge of dogs from a veterinary point of view, having closely studied this subject , and is now in the position to detect any ailment they are subject to and at once apply a remedy. Ch Ashenhurst Cedric’ son King Agrippa [brother to T Rumney’ ch Superbus] still holds pride of place; a massive, very good headed dog of the right type, with a body to match; ample bone, with good legs and feet. He is a big winner, having secured two certificates, and as a sire he is proving invaluable to the Mastiff fancy. The illustration shows the kennel manager Mr W Smith with two young puppies by King Agrippa out of ch Woden’ sis Thora, whilst there are two young dogs by the same sire that look like making history this coming year. Three other matrons and a few other promising youngsters make up a good kennel.’

King Agrippa , b October '24 , firstly owned by Mr E Nolan and only at an adult age purchased by WH Calcott , started off his show career rather lately, winning his awards in '27 under the ‘olden time’ specialist William Hunter Johnson [2nd his brother ch Superbus & 3rd ch Cleveland Premier] and under Herbert Cook of the Cleveland kennels [2nd ch Arolite & 3rd ch Ashenhurst Cedric’ son Menai Anglesea].

At left - Mrs/Mr Cecilia & Wm Herbert Calcott with their Mastiff crew, a/o the cousins King Agrippa [2nd from left] , Cedric’ son and ch Beechwood Queen [at extreme right] , a Bernicea daughter’. King Agrippa got reserves at Crufts under Mr Robert Leadbetter, cc his brother ch Superbus; under Mr William N Higgs, cc ch Woden; under Mr Dr Aubrey Ireland, cc his brother; under Mr AJ Thorpe, cc ch Havengore Bill and finally his 5th reserve under Mr JJ Holgate , cc ch Westcroft Blaise’ son Benton Adonis. They certainly were quite worthful winners , but what a shame for this magnificent specimen of the Mastiff breed! By way of comparison is shown a picture of ch Havengore Bill’ sire, ch Master Beowulf b March '20; he gained not less than seven certificates, a/o two times at Crufts under the eminent Robert Leadbetter of Hazlemere & George Cook of Cleveland kennels.

Mr Wm Herbert Calcott & his brother James jr 1874-51 were directors of Calcott Brothers Ltd founded by their father James Calcott in 1866; cycle manufacturers initially but some twenty years later later involved with motor production. In 1911 they seriously entered the market with a motorcycle fitted with a 3.5hp 'White & Poppe' engine. Two years later they made their first cars which were generally tailored to the light-car market, a/o the famous ‘Classic’ Calcott light car. In 1924 his father James died, aged 82, and left estate of the gross value of £25,740. He was managing director of Calcott Brothers Ltd, five times Mayor of Coventry, a former president of the West Midland Baptist Association and of the Coventry & District Free Church Council. It is believed that the company produced some 2,500 vehicles before eventually being taken over by the Singer Company in 1926; three years later Mastiff fancier Mr Wm H Calcott died. – At right - Thornby Cottage - Windy Arbour rd Kenilworth nr Coventry.

Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia ~ London 1910-12. It would appear to be a magazine issued every fortnight [two-weekly] though there are no dates given bound in eight vols totalling 5856pp. The contents is a mixture of domestic and articles concerning sport, work and leisure. The sections include 'Woman's work' in the professions and in the colonies with huge variety of suggestions including civil service, rates of pay given, public speaking, poultry farming, recreations including Jiu-Jitsu, golf, legal advice, law and the servant, law and marriage, law and children, section on children including baby incubators, health, advice on sleeping outside, health holidays, nerves &c. Fascinating selection on information and insight into women's lives during the first decade of the XXth century.

It includes an interesting article 'Pets - The Watch-Dog’ written by Miss Ella D Farrar 1866-29 of Water End Hemel Hempstead Herts, breeder & exhibitor of Lammermuir Scottish Terriers. - ‘Much as every true mother believes that her babe is perfect, so, apparently, does every dog-lover believe that his particular ‘fancy’ is a capable watch-dog. Such, at least, is the writer' impression after many years' experience of the clan. It is true that most breeds, even of the ‘toy’ persuasion, are more or less alert watch-dog, but there are some which, either by natural instinct or hereditary tendency, develop this good point beyond their brethren. When I say ‘watch-dog’, I do not mean merely an animal which yelps or barks at every sound, friendly and usual or hostile and unusual. Such foolish conduct is useless and annoying, and no credit to its perpetrator. The true watch-dog is the one who allows no sound to pass unnoticed which is not permissible to his doggy intelligence. He does not give mouth unless there is ample reason so to do. As a rule, he will show his suspicion first by uneasy motions and low, warning growls, though some of the larger breeds have the disconcerting - to the unauthorised intruder , that is - habit of, like Brer Rabbit, ‘lyin' low and sayin' nuffin’ until, with a deep growl, they fall upon the suspected one.

Let the owner, therefore, see to it that his dog is one of the useful sort - that is to say, one which will discriminate between friend and foe. In view of the attentions of the possible burglar, it is a good plan to try to train the animal to take food from its master, and refuse it from a total stranger. This can be done, with the help of a friend, by rating the dog severely each time it takes the food offered by him. The dainty should be taken away each time the animal accepts it. Should this be found a matter beyond the power of teacher and pupil, then, at least, discourage the habit of picking up things in the roads or streets. All ‘doggy’ persons are asked at times how a puppy may be taught to be a good watch-dog and yet at the same time be a safe, friendly companion. People do not want a savage brute which drags out a miserable existence chained to a kennel, yet they would like one whom they can rely upon to give notice of intruders or unusual events.

‘Well begun being half done,’ it is said, much depends upon the choice of breed. Certain races seem naturally better watchdogs than others, though probably most can be trained to this duty. If a powerful animal is desired, one which can, if necessary, tackle his man, then the old-fashioned Mastiff ranks first. Care, however, must be taken that the dog is bought from a person who is thoroughly trustworthy, as it should not be ferocious. A puppy of a strain known to be safe - tempered is a sine qua non in such a large breed. As with the Mastiff, care should be taken to procure a good-tempered dog, otherwise he may be more of a trouble than a pleasure. The article is illustrated with a photograph of ‘ch British Monarch’ b Nov ‘09, and described as ‘a splendid specimen of the English Mastiff. There is no better watch-dog and protector than a well-trained Mastiff’.

Rev Fred Warren Wilson 1891-54, curate of St Michael and All Angels - Jarvis Brook East Sussex - see centre -, bred Mr Herbert Cook' fawn Cleveland Clytie b ’26 out of ch Havengore Bill' maternal aunt Judy Girl sired by ch Cleveland Premier’ maternal uncle MacDuff. Clytie got several 3rd Open prizes, a/o at Edinburgh ’29 under Mr Fred Cleminson – cc Dervot Dawn - res ch Michael’ dam Garlinge Lady Jane. At right – ch Cleveland Premier’ brindle brother Cleveland Chancellor who grandsired the Hellingly champions Cardinal & Marksman, and in front the fawn MacDuff who got a/o three res ccs, ie at Edinburgh ’22 under Mr George Sinclair – cc ch Ashenhurst Cedric, at South Durham ‘23 under Miss C M Garland – cc ch Weland’ brother Leetside Glad Eye, and at Manchester '24 under Mr Chris Houlker - cc ch Ashenhurst Cedric. - MacDuff was arguably named after a character in Shakespeare' play Macbeth, ie Macbeth’ antagonist Macduff who kills him in the final act.

The breed revival of 1920. After three years without cc shows, there were already eight championship shows during the first post WWI show year, mainly under old time judges but the KCSB counted only seventeen entries [owned by ten different owners] - Miss M Dent Hitchings with ch King Baldur & D’Urbervilles Tess; Mrs C Kennett with ch Weland & Princess Lie A Bed; Mr AW Lucas with Beowulf' dau Jean; Mr George Cook with Count Willington & Penwortham Fanny; Mr GD Penny with Beeches Brunna & sis Shea; Miss A S Pope with Gathnel & ch Lady Lieve; Mr R Pollett with Wingfield Priam' son Sir Robert; Mr J Iseton with Count Willington' son Thornaby Prince; Mr WG Treen with Survivor' grandson Holloway Tiger and last but not least Mr R F W Conquest of Bannut Tree Castlemorton whose stock [Collyhurst Squire , ch Miss Bull & ch Young Mary Bull] won nine cc’s. Mr R F W Conquest’ Bannut Tree residence was designed by the Arts & Crafts architect Charles Voysey, just like Mrs Lilian Woods of Ileden’ Greyfriars House at Tilford - Farnham and also OEMC President Jack Hardy lived in an ‘Arts & Crafts’ house at Whitchurch Oxon.

After some investigation it goes about Robert Folger Westcott Conquest, born 1891 in Roanoke - Virginia US, as the son of LW (Charles) Conquest and Corinne Estelle Westcott; tragedy came when father Charles gambled his money away, so eventually his wife Corinne left and used her family' money to support her two children Robert & Charlene until the great depression wiped them out. By that time the family were used to a restless, comfortable life. Whenever the children returned from boarding school they expected to find a new house. Finally Robert got a degree in Arts at the University of Pennsylvania. Afterwards he moved to England, married the Englishwoman Rosamund Alys Acworth and served in an ambulance unit with the French Army in WW I being awarded the Croix de Guerre in 1916. Their son Robert Folger Acworth Conquest, b ’17 Malvern, became a world-famous historian, a/o with the publication in 1968 of ‘The Great Terror’ , an account of Stalin' purges of the 1930s and currently a research fellow at Stanford University' Hoover Institution.

Mr Robert Folger Westcott Conquest’ maternal grandfather Robert Folger Westcott - see text at right -, b 1828 in New York city, was cousin to Benjamin Franklin . His father' large family made it necessary for him to discontinue his schooling when twelve years old. He began work in a store in Wall Street - New York City, sleeping at night under the counters to guard the merchandise. At the age of eighteen, as the result of his useful experience in delivering packages, he established the Westcott Express Company of which he was President until a few years before his death. He built a palatial residence on Richfield’ Main Street and took a great interest in the affairs of the village, serving at one time as its president. He resided at Orange New Jersey during the winter and died July 19 1901 in Richfield Springs Otsego Co - New York.

Mr RFW Conquest’ Collyhurst Squire was born Sept '14 & bred by Mr JF Walters out of Minerva [Survivor x ch Hazlemere Ronald’ daughter Berenice] sired by Stapleford Pedro [unr but probably out of Nuneaton Hector’ daughter Pinxton Pride sired by Melnotte’ Salisbury]. Squire, handicapped by those years without cc shows, got still two cc’s, ie in'20 resp at Birmingham under Mr WJ Nichols & at Manchester under Our Dogs’ editor Mr Theo Marples but was beaten twice by the coming star Miss M Dent Hitchings’ ch King Baldur bred by Mr Robert Burch out of ch Young Mary Bull, the latter by then also owned by Mr RFW Conquest as also ch Miss Bull out of ch British Monarch’ daughter Ben Ma Cree sired by ch Young Mary Bull’ brother Young Yohn Bull (two cc’s). Miss Bull was made up under three breed specialists, ie Messrs Mark Beaufoy, Luke Crabtree & Robt Leadbetter but pitiful enough she remained without any KCSB progeny.

Collyhurst Squire sired a litter out of ch Cleveland Premier' maternal grand-aunt Beeches Bunty, a/o Beeches Brunna and Shea & D’Urbervilles Tess but became famous in siring a litter out of Nell unregistered resulting in a/o Miss Ianthe Bell’ foundation brood Westcroft Squire’ Daughter, see pic at right incl inset of Squire’ head, who produced Poor Joe' son ch Woden.

Collyhurst Squire’ breeder Mr ‘J F’ Walters purchased his brood Minerva from Miss CM Garland of Moorlands Wallington, ca twelve mls South of Teddington where Mr & Mrs J F Walters resided in 1909; he used at stud Bayardo & Stapleford Pedro. Quite of interest to mention - Miss Garland owned Bayardo’ half sis Bera (both bred by Mr Joice out of Oscott Sheilah) and used at stud Stapleford Pedro’ half brother Sam (both bred by Mr A Mott out of Pinxton Pride).

‘This ‘J F’ Walters may have been John Forrest Walters of Boston, a Harvard graduate of 1878, a cycle & marine engineer & inventor and holder of patent for the invention of " improvements in portable music stands dd 1877. The monthly ‘Musical Times & Singing-Class Circular’ dd 1878 mentions J F Walters’ address as ‘3 Great Marlborough Street London’, quite nearby Oxford Circus and another source dating from ’93 mentions J F Walters at Hall of Commerce, 316 Oxford Street London advertising his improved portable music stands - ‘A supreme and perfect harmony of Notes.' He was connected to the Iroquois Cycle Company, manufacturers of Minnehaha safeties featuring light nickel-plated frames, blue rims, & the latest ‘cushion’ and invented a/o the Tricycle Skate, based on the success of the tricycle, speeds of up to twenty mph and claimed by the inventor Mr J F Walters of Bayswater London - from Queens Magazine dd ‘82. Original printed patent for a ‘Combined Pump & Propelling Mechanism for Motor Boats’ dd 1909 - the inventors Stanley Arthur Martin & John Forrest Walters of resp Udney Park Road & Holmesdale Road Teddington.

Mr J F Walters must have had an utmost turbulent life as there are still a number of other addresses to be found for John Forrest Walters & his wife Caroline Elizabeth Todd, a/o Stanley Rd Teddington, 17 Queens Rd, lately residing at 47 Queens Rd Bayswater, now a prisoner under the Debtor’ Act in the custody of Her Majesty’ Prison at Holloway, being engineer & cycle dealer, and Clyde House 109 Strawberry Vale Twickenham dd 1898.

There’s also a link between the name of ‘J F’ Walters’ brood Minerva b ’12 and a famous industrial namesake, ie the Belgian firm Minerva which started out manufacturing standard safety bicycles in 1897, before in 1900 expanding into light cars & ‘motocyclettes’ – see at right -, the forerunners of motorcycles. They produced lightweight clip-on engines that mounted below the bicycle front down tube, specifically for Minerva bicycles, but also available in kit form suitable for almost any bicycle. The engine drove a belt turning a large gear wheel attached to the opposite side of the rear wheel as the chain. By 1901 the kit engine was a 211cc unit developing 1,5 hp comfortably cruising at 20 mls/h at 1,500 rpm, capable of a top speed of 30 mls/h, getting fuel consumption in the range of 5 l/100 mls. These lightweight kits were exported around the world to countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia & other British territories of the time. As engine power increased, frame ruptures became increasingly common and by 1903 Minerva had developed an in-frame design for their bicycles with the engine mounted above the bottom bracket while still offering the clip-on kit. From 1904 Minerva began focussing more on car production and while development & production of the Minerva motorized bicycles & motorcycles continued through to about 1909, they increasingly became a less significant part of the company. Minerva engines, exported to the UK, powered a/o the very first Triumph. Motorcycle production would continue until 1909 or 1914, and during this period Minerva became one of the world' premier names in motorcycles & motorcycle engines.

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