Dogs Unite! - Guide Dogs

Transcription

Dogs Unite! - Guide Dogs
The official Guide Dogs magazine Summer 2014
Dogs
Unite!
Canines come
together for
the cause
Also inside:
• Volunteers’ Week – we celebrate you all!
• Guide Dogs Annual Awards 2014 – who will you nominate?
• Profiling our pups.
• And much more...
Helping change the
lives of people who
are blind or partially
sighted has never
been more fun!
Entry
£1
per week
Hurry
Enter
our Lucky Lottery now
and you could win up
Hurry
to £3,000. There are 100 cash prizes to be won every
week and each entry costs just £1.
Hurry
Hurry! Sign up by 5 June to be included
in our next
Super Draw on 27 June Hurry
where you could win £3,000!
To find out more call us on 0800 688 8406 or visit us online at
www.guidedogs.org.uk/luckylottery
Guide Dogs is a registered charity in England and Wales (209617) and in Scotland (SC038979) 7307 03/14
Contents
Regulars
05Welcome
06News
• Talking Buses
survey launched
• Celebrating 30
years in Northern
Ireland
10 View from the top
Looking ahead
with our CEO
11 Guide Dogs in the
media
Highlights of TV,
radio and print
coverage
14 Features
12 27 A day in the life of...
Georgia Collins,
trainee journalist
and guide dog
owner
28 What’s on?
Gearing up for
Guide Dogs Week
17 46 Letters and caption
competition
People and dogs
20 33 In memory
34 We’ll never forget
Please recycle
this magazine
20 Celebrating our
volunteers
The stories of some
amazing people
14 My Guide
Life-enhancing
partnerships
24 Dogs Unite!
Turn your hound into
a fundraising hero
16 Pups in profile
Assessing each dog’s
future potential
17 Kashley and Kassie
A unique guide dog
partnership
30 Thanks to our
supporters
38 New partnerships
12 Guide Dogs Annual
Awards 2014
Who will you
nominate?
29 18 A gift with wings!
How leaving a
legacy gives the gift
of freedom
26 A listening ear
Guide Dogs and
the Blue Cross
bereavement
service
19 On the campaign
trail
29 Knitting chicks and
A brilliant start to 2014
naming pups
A Scottish group’s
epic fundraising
37 A partnership for
happy, healthy pets
Working together
with Petplan
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
3
Share an amazing
adventure - from just
£1 a week.
Why not sponsor an adorable
guide dog puppy as they train to
change the life of a person that is
blind or partially sighted. You’ll
follow their amazing journey every
step of the way with regular photos
and updates. So why wait?
You can sponsor a puppy right now.
Text ‘GUIDE’ to 63333 or visit
www.sponsorapuppy.org.uk
Here’s what you’ll receive
A charity registered in England and Wales (209617) and Scotland (SC038979). 7310 09/13
Welcome
Editor’s welcome
A very warm welcome
to the summer edition of
Forward and thank you to
all the readers who wrote
with compliments on the
new format – I’m delighted
you like it. There’s now an
exciting new addition to
the Forward mailing: at the
same time as you receive
the magazine, you’ll also
get a copy of your local
team newsletter, packed
with Guide Dogs news
from your area and ideas
for getting involved with
our life-changing work.
have a special four page
feature profiling some of our
key volunteer roles. We really
can’t thank our volunteers
enough for all the incredible
work they do and hope you
enjoy reading about them.
Next month sees the thirtieth
anniversary of Volunteers’
Week and, to celebrate, we
I can’t quite believe it but
it’s also time to make your
nominations for the Guide
Editor: Tracey Gurr
Editorial Line: 0118 983 8811
Contributors: Lucy Llewelyn,
Hannah Vickers, Kelly Caulfield,
Helen Whiteside, Rachael Smith.
Designed by: Guide Dogs
guidedogs.org.uk
Contributions: Send items to
Forward at the Head
Office address or email
forward@guidedogs.org.uk.
Unfortunately, due to the sheer
volume of ideas we receive,
we cannot acknowledge
every item. We reserve the
right to edit or refuse. Forward
is available in Braille, large
print, audio CD and online
as audio and text files. It is
also available as a PDF from
our website and in a range
of languages – for this and
mailing enquiries call
0870 240 6993.
It’s all happening in June –
on the fourteenth, we’ll
be holding our Dogs Unite
headline event at Queen
Elizabeth Olympic Park in
London. If you want to be
part of London’s largest
ever dog walk, now’s your
chance! Turn to page
24 to find out more.
Founding Editor: The late
Captain Nikolai Liakhoff MBE
FRZS
Registered Head Office: The
Guide Dogs for the Blind
Association, Hillfields, Burghfield
Common, Reading RG7 3YG
Tel: 0118 983 5555
Fax: 0118 983 5433
www.guidedogs.org.uk
Email: info@guidedogs.org.uk
© 2010 Registered charity in
England and Wales (209617)
and in Scotland (SC038979)
Dogs Annual Awards 2014.
On page 12 you can read
about all the different
categories and find out how
to nominate that special
person, dog or organisation.
I hope you have a great
summer – do write and tell
me about all the exciting
Guide Dogs activities
you get involved in.
Best wishes
Tracey Gurr
Full colour advertising is
available in Forward.
For information on rates,
publication dates and
circulation, please call
0845 372 7330 or email
forwardadvertising@
guidedogs.org.uk. Terms and
conditions apply.
Any products or services
advertised in Forward by third
parties are not in any way
endorsed by Guide Dogs
and Guide Dogs shall not be
responsible for the accuracy of
any information contained in
such advertisements nor has it
investigated or verified any of
the information.
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
5
News
From Cymru to Crufts
Ian Hamilton with Renton and a team of puppy
walkers in the BBC Centre, Glasgow
In March, Konrad GalenBisping from Llandeilo and
his guide dog, Radley,
joined four other finalists in
the Crufts 2014 Friends for
Life competition. The pair
are no strangers to award
ceremonies – Konrad was
named Inspirational Guide
Dog Owner at last year’s
Guide Dogs Annual Awards.
Radley helped Konrad
regain his confidence, as
well as his independence,
when the former Lance
Corporal lost his sight after
being attacked with an axe
while training with the Army.
It’s also thanks to Radley that
Konrad met his wife, who
was manager at the gym in
Carmarthen where Konrad
started working out. They
now have three children.
Konrad couldn’t be more
proud of Radley. He
says: “I was shocked to
hear I’d been shortlisted
for Friends for Life. I’m so
pleased Radley’s had the
recognition he deserves.
He gave me my life back,
he’s my boy.”
Promoting puppy walking in Scotland
As part of Guide Dogs’ recruitment drive for more puppy
walkers in Scotland, Puppy Training Supervisor Fiona Fraser
and puppy walker Gillian McCracken recently joined Fred
MacAulay on his morning show on BBC Radio Scotland.
Listeners heard all about puppy walking, and why
puppy walkers put so much time and effort into this
challenging, but hugely rewarding, volunteer role.
This followed on from a highly successful visit by
staff and puppy walkers to the BBC Scotland
building to promote Guide Dogs in Scotland. They
were joined by Ian Hamilton, who is a journalist for
BBC Scotland as well as a guide dog owner.
If you’re interested in becoming a puppy walker in
Scotland, please visit guidedogsscotland.org.uk, email
rubina.shah@guidedogs.org.uk or call 0845 372 7436.
Celebrating 30 years in Northern Ireland
Guide Dogs in Northern Ireland
has come a long way since its first
steps in 1984 and staff, volunteers
and service users are looking
forward to a year of celebrations.
Over 30 years, they have created
386 guide dog partnerships, of
which 103 are currently active on
the streets of Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland was also home
to the 2009 pilot for what became
6
the My Guide service. Since then
over 60 partnerships have been
created and hundreds of people
supported at one-off events.
Among many celebrations,
there’ll be a thanksgiving service
in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, a
photo exhibition in the Stormont
Parliament buildings and an
extreme sports fundraising event!
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
News
All aboard the
Bus Survey 2014!
We recently launched our annual
bus passenger survey to find out
about your experiences and
opinions of Talking Buses.
Talking Buses have audiovisual information about the
next stop and final destination,
enabling people who are blind
or partially sighted, and many
other groups in society, to use
buses independently. Last year
Running for gold
more than 450 people took part
in our survey. The results were
put to great use supporting
our campaign on this issue:
during a Westminster debate
in October, the evidence
from last year’s survey was
mentioned repeatedly by MPs,
helping us secure a meeting
with the Minister for Buses.
Please help us make this year’s
survey even more successful by
taking part:
visit guidedogs.org.uk/BusSurvey
or call 0800 688 8404
Two young women with sight loss are
hoping to compete at this year’s Commonwealth Games.
Libby Clegg, from Scotland, won silver at the
2012 Paralympic Games alongside running
partner Mikail Huggins. With ambitions for the
Commonwealth Games, this year is going to
be particularly exciting for Libby as she’s also
waiting to be matched with a guide dog.
Leicester guide dog owner Selina Litt was chosen by British
Athletics to represent the Commonwealth Select Team, running
in the visually impaired 60 metres at the Glasgow International
Match in January. She achieved a personal best of 8.77
seconds, placing her third. Selina said: “I was very satisfied with
my performance and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”
Guide Dogs’ first
charity shop
Guide Dogs has opened its first charity shop in an unused
building in the grounds of Edmondscote Manor, our
Leamington Guide Dog Training School. Staff and volunteers
refurbished the building, helped by a grant from national
company, Henkel’s. If you have any good quality items to
donate or could help in the shop, please contact Benn Lane
on 0845 372 7417 or Penny Hefferan on 0845 372 7344.
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
7
News
Investing in Volunteers
PAT dog Vince
Belfast Mobility Team has
become Guide Dogs’ first
mobility team to achieve
the Investing in Volunteers
Quality Standard. It’s a
UK-wide quality standard
for voluntary organisations,
demonstrating how much
they value the contribution
made by their volunteers.
The team’s manager,
Fiona Brown, said: “We
have more than 300
volunteers in Northern
Ireland and the support
and enthusiasm they bring
is absolutely invaluable.”
As well as being loyal guide
and best friend to James
Preston, labrador retriever
cross Vince has another
very special role, as a PAT
(Pets as Therapy) dog.
James and Vince regularly
visit John Taylor Hospice
in Erdington. While James
chats with patients,
Vince communicates
with them in a different
way. James explains: “He
offers comfort by showing
them affection. I’m so
proud of the difference he
makes when patients say
‘we’ve really been looking
forward to you both
coming today’.”
A major milestone
Congratulations to Glasgow
Mobility Team, who recently
trained their 300th guide
dog partnership. The proud
holder of that honour,
Matthew Brown, said: “I’ve
gone from feeling I can’t
go out without a protective
cage around me to feeling
I can go anywhere.”
8
Summer Dogalogue
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The sky’s the limit
We train our guide dogs
on many forms of public
transport including planes.
Virgin Atlantic Little Red
(domestic flights) is working
with Guide Dogs to help
with that training by
offering places on their
London to Manchester
flights. There is a clear
process to follow for both
Virgin staff and the guide
dog trainer to ensure the
journey goes smoothly.
Guide Dogs’ Policy Business
Partner John Welsman
says: “It’s vital that our
guide dogs can cope,
whatever the situation,
which is why support
from airlines like Virgin
Atlantic is invaluable.”
The summer edition of our gift catalogue,
Dogalogue, is out now. There are new
products for you and your pets, including
some which are exclusive to Guide Dogs.
All profits go to Guide Dogs, so you help
people with sight loss when you buy. To
request your copy, call 0870 240 6993 or
browse and order online at dogalogue.com
Roma meets Michael
Young pup Roma attended
The Royal Television Society’s
London Branch Christmas
Lecture with her puppy walker,
Peter Blackman. She behaved
impeccably and attracted
plenty of attention, the highlight
being a conversation with TV
presenter Michael Palin.
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
News
Doors open for schools tours
Guide Dogs’ National Breeding Centre near
Leamington Spa is a state of the art facility
which gives guide dog pups the best possible
start in life.
This year we’re delighted to be welcoming
groups of schoolchildren on a two-hour
interactive tour of the centre, enabling them
to learn about life with sight loss and, of
course, giving them the chance to view the pups. The tour
complements school curriculum studies around disability
awareness, assistance dogs and the work of charities. There’s
no charge but we welcome donations towards the cost of
providing the tours and encourage school fundraising activities.
For more information about
tours for children or adults, or
to book a meeting room at
the centre, please email
nbcvisitors@guidedogs.org.uk
or call 0845 372 7432.
In brief
New ID for assistance
dog owners
All assistance dog owners,
including guide dog
owners, will soon have
an Assistance Dogs UK ID
book to support their legal
right to access goods and
services (and help service
providers understand
those rights) when
accompanied by their dog.
New law on dog attacks
A new law has now passed
which will make dog
attacks on guide dogs
a more serious offence,
with irresponsible owners
facing a potential prison
sentence if their dog
attacks an assistance dog.
(See On the campaign
trail, page 19, for more).
Keep Me Posted
Guide Dogs is supporting
the Royal Mail’s Keep Me
Posted campaign, which
calls for the protection of
consumer choice about how
people receive important
communications. Many
businesses now use digital
communication, which is
not suitable for everyone,
including people with
sight loss. You can see the
campaign’s pledge at
keepmeposteduk.com
New Year’s Honours
Mike Clarke has been
awarded the British Empire
Medal for services to people
with visual impairment.
Members of Bury St Edmunds
branch, where he has been
chairman for 33 years,
celebrated by naming him
King of Bury Guide Dogs. He
was ‘knighted’ by committee
member Jill Gooch dressed
as Queen Victoria!
in memory of her late
husband, Gary – enough to
name and sponsor 25 guide
dog puppies.
Pups go right to the top
A group of puppy walkers
and their pups were given
exclusive entry to the Shard
in London, the tallest building
in the European Union. What
better place for pups to learn
about high speed lifts and
stairs? Puppy walker Janice
McCauley, who organised
the trip, said: “It was a
fabulous day and the pups
were so well behaved. Thanks
to the Shard’s PR Executive
Stacey Wright for allowing us
to do this.”
Sue Ratcliffe, from Harlow,
received the same honour in
recognition of her amazing
fundraising for Guide Dogs.
She has raised over £125,000
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
9
View from the top
View from the top
Since Guide Dogs began
in the 1930s, we’ve helped
to transform the lives of
thousands of people who
are blind or partially sighted.
Our staff and volunteers
are world leaders in
training guide dogs, but
we’re not complacent –
we are striving to improve
all the time, making sure
guide dog owners get the
best possible service and
that we reach as many
people as possible with a
personalised approach.
There’s a great example of
that personalised service
in the story of young guide
dog owner Kashley, which
you can read later in this
edition of Forward. Kashley
has a complex mixture of
different needs; in addition
Chief Executive Richard Leaman shares his views
to her sight loss she has
Asperger’s syndrome – a
form of autism – and mental
health issues. This presented
challenges for our guide dog
mobility instructors, but they
were absolutely determined
to help Kashley achieve as
much independence as
she possibly could and her
progress has been amazing.
This kind of story is replicated
on a daily basis across the
UK as we work with more
and more people with sight
loss, many of whom have at
least one additional need.
One of the best ways for us
to improve our services is to
learn from the experience
of others. There are now
86 organisations in the
International Guide Dog
Federation (IGDF) and, this
month, Guide Dogs staff
are attending the IGDF
conference in Japan.
The conference covers topics
as diverse as ‘Strategies for
Snow Travel’ and ‘Reading
Dog Body Language’,
giving us invaluable
information to help develop
our ways of working.
Working collaboratively
with other organisations,
both in the UK and further
afield, is something I am
passionate about. In the
spring edition of Forward
we told you about the
exciting work we’re doing
with Microsoft and other
major companies, using
technology to open up the
10 Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
world for everyone, including
people with sight loss. On
8 April we held a special
event in London to showcase
the results of the research
we’ve been undertaking,
looking at both the stresses
faced by people who are
blind or partially sighted as
they travel around our cities,
and the potential solutions
offered by technology. It
was an extremely fruitful and
inspiring evening attended
by more than 100 people,
including senior executives
from Microsoft, Transport for
London, Network Rail, the
Open University and many
others, and we hope to
launch a real-world concept
demonstrator in Reading,
Berkshire, very soon.
I can’t tell you how thrilled
I am that Guide Dogs is at
the forefront of this groundbreaking work. What’s
most satisfying for me is
the chance to combine
over 80 years’ history and
expertise, with cutting-edge
technological innovation.
I think it’s a combination
which, over the coming
years, will take us much
closer to our vision of a
world in which people
who are blind or partially
sighted can enjoy the same
freedom of movement as
everyone else. I’ll keep you
posted on developments in
future editions of Forward.
Guide Dogs in the media
Guide Dogs
in the media
We’ve been hitting the
headlines with some amazing
stories across TV, radio and
media, raising awareness
of our life-changing work.
ITV: Birds of a Feather
In February two guide dog owners
featured in Birds of a Feather. Margo
Cargill played Angie, Chris’s new love,
while James O’Driscoll charmed the
infamous flirt Dorian with his good looks.
ITV: Coronation Street
Annie Giles-Quinn
and her guide
dog Mr Quin have
become regular
extras on the
programme after
Granada Studios
requested a Guide
Dogs collection
box from her.
Channel 4: Crufts
Coverage of Crufts in March featured
puppy walker Katy-Ann Mason in a
piece about puppy socialisation, while
guide dog owner Konrad Galen-Bisping
was a finalist in the Friends for Life
competition (read more on page 6).
ITV: Daybreak
The show broadcast live from
our National Breeding Centre
for its Jobs for the Dogs
series in February. Service
Delivery Manager Tony
Murray talked about guide
dog training surrounded
by a litter of puppies, then
Katy Fawcett did a blindfold walk
with a guide dog. The piece also featured
a film about Tony Brown-Griffin and her
guide and seizure alert dog, Hetty.
Miller pushes the button – national
newspapers and magazines
Guide dog Miller jumps up at pedestrian
crossings to push the button for his owner,
Chris Michaels. In January their story
featured in the Sunday Express, online in
the Daily Mail and BBC News, and in Our
Dogs and Dog World. It’s not something we
train guide dogs to do but an invaluable
‘extra’ in helping Chris get about safely.
Take a Break
Two partnerships
featured in a doublepage spread in March
– Jet, guide dog to
Jessica Cowley, and
Lucy, buddy dog to
Oliver Voysey. (There’s
more about Lucy
in our volunteering
feature on page 20.)
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
11
Guide Dogs Awards
Guide Dogs
Annual Awards 2014
Who will you nominate?
The Guide Dogs Annual Awards celebrate
all that’s great about the charity, our people
and, of course, our dogs. Building on the
spectacular success of last year’s awards,
this year’s are set to be even better.
This year, there will be two sets of awards. On Wednesday, 10 December, we’re
delighted that we’ll be back in the glamorous surroundings of the London Hilton
Park Lane, for the Guide Dogs Annual Awards ceremony. Before that, however, on 24
October, in the elegant Birmingham Botanical Gardens, we’ll be holding our People
Awards, specially organised to celebrate the fabulous contribution made by our
staff and volunteers. You can play your part in these amazing events by making a
nomination in any of the award categories. Here’s how:
Inspirational Guide Dog Owner
Award (now our headline award)
For a current guide dog owner
(working with a guide dog since
at least 1 July 2013) who has
achieved something exceptional or
overcome a significant challenge.
Guide Dog of the Year Award
There are two categories in this award for
the year’s top dog – Beyond the Call of
Duty, and Life Changing. A winner will be
chosen from each of the two categories
and the overall Guide Dog of the Year
selected from between them. Anyone
12 Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
can nominate a dog, but it must be a fully
qualified guide dog, currently working
and expected still to be working in
December 2014. For the Beyond the Call
of duty category, the heroic behaviour
must have happened since 1 July 2013.
My Guide Partnership Award
Our My Guide service partners people
who are blind or partially sighted with
specially trained volunteers, giving them
confidence to get out and about. This
new award is for a My Guide partnership
which has really made the most of the
opportunity, demonstrating benefits for
both the service user and the volunteer.
Guide Dogs Awards
Young Person’s Achievement
Award in association with National
Blind Children’s Society
Collaboration of the Year Award
This award is for an individual or group
of people between the ages of 14 and
25 who have achieved great things
with the support of Guide Dogs or
National Blind Children’s Society – or
both. Their achievements could include
accomplishments at school, at work, in
their hobbies or volunteering, and must
have been attained between 1 July
2013 and 18 July 2014.
Do you know a company
that may buy a table, or
offer sponsorship or prizes?
Please call 0118 983 8392.
For an individual, company or other
organisation that has worked successfully
in partnership with Guide Dogs, making
a valuable contribution towards
improving the lives of people with sight
loss. It could be a local authority, for
example, or a corporate sponsor.
Breaking Down Barriers Award
For an individual or organisation that’s
actively breaking down the barriers
that prevent people who are blind or
partially sighted from getting out and
about on their own terms, for example by
improving access to shops or services, or
campaigning for a change in the law.
People Awards
There will be six awards for
volunteers and six for staff, based
on Guide Dogs’ six values:
1. Inclusive & embracing
2. Maximising impact
3. Dedicated to superior quality
4. Passionate and determined
5. Customer focused
6. Trustworthy
The winners of these 12 awards will be those
who’ve demonstrated one of these values most
clearly in their work with Guide Dogs. Three
overall winners will then be chosen for the
People Awards:
1. Overall Volunteer of the Year (over 25)
2. Overall Young Volunteer of the Year
(25 and under)
3. Overall Staff Member of the Year
How to make a nomination
In 500 words or fewer, tell us why your
chosen guide dog, person, team or
organisation should win your chosen
category. If you’re nominating
someone for one of the People Awards,
please state which value you feel
they demonstrate most clearly. Your
nomination must reach us by 18 July.
Please give your name, address, email
address and daytime phone number,
and those of your nominee.
You can make your nomination through
our website at guidedogs.org.uk/
awards or write to Guide Dogs Annual
Awards, Hillfields, Burghfield Common,
Reading RG7 3YG. For help making your
nomination, please call 07970 026 141.
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
13
My Guide
My Guide: life-enhancing partnerships
Every week more people are discovering the
amazing benefits of our My Guide service. Meet
two of our recent partnerships.
Dimitri and Peter
Dimitri Pharmakov is a newly qualified
teacher living in Portsmouth. Over recent
years, his sight has deteriorated, which
has sometimes made normal day-to-day
activities difficult for him, let alone going
clubbing in the evening – he particularly
struggles in dim light and new areas.
Dimitri’s closest friend, Peter Carey, had
been helping him to get out and about
but, having never had any formal training
in sighted guiding, Peter sometimes found
it difficult to know the correct way to do
things. That changed when he attended
a two-hour sighted guide training session.
Dimitri says: “Peter’s much more confident
with getting me from A to B. Even simple
things like getting me safely to a chair
14 Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
without me ending up on the floor! I
feel safer going out as when I was on
my own, I found it difficult to memorise
my routes and would sometimes get
distracted if someone called me. I’ve
learnt a lot too and I trust him more.”
As a result of the sighted guide training
and Dimitri’s improved trust in Peter, the
two have been getting out and about a
lot: “We do normal things like going to the
doctor’s, or the hospital”, says Dimitri, “but
we are even able to go nightclubbing
together. I really am almost living a
normal life. Peter says he should wear the
yellow vest and be my guide dog!”
Dimitri is currently on the waiting list
for a guide dog and hopes to be
matched in the near future.
My Guide
Olga and Orrlene
62-year-old Olga Mokaganya is
originally from South Africa, where
she trained as a midwife, but she
has lived in Belfast since 1999.
Over time, Olga lost the sight in one
eye, then the other, and eventually she
had to leave the job she loved. “This
left me very down, my confidence
was gone and I only ventured out for
doctor’s appointments,” she says.
When she was introduced to the My
Guide service, she was initially reluctant.
“As a nurse I was used to looking after
people,” she says, “so it was a big step to
put myself in the care of someone else.”
Thanks to sighted guide Orrlene McMillen,
Olga’s life has been transformed. “She
taught me that there is no stigma in
asking for help,” Olga explains. Olga
now has the confidence to ask the bus
driver to tell her when they arrive at her
stop. She uses her white cane to get out
more and try new activities, including
a computer class that helps her keep
in touch with her family back home.
Olga says: “I’m the person I am now
because of the support the My Guide
service has given me. I can’t thank Orrlene
enough for giving me my life back.”
There’s no end to the activities that My Guide
partnerships help people take part in. Here’s
just a small selection of those we know
about. Please tell us about any we’ve missed!
•Community health
walks
•Doing voluntary
work
•To the gym
•Rifle-shooting
•Hill walking
•Going to the All
Ireland Fleadh
•Status Quo gigs
•Running
•Drama groups
•Christmas
shopping
•Visiting the coast
•Visiting exhibitions
•Horse-riding
•Archery
•Rambling
•Fishing
•Going to the bank
•Sailing
•Using the bus again
•IT classes
Guide Dogs’ My Guide service is available to
anyone with sight loss, reducing their isolation
by giving them the confidence to get out
and about. For My Guide volunteers it’s a
great way to learn new skills and know you’re
making a real difference to people’s lives. To
find out more, please call 0118 983 8187 or
email myguide@guidedogs.org.uk
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
15
Puppy profiling
Pups
in profile
Have you ever wondered how we turn tiny bundles
of fur into confident working guide dogs? It all begins
well before they start their professional training…
As you might imagine, at
Guide Dogs we have a huge
amount of experience and
expertise in puppies and
how they behave. Believe it
or not, there’s a lot you can
tell about a dog’s future
potential even when it’s a
young pup. And our experts
have now developed a
unique tool for assessing
puppies’ temperament
and character.
We assess the puppies in
a specially designed room
at Guide Dogs’ National
Breeding Centre. It’s great
fun for the pups, as our
specially trained assessors
lead each of them through
a series of games. These
include following the
assessor, coming when
the assessor calls, interacting
with toys and getting
through obstacles.
It’s called the Puppy Profiling
Assessment (PPA) and we use
it to assess the temperament
of our pups before we
place them with puppy
walkers – skilled volunteers
who look after them for the
first year of their lives and
provide their basic training.
After observing the pups’
behaviour during their
assessment, we then follow
their development through
puppy walking, training
and their working lives.
This has helped us identify
strong links between the
way they behave during
their assessment and then
later, when they are being
trained as guide dogs.
The assessments are very
16 Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
helpful in enabling us to
tailor our training to our
pups’ individual characters.
The PPA is the result of
detailed scientific research
by Guide Dogs and the
University of Nottingham,
spanning a period of more
than 10 years. It has involved
literally thousands of puppies
and is the first ever scientific
study of this size. It was only
possible because we have
such meticulous records
of our dogs’ behaviour
from birth to retirement.
We’re continuing to develop
the way we use the
assessments to ensure we
really make the most of all
this knowledge, helping us
make sure our pups have
the best possible start in
life – and grow up to be
even better guide dogs.
Kashley and Kassie: a unique partnership
Kashley
and Kassie:
a unique partnership
Guide Dogs’ top priority is to
provide excellent, tailor-made
services for people with sight loss
– many of whom have a mixture
of different needs. Meet Kashley,
who’s on a remarkable journey…
24-year-old Kashley lives in Lancashire.
She has very little useful vision, so getting
around has never been easy. She
also has Asperger’s, a form of autism,
and experiences mental health issues
which pose additional challenges.
Life has been tough for Kashley. She
became depressed after being bullied at
school. People struggled to understand
Kashley’s complex state of mind, as
she has multiple personalities and uses
some unique vocabulary. What shone
through when Guide Dog Mobility
Instructors Rachel Harrison and Tracey
Alger first met Kashley, however, was
her zest for life and sense of humour.
She also clearly wanted to own a guide
dog and become more independent.
thought she would always need to
be accompanied on her walks.
The first step was for Tracey and Rachel
to spend three days with Kashley in her
home, building up a detailed picture of
her needs and making sure a guide dog
was right for her. When they gave her the
news she’d been hoping for – they would
start looking for a guide dog for her –
Kashley was delighted: “I was over the
moon”, she said. “I just cried and cried.”
It took a while to find the right dog
but Kashley was matched with
Kassie in June 2013. After six weeks
of intense training, Kashley became
a very proud guide dog owner.
Since then Kashley and her partnership with
Kassie have thrived and Kashley is much
more relaxed. What’s most remarkable
is that Kashley walks several routes with
Kassie completely on her own. She has
totally exceeded everyone’s expectations,
inspiring all those involved. Says Tracey,
“It’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever
done. The expression on her face when
we told her we’d be matching her with
a guide dog will stay with me forever.”
The complexity of Kashley’s needs was
a challenge but Rachel and Tracey
were determined to do all they could
to help her enjoy her life, though they
Tailoring our service
About a third of the people
we work with have additional,
sometimes complex, needs.
Amongst others, we work with
people who have:
• Both sight and hearing loss
• Epilepsy
• Cerebral palsy
• Multiple sclerosis
• Autism
• Acquired brain injury
• Learning disabilities
• Mental health issues
• Arthritis
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
17
A gift with wings!
A gift with wings!
The stories of people’s
decisions to leave us a gift in
their Will can be very moving.
Often their association with
Guide Dogs goes back years:
There are over 4,700 guide dog
owners leading an active and
fulfilling life in the UK today. Two out
of three of these guide dogs exist
thanks to the generous gifts people
leave in their Wills.
Inspired with confidence
In association with Guide
Dogs
Your gift can help
bring new hope,
says Victoria
Lambert
When Glenwynne Egan
awarded her 2:1 degree was
information technology in
University of Salford, sheat the
nearly the star of the show.was
The business and web
accessibility expert, 51,
from
Norfolk is almost completely
blind owing to a progressive,
incurable condition called
Stargardt disease (a form
of
early-onset macular
degeneration, in which
cells
in the retina die, spreading
outwards from the centre),
which has been robbing
of sight since the age of her
22.
But who could compete
with George – her guide
who earned himself a dog first in
“lecture disruption” at
the
tender age of five?
“Without George,” says
Glenwynne, “I couldn’t
have
taken a degree at all. My
world was shrinking, and
he
Life-saver: guide dogs
opened it up again.”
can give their owners the
freedom to live an independent
George, a golden labrador
life
giving up, the Guide Dogs
retriever, came into her
for Poppy, another golden
the Blind Association called.
just when she needed life
labrador retriever, who
him
It had a dog perfect for
Free Wills
helps
most. He condition had
her;
her pick the right
could she join the next
constantly complicated
three- the London train carriage on
Network
her
week residential course?
when she
working life - her career
needs to attend meetings.
“The course was
history includes personnel
Guide Dogs offers
“One of the single biggest
illuminating, I met so
and business administration
supporters the
many
challenges for someone
, inspirational sight-impaired
with
manual work and even
opportunity to have a
sight loss is having
people coping brilliantly.
running her own shop,
simple will written or
And confidence to try the
but
again.
were cut short by her failingall George was wonderful from
updated free by a local
dogs give you that,” she Our
the start. It was amazing
says.
sight. “I knew I had to
solicitor. While there is
“I wouldn’t be where I
give
getting my independence
up the shop the day I failed
no obligation to include
now without George; he am
to back. I felt like I had
recognise one of my
a gift in your will,
wings.”
saved my life, and my
When the Guide Dogs
sanity.”
customers – my own mother.”
Guide Dogs hopes that
Two out of three guide
course ended in 2001,
dogs
Undaunted, she decided
people taking part will
it was
exist thanks to the generous
time to get back into work.
take an Access to Higher to
consider including at
gifts that people leave
Glenwynne moved to York
in
Education course, as a
least a small gift
wills. Jack Visser, legacy their
and
began
working
springboard for university,
towards the charity’s
manager at Guide Dogs,
in BBC’s North East on the
1996. By now, she had
regional
vital work. Find out
“When you think that says:
only
website. From there, she
there
peripheral vision. “The
more about the Free
are over 4,700 guide dog
found herself headhunted
course was a nightmare
Wills Network
owners leading an active
–I
to London to work on
was nervous getting around,
at www.
web
fulfilling life in the UK and
accessibility programmes.
today,
constantly walking into
guidedogs.
you can see how important
Sadly, George is no longer
things.” As she considered
org.uk/
gifts in wills are. For all
around to help. Instead
these
giftsinwills
it is
people life opens up again.”
Mrs J Nunn
alamy
As we told you in the last edition of
Forward, we have been working
with the Daily Telegraph to raise
awareness of this crucial source of
income. Recently, the newspaper
featured the story of Glenwynne
Egan, whose two guide dogs have
helped turn her life around.
“I used to see a man and his
guide dog getting off the bus
and I would walk with him to
Woolworth’s. I marvelled at his
dog and how good he was. I
used to look forward to seeing
him and have supported your
good work ever since.”
For information on leaving
a legacy in your will to Guide
Dogs, call 0845 37 27371,
email giftsinwills@guided
ogs.org.uk or visit telegraph
.co.uk/guidedogs
& Wales (209617) and Scotland
(SC038979)
Charity registered in England
51-year-old Glenwynne is almost completely blind,
owing to a progressive, incurable condition she’s had
since the age of 22. Her condition had constantly
complicated her working life and, by 1996, she only
had peripheral vision. “My world was shrinking,”
she says. “I was nervous getting around, constantly
walking into things.
“Then guide dog George stepped into my life. It
was amazing getting my independence back,”
Glenwynne says. “I felt like I had wings.”
“As a child I remember an
Airman who had a guide
dog, Lennie. We were never
allowed to touch him while
he was working but we could
join in with his playtime. I took
two pennies to school every
week for the ‘blind dogs box’
and have supported you ever
since. You work wonders.”
Mrs V Odell
Thanks to George, Glenwynne was able to complete
a degree in IT and now works on web accessibility
programmes in London.
First George, and now Poppy, have opened up her
world and given her the freedom to get on with her
life. She says: “One of the single biggest challenges for
someone with sight loss is having the confidence
to try again. Our dogs give you that.”
“It was amazing getting
my independence back.
I felt like I had wings.”
18 Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
If you’d like to find out more about leaving a gift in
your Will, please contact the Gifts in Wills Team on
0845 603 1477 or giftsinwills@guidedogs.org.uk
On the campaign trail
On the campaign trail
What a brilliant start
to 2014 for Guide
Dogs’ campaigns!
Talking Buses
We’ve already received lots of
support from MPs for our calls to
have audio visual announcements
installed on buses and we’re
holding a parliamentary reception
in the House of Commons
this July. Find out more at:
guidedogs.org.uk/talkingbuses
Dog Attacks
Owners whose dogs
attack guide dogs face
up to three years in prison
under a new law passed
in March. Guide Dogs was
a driving force behind
the Anti-Social Behaviour,
Crime and Policing Act,
now in effect in England,
Wales and Scotland.
The law also contains
measures to force owners
to curb the behaviour of
out-of-control dogs.
This is great news for
our campaigners and
supporters, who’ve fought
hard for legislation which
recognises the devastating
impact of an attack on a
guide dog; we’re delighted
that irresponsible dog
owners can now be properly
brought to account. Thanks
to everyone who has
supported our campaign.
Streets Ahead
We’re asking the Prime
Minister to take a blindfold
walk and learn more about
the problems street clutter
and poor street design
cause for people with sight
loss. Join over 1,000 people
who’ve signed our online
petition: guidedogs.org.
uk/BlindfoldChallenge
Safe and Sound
Quiet vehicles can be
dangerous for people who
are blind or partially sighted.
A new EU Regulation means
that new quiet electric and
hybrid cars will have to
install sound generators from
2019. In the UK we’ve been
calling for the government
to fit these devices sooner,
making their installation
a condition of funding for
future electric and hybrid
vehicles. Become a Guide
Dogs campaigner by signing
up online: guidedogs.
org.uk/campaigns or
call 0800 028 4348.
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
19
Volunteers’ Week
Rachel Patterson
Volunteer puppy walker
20 Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
Volunteers’ Week
Celebrating
our volunteers
Volunteers’ Week celebrates the
fantastic contribution of millions
of volunteers across the UK. Guide
Dogs is proud to have thousands
of the most skilled, caring and
hardworking volunteers in the
business – we salute you all!
Our volunteers are the backbone of Guide Dogs – the
organisation literally wouldn’t run without them. Here we
profile a few of their many vital roles.
Collection box coordinator
– Jonny Mehaffey
Tour guides – Forfar Guide
Dog Training School
Across the UK, a team of volunteers
act as tour guides, showing visitors
around our training schools. Among
them is Lamont Forbes, who’s been
volunteering for Guide Dogs for
over 35 years. “I enjoy telling people
about Guide Dogs,” Lamont says,
“and the more you’re involved,
the more you become part of it.”
Fellow guides Betty Laird, June
Gibson and Isobel Colligan
are just as enthusiastic:
A student at Queen’s University, Belfast, Jonny
took on the role of collection box coordinator
as a way into volunteering, and to help raise
the profile of Guide Dogs in his local area.
“We love showcasing the work
of the training school and would
encourage anyone to consider
becoming a tour guide. We’re
proud to be a small part of the
amazing final partnership.”
His job is to find homes for our collection
boxes in local shops and businesses and
then to empty them and forward the proceeds
to Guide Dogs. It’s not a time-consuming role
but it has led on to other opportunities, such
as training to become a sighted guide.
“Helping to bring independence to someone,” he
says, “is a fantastic thing to see. I’ve learnt new skills
too, engaging with people on a different level.”
Volunteers’ Week has been
running since 1984 – so this
year is extra special as it’s
the week’s 30th anniversary
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
21
Volunteers’ Week
Fundraising branch – Llanelli
Sandra Francis and her husband, Lloyd, have been
staunch fundraisers and members of the Llanelli
branch, of which she is secretary, for over 25 years.
Like Volunteers’ Week, the branch celebrates its
30th anniversary this year. Over the last five years,
the branch has raised around £50,000 – enough
to support a guide dog from birth to retirement.
Lloyd’s mother was a guide dog owner herself,
so it was an obvious choice when the couple
were choosing a charity to fundraise for.
“When a guide dog owner talks to you about
the difference a guide dog makes, it’s
inspiring,” Sandra explains.
Puppy walkers – Bill and
Margaret Wilson
Puppy walkers like Bill and Margaret play a vital
role in the early socialisation and training of our
guide dogs. They take a pup into their home at
six weeks old and help familiarise it with everyday
sights and sounds until it moves on to the next
stage of its training at 12-14 months. “It’s a huge
commitment but very rewarding,” Bill says.
Bill’s first pup, Lucy, has gone on to become
a buddy dog to Oliver, whose mother, Sarah,
is full of praise for Lucy’s puppy walkers: “Our
thanks for looking after Lucy and making her so
wonderful for Oliver. Lucy is marvellous! Whatever
you did in those formative months, she must
have grown up feeling very loved and secure as
she’s so settled and puts up with anything!”
All our volunteers bring so much energy,
passion and commitment to Guide Dogs.
Whether you’re keen to get more involved or
thinking about volunteering for the first time,
there’s a role to suit everyone. As well as all
the roles featured in this article, here’s a small
selection of the many others available:
22 Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
• Volunteer trainers
• Brood stock holders (looking after our
guide dog mums and dads)
• Admin support
• Mobility Team service user representatives
• Volunteer Voices representatives (local
consultation groups)
• Photographers
Volunteers’ Week
Boarders – Lesley and Nick Gilbert
Some guide dogs in their final weeks of training
benefit from being in a home environment.
Boarders offer temporary homes, looking
after the dogs during evenings and weekends.
Lesley and Nick have given a home to five
young guide dogs. Lesley explains why:
“We both love dogs and we have the benefit of
having a dog around without worrying about what
to do with the dog in the daytime.” It’s always
upsetting when the dog leaves but, she says:
“It’s such a positive knowing that the dog is now
making a difference to someone’s life.”
Guide Dogs society – Curt Hickey
Setting up a student society is a great way to get a
new generation of young volunteers involved with
Guide Dogs, which is exactly what Curt has done at
Lancaster University. He’s also been a
fundraiser and has completed sighted
guiding training, part of which involved
being guided blindfold. “It was an
enlightening moment as it gave me
a glimpse of the experiences of the
people Guide Dogs is helping.”
About volunteering, Curt says: “It’s
one of the best decisions I’ve
ever made. My confidence has
soared which has helped with
my studies. It’s also helped me
develop lots of other skills, such
as team work, communication
and problem-solving.”
• My Guide sighted guide (read more
about sighted guiding on page 14)
• Reception support
• Speakers
• Drivers
• Dog exercisers
• Kennel assistants
• Laundry assistants
“To all the Guide
Dogs volunteers: as
a guide dog owner,
I just wanted you
to know how much
the work you do
means to us at
the end of the
chain. Without you
I wouldn’t have the
confidence to go
out independently,
to enjoy the
countryside and to
travel. Thank you
all so much.” Alan
Hughes, guide
dog owner
A huge thank you from us all to each and
every one of our volunteers. We truly could
not provide any of our life-transforming
services without you. If you are interested in
joining our team of dedicated volunteers,
visit guidedogs.org.uk,
email volunteer@guidedogs.org.uk
or call 0845 371 7771.
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
23
Dogs Unite!
Dogs Unite!
Do you know a dog who loves a walk?
Dogs Unite will be getting tails wagging
this summer by uniting thousands of
dogs and their owners at sponsored
dog walks across the UK. Dogs Unite
encourages dogs of all shapes and sizes
to become heroes for the day by raising
funds for their idols, our life-changing
guide dogs. This is the only sponsored
dog walk of its kind, allowing dogs to
collect sponsorship from their friends!
Join in the fun
You can get involved by joining a walk
near you or by becoming a Dogs Unite
event organiser and creating a local event
for your friends, family and community.
The Dogs Unite website has a whole host of
exciting fundraising materials, including fun
posters and sponsorship forms, making it easy
for your favourite canine to be a hero. Visit
dogsunite.org.uk/forward to find out more.
24 Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
So what’s in it for
your pooch?
All dogs who take part by raising vital
funds receive their very own cape
(an accessory a hero simply can’t be
without!), a Dogs Unite dog tag medal,
plus a special doggy goody bag.
Dogs Unite!
Now’s your chance to turn your hound into a hero.
Events
Got a camera?
Why not join London’s largest ever
dog walk? Our headline event of the
year will be held at Queen Elizabeth
Olympic Park, London on 14 June.
Then why not take part in our ‘dog selfie’
extravaganza on Twitter and Facebook?
Simply take a close-up shot of your canine
friend smiling for the camera and post
it to our social media accounts with the
hashtag #mydogselfie.
Aiming to attract 10,000 people,
this event will provide the ultimate
canine escapade for dog lovers. The
sponsored walk will be the centrepiece
of a wide range of activities such as
fun dog shows, celebrity appearances
and entertainment for children.
facebook.com/dogsunite
twitter.com/dogs_unite
There are plenty of other large and
small events taking place all over
the UK. Find a walk near you or start
organising your own by visiting:
dogsunite.org.uk/forward
r relax
Spence
Nell the lurcher
ing
fie
he staf
t
y
d
d
Bu
oodle
Tia the d
Brenna (eight w
eeks
old)
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
25
Blue Cross
A listening ear
Losing a pet is upsetting but the loss of a guide
dog can be devastating. Not only has the owner
lost a friend and companion but also their means
of getting about independently. A sympathetic,
listening ear can make all the difference.
Guide Dogs already offers support to guide
dog owners through local mobility teams and
our network of service user representatives.
Now we’re also working with Blue Cross, who
deliver emotional support through a national
Pet Bereavement Support Service (PBSS).
Of course, when a guide dog dies, the emotional
impact is enormous, but the end of a partnership
may also be due to illness, retirement, rehoming
or some other cause of separation – and
the feelings of loss are often the same.
And it’s not only guide dog owners who are
affected. Children with buddy dogs, puppy walkers
and other volunteers, staff and their families – in
fact anyone who comes into close contact with
any of our dogs – may well be grieving when
the relationship comes to a close. That’s why the
service is open to current and retired guide dog
owners, volunteers and staff – and the families
of all these groups. PBSS also offers support
for children as well as information for parents,
teachers and guardians about the effect the loss
of a pet can have on a child or young person.
Blue Cross has been providing a
professional bereavement service
across the whole of the UK since
1994. The service is accredited by
the Helplines Partnership and is run
by volunteers with full back office
support and training. The listeners
undergo 14 weeks of training, which
includes a module about the special relationship
between a service user and an assistance dog.
Guide Dogs has worked very closely with the
PBSS trainers to ensure the listeners have an indepth understanding of the guide dog service.
26 Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
“I was very impressed. It had
been a very traumatic time
for me but the listener put
me at my ease. I certainly
felt better afterwards
because I’d had someone
to talk to, which counts for
a lot.” Guide dog owner
We are now developing the
links between PBSS volunteers
and their local Guide Dogs
mobility teams to foster an
even better understanding of
the services both have to offer.
The PBSS phone line is open
365 days a year from 8.30am
to 8.30pm on 0800 096 6606.
There is also an email service
for those who prefer to write
about how they are feeling
– pbssmail@bluecross.org.uk.
A listener from PBSS will write
back to them and offer them
a conversation on the phone
if they would find that helpful.
A day in the life
A day in the life of
Georgia Collins,
minutes on a very distracting route where
we first discovered Tara’s fascination with
Brighton’s seagull population. We both
enjoy finding cafes to sit in at lunch time,
and Tara’s finely tuned labrador nose has
proved perfect at hunting out the best ones!
trainee journalist
Tara has an extremely hard job at college
as there’s so much to contend with:
discarded food, crowded corridors, and
lots of people trying to get her attention
wherever she goes as if she is minor
royalty. It’s a good job that when we get
to lectures she can have a snooze on the
floor, while it’s my turn to concentrate.
Ever since I lost my sight
eight years ago, being
independent has been a
challenge – until I met my
guide dog Tara.
I knew I had to apply for a guide dog
when I started to have trouble with
my left wrist; constantly using a cane
had taken its toll, and I suffered from
chronic repetitive strain injury.
We both need our relaxation time at
the end of the day and, when she’s not
guiding me to the pub, we’re playing in
the garden together, or having cuddles
whilst watching TV in the evening.
After being on the list for a while I attended
a Guide Dogs client day, and had the
opportunity to meet some guide dogs
and even take them for a test run around
the local area. It was the most amazing
feeling being able to share some of the
responsibility of moving around, and it
showed me how much freedom I’d have
when I finally got my own guide dog.
In June 2012 I got a call from the
Reading team saying they had a
possible match for me – a black
labrador retriever cross called Tara.
It took Tara and me two and a half weeks
to train. In that time we learnt all the Guide
Dogs commands and really got to know
each other. Now it’s been almost two years
since we qualified as a partnership, and I
can’t imagine Tara not being part of my life.
In January we moved from Reading to
Brighton so I could pursue my dream of
becoming a journalist. We travel an hour
each way to and from college every
day, using the bus and walking about 15
It’s safe to say that no two days are the same,
and it’s a testament to Tara’s ability to adapt
to any situation that we’re able to work so
well together. I hope Tara has many more
years ahead as a working dog, and that our
adventures continue for a long time to come.
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
27
What’s on?
4 - 12 October
Guide Dogs Week 2014
Guide Dogs Week 2013 was a spectacular success and,
with your support, this year will be even better. Like last year,
we’re asking people to ‘Stand Out For Guide Dogs’. The
colour yellow will feature prominently again – reflecting our
iconic guide dog harness – so you might want to dust off
your yellow clothes from last year!
We’re using Guide Dogs Week to raise awareness of
Talking Buses, highlighting the need for audio-visual
announcements on buses, enabling people with sight loss
to travel confidently. Look out for our bright yellow Stand
Out Bus, touring the UK in the lead-up to Guide Dogs Week,
with a grand finale in London.
Once again, we’ll be saying ‘Let’s Glow’ for Guide Dogs:
Let’s Glow – Collect: organise an envelope deskdrop collection in your workplace
Let’s Glow – Dress Down in Neon: join us on Friday 10 October for our national dress down day
Let’s Glow – Glow Together: organise a get-together with friends and help us make this year bigger, brighter and better than ever before
There’ll also be a great high-viz accessory for sale, and we’ll be
using social media and our website to spread the word too.
We hope you’ll throw yourselves into Guide Dogs Week so
we can help more blind and partially sighted people get
out and about on their own terms. Visit guidedogs.org.uk to
find out more.
Reception
Days Meet guide dog owners, staff and
volunteers and find out how leaving a gift in your Will helps
change lives. (Read some inspiring quotes on page 18 from
supporters who’ve left a gift in their Will.)
Aylesbury 2 June
Abergele 2 June
Salford 4 June
Hinckley 9 June
Dumfries 10 June
Romford 10 June
Wakefield 18 June
Ely 18 June
Tavistock 18 June
Ashford 24 June
Birmingham 24 June
Howden 25 June
For more information, call 0870 240 6993 or email
receptiondays@guidedogs.org.uk
28 Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
BBC Gardener’s World
Birmingham NEC, 11-15 June
Meet our dogs, take a
walk in our Sensory Tunnel
and take a blindfold
walk to test your senses.
bbcgardenersworldlive.com
Win free tickets! Visit
guidedogs.org.uk/goodfood
Guide Dogs Fun Days
Take the family, learn more
about what we do – and
have fun! You’ll find all sorts
at our Fun Days, from fun dog
shows to car boot sales.
Leamington Open Day
and car boot sale 19 July
Call 0845 372 7344 or email
graham.kensett@guidedogs.
org.uk
Liverpool Fun Day 14 June
Call 0118 983 8749 or email
liverpool@guidedogs.org.uk
Dogs Unite Queen Elizabeth
Olympic Park, 14 June
Our unique launch for Dogs
Unite with fun dog shows,
entertainment, trade stalls
and, of course, a Dogs
Unite sponsored dog walk.
Read all about Dogs Unite
on page 24. For tickets, visit
dogsunite.org.uk or call
0845 600 6787
QAC Sight Village
Birmingham, 15-16 July
A major event showcasing
technology and services
for people who are blind or
partially sighted.
qac.ac.uk/exhibitions
Name A Puppy
Guide Dogs AGM 4 August,
National Breeding Centre,
There will be an opportunity
for members to take a tour
of the centre before the
AGM. We will be writing
to members and further
information will be available
in July at guidedogs.org.uk
Running Blind Catton Park
Derbyshire, 24-25 August
Our new 12-hour off-road
running event, taking
place overnight. Take the
challenge alone, in pairs or
as a team; free camping
for friends and family. Visit
guidedogs.org.uk/events or
call 0845 600 6787
The Coniston Challenge
Lake District, 13 September
Now in its 12th year,
Guide Dogs’ amazing
challenge will bring out your
adventurous side. Hike up
the Old Man of Coniston,
mountain bike through
Grizedale Forest and kayak
across Coniston Water. Visit
guidedogs.org.uk/events or
call 0845 600 6787.
Knitting chicks
and naming pups
Easter began early this year for a group of Scottish
puppy walkers and other volunteers. As they do
every year, members of the Chatelherault Cohorts
knitted chicks for sale, which, over the years,
have raised a staggering £30,000. This year alone,
they have knitted an amazing 5,000 birds!
They also take their pups to visit local schoolchildren to
help them learn about Guide Dogs’ work and have raised
enough to name a whole clutch of guide dog pups. Named
after Scottish islands and scenery, the pups are called Ailsa,
Bracken, Harris, Heather, Iona and
Lewis, plus, appropriately enough for a
Scottish puppy, Bonnie. A member of
the group who celebrated knitting 6,000
chickens as well as her 90th birthday
was given the honour of choosing
the other puppy’s name – Craig.
Cohort member Ann Hamilton
says: “It’s a lovely group; we love
speaking and fundraising but
most of all walking our puppies.”
To find out more about how you can name a puppy, call
0118 983 0190 or email nameapuppy@guidedogs.org.uk
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
29
Our supporters
Thanks to our supporters
If you’ve reached this page of Forward, you won’t have missed the fact that
we’re celebrating National Volunteers’ Week (1- 7 June) a little early. I make
no excuses for that – as far as I’m concerned our volunteers deserve to be
celebrated 365 days a year. As well as all the other roles taken on by our skilled
and caring volunteers, we rely on you to raise the money we need to continue
our life-changing work. You do that with incredible energy, creativity and
commitment as these pages show and, for that, I really can’t thank you enough.
Director of Fundraising and Marketing
Dundee fundraising
group held a ‘Dinner
in the Dark’, raising
£1,000. Guests really
enjoyed the evening,
which included a
‘slave auction’ and
a quiz on their food!
1st Addingham
Brownies raised
£260 through a
blindfold sponsored
walk, which, with
an anonymous
donation, means
they’ve been able
to join the ‘sponsor
a puppy at school
or club’ scheme.
Frank Berry
celebrated his 75th
birthday by taking a
blind drive challenge
at the National
Heritage Museum,
Warwickshire,
achieving a lap
time of 27 seconds.
Better still, Frank
raised £785, adding
to the £900 raised
by his wife Christine
and family from a
coffee morning.
Karen Vaughan,
whose husband is a
guide dog owner,
bravely shaved off
her long hair, raising
£750. She donated
her hair to the
Little Princess Trust,
which makes wigs
for children having
treatment for cancer.
Guide dog owner
Stuart Powell has
produced his second
calendar featuring
photos of his guide
dog. Selling the
calendar to friends
and colleagues,
he’s raised £2,000.
Huge thanks to Specsavers who’ve exceeded their latest
pledge to raise £250,000 for Guide Dogs.
Employees have organised hundreds of fun days and donated
thousands of £1 coins from customers. Some even took on personal
challenges – like Michelle Bridges who bravely completed a sky
dive, helping Stowmarket branch raise nearly £7,000. A puppy has
been named Michelle in recognition of her dedication.
On top of all this, Specsavers has been the headline sponsor
for key events, including the Guide Dogs Annual Awards
and the Aberdeen Ball. All this amazing commitment has
so far raised £262,799 – enough for the basic training of an
extraordinary 52 guide dog puppies. From all of us to all of you:
thank you so much!
Volunteer John Blanchard-Mc Millan was honoured to open the
newly refurbished Accrington store with retired guide dog Logan.
30 Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
Our supporters
Congratulations to Hilary
Reed, named Westbury’s
2013 Person of the Year. A
puppy walker for 32 years
and active fundraiser for 27,
Hilary supports branches
across Wiltshire, running
fundraising events and
speaking for Guide Dogs.
Supported by local guide
dog owners and puppy
walkers, Southend-onSea fundraising group
raised a magnificent
£83,260 in 2013 through
store collections,
collection boxes, talks
and quiz nights.
Brentwood fundraising
group held a Guide Dogs
Week coffee morning,
raising a brilliant £850. The
photo above shows Mayor
of Brentwood, Sue Rowen
and guide dog Layla, and
puppy walker Brenda
Weaver with Ramble.
Young supporter Morgan
Aylisse makes pin cushions
helped by her neighbour,
Christine Mabbett, selling
them for Guide Dogs and
Diabetes UK. So impressed
is Christine by Morgan’s
enterprise, she’s bought her
Sponsor a Puppy as a gift.
Whitby fundraising group celebrated three
key events last October: the group’s 30th
anniversary; the 90th birthday of Colin Searby,
who’s volunteered with them since 1984; and
the fantastic fundraising feats of Christine
Young, who’s raised £16,000 since 1997.
Laura Haynes’ guide dog,
Peggy, sadly died suddenly
last September. Laura and her
husband John organised a
coffee morning in her memory,
raising a marvellous £1,150.
Norwich Lower School pupils with guide dog
owners Mhari Claxton and Mervyn Ivany
Congratulations to Elliott, Finlay, Ben and
Arjun from Norwich Lower School, for their
sponsored climb up Mount Snowdon. With
support from Norwich fundraising group,
they raised a staggering £2,475.99!
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
31
Our supporters
Customers of Newbury Waitrose raised
£600 through the store’s Community
Matters scheme. The photo shows Michael
Thomas and Sara Coffield from Waitrose
presenting the cheque to volunteer Tracy
Bracher, puppy walker Jenny Eaton with
Richie and guide dog owner Roy Smith
with Lance.
Lloyds Bank Community Fund awards
grants to local causes and, in a public
vote last November, Swindon and
Chippenham fundraising group received
the most votes in their area and were
awarded £3,000.
Norman and Mary
Miller didn’t want gifts
for their 50th wedding
anniversary – they had
everything they needed
after 50 years! They’ve
always had an interest
in Guide Dogs, as their
daughter, Debbie Miller,
is a Guide Dog Mobility
Instructor. They were
delighted to raise £370.
And when Elizabeth
Bowhay married John
Greenway last year, a
special guest was Fuller,
the first puppy Elizabeth
walked, now a working
guide dog. Their guests
raised £634 in lieu of gifts.
After Dark club owner and
DJs with members of the
Reading fundraising group
The After Dark Club,
Reading, held a ‘Fools Gold’
evening, where customers
gave a donation rather than
paying an entry fee. Thanks
to their generosity, the club
raised £3,069 to name a
guide dog puppy.
Belfast Mobility Team
raised over £5,000
through the 2013 Belfast
Marathon. They’ve named
a pup Olly in memory of
guide dog owner Olive
Calvert, whose grandson,
Thomas Priestly, raised
over £1,500 of the total.
32 Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
Inspired by her father, who
is losing his sight, Alison
John ran the Cardiff half
marathon, raising £1,370
– a record amount for
individual fundraising
in Llanelli and District
fundraising group.
The Eclipse Cinema, Downpatrick, was filled to capacity for
the charity premiere of the film ‘Philomena’. Thanks to the
Dufferin Arms, Killyleagh (whose interior was used in the film),
for sponsoring the event and to all who helped raise £2,522.
Eastleigh fundraising
group may be small,
but they raised a
splendid £16,000 in
2013. The picture shows
one of the group’s
skittles evenings.
An open house
run by Mid Surrey
fundraising group
raised over £800
with a raffle – main
prize, a home-made
Christmas cake!
The appropriately named ‘The Plough at Skellingthorpe Fundraisers’
raised £2,500 in 2013 through village and pub-based events. They
were presented with a framed photo of a guide dog in appreciation.
In memory
Mark Jenkins
We are sorry to
announce that Mark
Jenkins, Trustee,
passed away in
January, after
losing his battle
with cancer. Mark
was appointed as
Honorary Treasurer
in February 2012,
chaired the Audit
Committee and sat
on the Investment
Committee.
Although only with
us for a short time,
Mark established
himself quickly and
made a significant
and lasting
contribution. He was
well respected, not
least for his positive
manner during his
illness, but also for
his straightforward
approach and sound
judgement. He will
be greatly missed.
Ivy Needham
Tributes have
been paid to Ivy
Needham, who
died in December,
including former
Prime Minister Tony
Blair, who described
her as “quite simply
a legend”. Ivy was
at the forefront of
the campaign to
claw back millions
of pounds stolen
by Robert Maxwell
from his staff and
pensioners and
received an MBE for
her services. She was
a fervent supporter
of Guide Dogs and
her three guide dogs
regularly appeared
at demonstrations.
great passion, pride
and commitment.
He and his wife
boarded over 70
dogs and adopted
labrador Charlie.
Bryan and Charlie
were inseparable
and, sadly, Charlie
passed away 10
days after Bryan.
Their ashes were
buried together.
Bryan Rice
Manley
We are sad to
announce the death
of Bryan Rice Manley,
chairman of Cardiff
branch, boarder and
fundraiser, last April.
Bryan undertook
all his roles with
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
33
Canine obituaries
We’ll never
forget
Anna 4.11.99 – 23.2.13
You changed my life
completely and made
so many of my dreams
a reality. I’ll love you
forever little lady and
will always miss you.
Basil 31.12.02
– 27.11.13
My third guide dog.
Sadly put to sleep
following a short
illness. Much loved
by all who knew
him. Rest in peace
gorgeous boy.
Carter 16.11.99
– 16.12.13
Puppy walked, kept
as a stud and in
retirement by John
and Judith Wild. A
gentle, friendly dog.
Will be greatly missed.
Cassie 2000 – 2014
Constant companion
and helper to Jackie
Brown. An enthusiastic
fundraiser with a
rare passion for the
bagpipes. Retired with
her beloved mistress.
Remembered with
much love.
Beattie 28.6.00
– 22.2.14
Taken from us, our
beautiful, special
girl. Greatly missed.
Always loved.
Mum, Dad and little
sister Zola XXX
Blake 04.02.02
– 10.02.14
Retired early to his
puppy walker. He
greeted everyone
he met like an old
friend. The perfect
gentleman who never
complained. Missing
my dream dog.
Anna
If you would like to pay tribute to a guide dog you have
known, please send your tribute (up to a maximum of
25 words) to forward@guidedogs.org.uk or to Forward at
Hillfields, Burghfield Common, Reading, RG7 3YG.
Charlie 5.11.99
– 5.12.13
Run pain free big
man. You were my
best mate, a true
gentle giant. Greatly
missed by all.
Dale 18.4.99 – 29.10.13
Guide to Bob Kirk.
Retired to Margaret
and Jim Barclay.
Perfect ambassador
for Guide Dogs.
Loved by many.
Forever in our hearts,
our gentle boy.
Beattie
34 Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
Carter
Ellie 1999 – 2014
Ellie – thanks for your
love and friendship,
guide to Toseef,
loved by Helen,
Hannah, Eve, Joan,
Malcolm, Craig.
Run free Ellie lass on
Heaven’s grass.
Ellie (Eliza) 14.4.01
– 12.10.13
Bred by the Dibb
family. Adopted
by puppy walkers
Delia and Philip
Woodbridge. Helped
half-sisters Olivia
and Jemma to
qualify. Joyous, loyal,
creative and loved.
Fidde 19.09.03
– 01.12.13
Guide dog to Susan
Jones. Thank you
to the Guide Dogs
staff and vets who
looked after Fidde so
well in his last days.
Fletcher 17.9.00
– 23.12.13
In loving memory of
dear Fletcher, our
very special friend
and guide.
Dale
Loved by all and
so sadly missed.
Happy memories.
Flick 12.2.02 – 8.1.14
A special girly, an
amazing guide dog,
willing to work even in
retirement. We’re all
going to miss you and
love you so much. XX
Guiness 20.6.05
– 31.1.14
Hardworking and
loving guide to
Rodney Tooke and
friend to everyone.
Will always be
missed by human
and doggy friends.
Harry 5.9.98 – 19.2.14
Much beloved guide
to Malcom Matthews
of Tottenham.
Retired to Peter and
Doreen Beeson.
An exceptional
dog, who was
almost human.
Kandy 27.8.14
Night night our
darling, dearest little
Kandy Floss. The
corner by the fire is
Ellie
Ellie
Fletcher
lonely without you.
Love you always,
William and Pearl.
Kelly 14.11.00 – 4.11.13
Second guide to
Ann Boland, puppy
walked by Mrs
Fosberry, retired to
Pat and Len Bennet.
Cherished right to the
end. Run free baby girl.
Lloyd 4.6.98 – 25.9.13
Goodbye to the
lovable, laid-back
Lloyd who had
enough love in his
heart for everyone.
Until we meet again
my friend. Love Tom
and Brunel McInulty.
Mitch 16.3.01 – 1.11.13
Puppy walked
by Yvette Papps,
stayed with us as
unable to work,
our beautiful boy.
Loved by everyone,
including Oakie.
Missing him so much.
Molly 9.1.02 – 29.1.14
A beautiful and
devoted first guide
to Norma. Sadly
Lloyd
Flick
missed by all.
Run free in God’s
garden. Goodnight
sweetheart, God
bless and thank you.
Morton 29.6.00
– 6.12.13
Guide to Mick Murch
and retired to Janet
and Martin Evans.
Touched everyone’s
heart who knew
him. Such a loving
and caring dog.
Sadly missed.
Nick 20.4.03 – 25.1.14
We only had him as
a retired guide dog
but we miss him very
much. A wonderful
warm-natured soul,
so very kind and
also very cheeky.
Nixon 1.8.98 – 30.1.14
Goodbye Nicky
Noodle, my wonderful
guide for nine years.
We had some great
times and you were
loved and cherished
by everyone
who met you.
Mitch
Molly
Harry
Nugget 2.4.02
– 14.11.13
First guide dog to
Colin Proudlock.
Guide, friend and
fundraiser. Always
ready, never put a foot
wrong. Enjoy your rest,
you wonderful boy.
Pearce 31.5.97 – 6.8.13
A loyal guide to
Brenda. Loved
by all the family,
especially by Ruth,
who looked after
him in his retirement.
Sleep in peace.
Purdie 6.6.00 – 10.1.14
Guide dog to Mrs
Alexander. Puppy
walked and retired
to Mrs Kershaw.
Love you for always
sweet baby.
Questa 19.2.01
– 11.12.13
Didn’t qualify
but became the
beloved ‘Babe’ of
the Walker family in
2002. Thank you for
all the wonderful
years together. Miss
you so much.
Nick
Kelly
Robbie 20.12.99
– 7.3.14
Robbie Dog was a
fantastic guide dog
with a love for life and
touched so many
people’s hearts. He
will be dearly missed.
Roxy 1.7.98 – 18.11.13
The Mad Hatter has
departed! Guide
to Carol and Mike
Pearson for nine-anda-half years. Hardworking, intelligent
and socially scatty.
Much loved.
Retired to puppy
walker Pat Peters.
Russ 6.4.02 – 19.2.14
Russy, aged 11
and 10 months.
The jolliest boy, loved
by everyone he met.
We miss our
darling dog, Big
Wagger Boy!
Shula (Ursula)
5.01 – 25.1.14
In memory of my
beautiful, devoted
dog Shula. Guide to
Susan Jones, retired
Nixon
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
35
Canine obituaries
Nugget
Pearce
to the family. Friend to
guide dog Pelham. Sleep
well my darling.
Tamara 21.2.00 –
5.11.13
Guide dog to Georgina
Liddle. Will always miss
you. She was a good
guide dog. Orchid misses
you too.
Tenby 8.12.00 – 17.2.14
Puppy walked by Ros
Page, guide to Martin,
retired to Bill and Daphne
Glover. A perfect
gentleman, you had a
happy, active retirement.
Very much missed.
Terri 23.8.00 – 27.9.13
Farewell Terri, my
loving, faithful dog
and best friend.
Purdie
Geoff. Your presence
we miss, your memory
we treasure. Loving
you always. In our
hearts forever.
Walter 11.12.00 – 12.2.14
Devoted guide to Natalie,
beloved companion to
the Williams family.
Too many fond memories
to recount here, thank
you sweet Walter. Kisses
from us all.
Warren 14.8.03 – 13.2.13
Guide to Helen Rourke.
My gentle giant, adored
by and loved by
everyone he met. A star
brighter than the sun now
shines in heaven.
Viking 6.3.98 – 29.1.14
Guide dog to Johnny,
adopted by Sylvia and
Russ
Shula
Tenby
Viking
Walter
Warren
36 Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
Questa
Roxy
Guide Dogs is working with
the Blue Cross to provide a
bereavement support service
for current and retired guide
dog owners and volunteers
who are grieving the loss of
their dog or pup through
retirement, rehoming, illness,
separation, transition or death.
A phone line is open daily from
8.30am – 8.30 pm and there
is an email service for people
who prefer to write about how
they are feeling.
Guide dog owners and
volunteers can call the
bereavement service on
0800 096 6606 or email
pbssmail@bluecross.org.uk
We’ll never forget
A partnership for happy, healthy pets
As regular Forward readers
will know, Guide Dogs
works in partnership with
a number of companies
across the UK. These
partnerships are invaluable
in helping us raise funds to
continue our life-changing
work with people who are
blind or partially sighted.
One of our most fruitful partnerships is with
pet insurance company, Petplan. Whenever
a Guide Dogs supporter buys a Petplan
insurance policy for their pet, the company
gives ten percent of the premium back
to Guide Dogs, and then a further ten
percent each year the policy is renewed.
The funds we raise through this type of
partnership are very important – but it’s
not just about the money. It also gives us
great opportunities to raise awareness
of our work amongst new audiences of
pet owners, many of whom share similar
values and concerns. So, as well as a
substantial contribution to our income,
it can also lead to new supporters
and volunteers for Guide Dogs.
A key part of Petplan’s ethos is responsible
pet ownership, a value which is, of
course, shared by everyone involved with
Guide Dogs. One of the ways we put this
value into practice, in partnership with
Petplan, is by providing four weeks’ free
Petplan insurance whenever a retired
guide dog is rehomed to a new family.
Pet insurance can help provide peace of
mind for owners that they are covered in the
event of a pet’s unexpected illness or injury.
Last year, one of our supporters claimed
£3,500 for the cost of veterinary treatment
when her german shepherd Toby developed
a splenic tumour. As Toby’s owner had
a full Petplan policy, she was able to
concentrate on looking after Toby, rather
than focussing on how to pay the vet bills
which, as every pet owner knows, is exactly
what you need when your pet is poorly.
To find out more about Petplan insurance
policies visit petplan.co.uk/gdba
or call 0800 197 9017.
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
37
New partnerships
Congratulations
to our new partnerships
Belfast
Birmingham
Paul Beattie & Drumoig
from Portadown GRxL,
Norman Clark from
Tayport * John Allsopp
from Leamington Spa
Sharon Biscombe &
Tolly from Camelford
L, Sandra Croker from
Birmingham * Janet
Klaar from Stourbridge
Michael Boyd & Scooby
from Ballymena LxGR,
Debbie Williamson
from Glasgow, Vicky
Paterson from Glasgow
* Sandra BradburnVazquez from Lichfield
Robert Boon & Mark
from Paignton GRxL,
John Clack from
Abingdon * Maria
Leggett from Oxford
Jacqueline Brown &
Bumble from Maghera
GSD, Diane Hankin from
Kirkcaldy * Andrew
London from Hereford
Edith Finlay & Lexie
from Larne LxGR,
Doris Campbell from
Aberdeen * Jane
Plant from Solihull
Gertrude Johnston &
Yardley from Belfast
LxGR, Elaine Wood
from Edinburgh * Sue
Davy from Oldbury
Martha McClelland
& Jasmine from
Londonderry L,
Andrea Clark from
Kinross * Andrew
Starr from Devizes
Rodney Brooke & Innis
from Leominster GRxL,
Amy Johnson from
Birmingham * Julia
Maxwell from Kenilworth
Valerie Brown & Jack
from Birmingham LxGR,
Evelyn Hardiman from
Kidderminster * Joan
Raxter from Redditch
Stanley Eden & Zoe
from Ross-on-Wye
GRxL, Shirley Hawkins
from Stafford * Ruth
Philpott from Malvern
Lucille Evans &
Ashleigh from Evesham
GRxL, Jennifer
Parker from Warwick
* Darrin Grocock
from Lutterworth
Paul Hopkins & Usher
from Birmingham
LxGR, Linda Brown
from Atherstone * Mrs
Davies from Telford
Geraldine Howes-Smith
& Acorn from Ledbury
GRxL, Carol And Andrew
Herring from Basingstoke
* D Ward from Rugby
38 Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
New partnerships are listed by Mobility Team.
Each listing details owner, guide dog, town,
breed, puppy walker and brood bitch holder.
Warm congratulations to all our new qualifiers.
Ann Marsh & Lollie from
Redditch LxGR, Diana
Molcher from Kettering,
Wendy Moore from
Northampton * S Sager
from Leamington Spa
Nicholas Moore &
Warwick from Worcester
GRxL, Zoe Court
from Barford, Sue
Herman from Warwick
* John Marchant
from Milton Keynes
Amanda Francis &
Hobbs from Cardigan
GR, Gillian Chard from
Penarth * Katherine
Baker from Mitcheldean
Gerald Jones & Walter
from Colwyn Bay L,
Jane Newton from
Clevedon * Christina
Bloxham from Worcester
Jayne Murphy & Ginty
from Cheltenham
GRxL, Mandy Price
from Kidderminster
* John Marchant
from Milton Keynes
Susan Nicholls & Ginny
from Birmingham
LxGR, Linda Whitwell
from Kettering * Anna
Adams from Daventry
Gordon Paxford & Logan
from Bourton-on-TheWater LxGR, Theresa
Glenn from Heanor *
Jane Plant from Solihull
Claire Rush & Dash
from Hereford L, Barry
And Janet Roberts
from Walsall * Clare
Turton from Solihull
Emma Williams & Junior
from Worcester L, Janice
Wild from Bolton * Mrs
Lyle from Warwick
Cardiff
Denise Ann Edwards
& Bliss from Wrexham
L, Annette Tadman
from Bristol
Peter Trimmer &
Victor from Aberdare
GRxFCR, Beverley Finch
from Solihull * Alison
Jordan from Stafford
Morlais Williams &
April from Caernarfon
GRxL, Vivien Baker
from Chelmsford
* Darrin Grocock
from Lutterworth
Coventry
Brian Cooper & Lulu from
Coalville GRxL, Susan
Tudor from Northampton,
Lauretta Collins from
Quorn * Mrs Coughlan
from Lutterworth
Jackie Elshaw & Liam
from Warwick LxGR,
Norma Stent from Bath
* Gerald and Ann Lewis
from Leamington Spa
New partnerships
Wayne Farini & Keller
from Leicester L, Maura
Parsons from Milton
Keynes * Annette Smith
from Swadlincote
Linda Fosse & Marlowe
from Brackley GR,
Margaret Mardell
from Rochester *
Jacquie Williams from
Moreton-in-Marsh
Karina Gregory &
Orca from Coventry
GRxL, Lisa Wilkes from
Sutton Coldfield * Phil
Revill from Southam
Jon Hayre & Bob
from Oakham GSD,
Richard & Iris Chapple
from Martock
Mark Iliffe & Rajah from
Solihull GRxL, Myrtle
Pacey from Bridport,
Alison Kent from
Taunton * Carla Alves
Da Silva from Solihull
Sue Pallett & Poppy from
Coalville LxGR, Vivien
Bevan from Ilkley * Jane
Plant from Solihull
from Kirkcaldy, George
& Elizabeth Paterson
from Inverkeithing
* Alison Morton from
Leamington Spa
Edinburgh
Edith Butchart & Ushka
from Dundee L, Caroline
Thom from Falkirk *
Christina Bloxham
from Worcester
Mary Godzik & Yaris
from Denny GRxL, Pearl
Kirk from Kirkcaldy * Mrs
Field from Warwick
Barry Griffin & Josh
from Edinburgh LxL,
Tom & Ann Duly from
Dunfermline * Anne
Baulch from Rugby
Heather Laidlaw &
Winnie from Edinburgh
GRxL, Louise Norman
from South Queensferry
* Sarah Mitchell from
Stratford-Upon-Avon
Teresa Reading & Baden
from Nuneaton L, Gill
Rackley from Gillingham
Ella Jane Syme &
Sparkle from Bicester
LxGR, Kathryn Holt
from Abingdon * Anna
Adams from Daventry
Vanessa Tailby-Bates
& Yassie from Kibworth
Beauchamp LxGR,
John Karwowski from
Falkirk, Mrs Dodds
Key:
x – Crossbreed
CCR – Curly Coat Retriever
COL – Collie
FCR – Flat Coat Retriever
GR – Golden Retriever
Louise McLeary & Libby
from Kirkcaldy LxGR,
Leanne McDonald
from Edinburgh * Jane
Plant from Solihull
Michael A R Neville &
Milton from Peebles
GRxL, Caroline McGrory
from Bonnybridge * Julia
Duncan from Daventry
Martin Rivers & Tibby
from Newcastle Upon
Tyne LxGR, Moira
Cocker from Aboyne
* Sandra BradburnVazquez from Lichfield
Margo Scott & Thistle
from Edinburgh GRxL, Ian
Munro from Linlithgow *
Janet Holt from Hinckley
Stephen Shaw & Doodle
from Livingston GRxL,
Marjorie Morgan
from Ballyclare * Mrs
Bedding from Southam
Exeter
Ginny Baker & Becky
from Exeter GRxL,
Katy-Ann Mason from
Peterborough * Alison
Ashley from Daventry
Ted Baker & Dylan from
St Austell GR, Margaret
Squance from Redditch,
Yvonne Hunter from
Cannock * S Priestman
from Rushden
David Barber & Kasper
from Weston-SuperMare L, Ian Sawyer
from Merriott * Linda
Sheehan from Evesham
Theresa Boyce & Nero
from Teignmouth GRxL,
Robert Endsor from
Bristol, Helen Mitchell
from Street * Robert
Jones from Rushden
Jeffrey Bungay &
Ulma from New Milton
STPxL, I Vosper from
Exeter * Linda Brush
from West Haddon
Roderick Carne &
Imogen from Burnhamon-Sea L, Eunice
and Tony Brand from
Colchester * Ellen
Summerton from
Leamington Spa
John Coles & Bruce from
Bristol GRxL, Caroline
Thomas from Bristol,
Helen Mitchell from
Street * Cherry Gillbard
from Aldingbourne
GSD – German Shepherd Dog
IWS – Irish Water Spaniel
L – Labrador
SPIN – Spinone
STP – Standard Poodle
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
39
New partnerships
Christine Dean & Jodie
from Wincanton LxGR,
Jacqueline Eve from
Beaminster * Sharon
Pogson from Bromsgrove
Sally Rodrigues & Lillie
from Bristol GRxL,
Ann Greenway from
Swansea * Alison
Ashley from Daventry
Tim Gibbins & Ula from
Tavistock STPxL, Anne
Matson from Bristol *
Rachel Cutler from Rugby
Alan Walsh & Arnie
from Bristol GRxL, Kate
Price from Ashby-De-LaZouch * Darrin Grocock
from Lutterworth
Jodine Healy & Fudge
from Bristol LxGR,
Carol Hambridge
from Tamworth, Julie
March from Cannock
* Janette Baines from
Burton-on-Trent
Patrick John Hole &
Nugget from Exeter
GRxL, Andy & Jan
Squire from Swindon
* Mary Cheesman
from Southam
Heidi James & Spencer
from Sidmouth L,
Mahzbeen Patel from
Leicester * Joan Perry
from Southam
Judy Watson & Autumn
from Stoke-SubHamdon GRxL, Robert
Penney from Ilminster
* Tracy Twomey from
Leamington Spa
Steven White & Ulric
from Bristol LxGR,
Sandra Emsley from
Southam * John
Starkey from Malvern
Jo Woodcock & Unis from
Modbury L, Jean Reece
from Bishop Auckland,
Hazel Ann Pratt from
Northallerton * Brian
Green from Birmingham
Albert Lee & Laurie
from Exeter GR,
Jacqueline Crowe
from Northampton *
Jacquie Williams from
Moreton-in-Marsh
Martin Wright & Neil
from Exmouth GRxL,
Katherine Harvey from
Worcester * Brian Green
from Birmingham
Deborah Ann Palmer &
Pearl from Exmouth LxGR,
Linda Hole from Bristol *
Mrs Davies from Telford
Glasgow
Megan Pritchard &
Willow from Liskeard
L, Andrea Eaton from
Clevedon * Christina
Bloxham from Worcester
Matthew Brown & Ike
from Dumfries L, Ashley
Gray from Tranent,
Felicity Stanley from
Falkirk, Mrs Bumpass
from Newport-on-Tay
* Sarah Mitchell from
Stratford-Upon-Avon
Graham Gunning &
Toffee from Glasgow
GRxL, Debra Anne
Merrett from Milltimber *
Beth Julian from Leicester
James Hume & Rudge
from Alexandria GR,
Judith Evans from
40 Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
Edinburgh, Annette
Mundy from South
Queensferry * Mrs
Field from Warwick
Sandra Leslie & Iona from
Dumfries LxGR, Joyce
Wallace from Glenrothes
* Linda Langman
from Milton Keynes
Mairi McQuade & Rusty
from Paisley GR, Catriona
Addy from Linlithgow *
Mrs Field from Warwick
Elaine Perry & Ricky
from Wishaw GR, G
Simpson from Forfar *
Mrs Field from Warwick
Ian Wright & Luka
from Glasgow LxGR,
Helen Kilpatrick from
Belfast, Robin Kilpatrick
from Belfast * Jane
Plant from Solihull
Hull
Catherine Ball & Moss
from Lincoln GRxL,
Dawn McKeown from
Bangor * Julia Duncan
from Daventry
Derrick Eyre & Harvey
from Brough GRxL,
Helen Lance-Marsden
from Liverpool * Marie
Court from Halesowen
Keith Kelsey & Frizz from
Horncastle LxGR, Jo
Stradling from Langport
* Janette Baines from
Burton-on-Trent
John Pinder & Stokes
from Scunthorpe LxGR,
Jean Ruff from Redcar
* Barbara Walker from
Sutton Coldfield
Leeds
Prayer Beaumont
& Heather from
Huddersfield GRxL,
Marion McComb from
Arbroath * Marie Court
from Halesowen
Martin Dudley & Zac
from Leeds GSDxGR,
Alison King from Morpeth
* Mrs Simpson from
Leamington Spa
Susan Gaunt & Charity
from Pudsey L, Jean
Greenway Cole from
Buxton * Danielle
Vaughan from Wigston
Harry Grantham & Toby
from Sheffield GRxL,
Helen Austwick from
Sowerby Bridge * Janet
Holt from Hinckley
Emma Oldfield
& Orlando from
Wakefield GRxL,
Wendy Cunningham
from Dundee * Beth
Julian from Leicester
Christine Ross & Val from
Doncaster L, Derek &
Margaret Hyslop from
Dunfermline, Lesley Karen
Morris from Blairgowrie,
Carole Stryker from
Rosyth * Christine
Smith from Kenilworth
Jane Hodgson & Yasmin
from Giggleswick
LxGR, M Spencer from
Bishop Auckland
Stuart Thornton & Chester
from Keighley L, Jennifer
Moffett from Altrincham,
Lesley Needham from
Congleton * Danielle
Vaughan from Wigston
New partnerships
Liverpool
Andrew Graham & Moy
from Wallasey GR, Joan
Jones from Altrincham
* Katherine Baker
from Mitcheldean
Matthew Andrew Mair
& Monty from Widnes
GRxL, Ann Price from
Chester * Julia Duncan
from Daventry
Linda Perry & Vogue
from Liverpool L,
Beryl Dennison from
Lancaster * Christine
Smith from Kenilworth
Priya Commander &
Sidney from London L,
Sarah Connolly from
Witham * Mrs Poulter
from Stratford-Upon-Avon
Marjorie Convey &
Lennie from Harrow L,
Shirley Ann Charlesworth
from Nottingham *
Annette Mulcahy from
Stratford-Upon-Avon
Glen Coull & Floyd from
London L, Sue Verran
from Beckenham
* Sheila Coton from
Birmingham
Kerry Singleton & Harley
from Warrington GRxL,
Bernadette Kee from
Liverpool * Sian Simmons
from Kenilworth
Anne Taggart & Morris
from Chester GR,
Christine Kemp from
Wirral * Marie Court
from Halesowen
Mark Tilsley & Venice
from Macclesfield
L, Elaine Hope from
Whitley Bay
Ron Williams & Jones
from Runcorn LxL, Susan
Hill from Buxton * Anne
Baulch from Rugby
Kate Young & Star from
Malpas LxGR, Jayne
Doak from Mold, M
Scott from Northwich
* Sandra BradburnVazquez from Lichfield
London
Geoffrey Cochrane &
Austin from Norwich
GRxL, Elizabeth
Endacott from Dover
* Darrin Grocock
from Lutterworth
Richard Greenwood
& Zeus from Welling
GRxGSD, Patricia
Sampson from
Hockley, Cynthia
Duvall from Rochford
* Peter Meadows
from Lutterworth
Kim Harris & Dancer
from Bromley GRxL,
Tanya Alvis from
Ashford, Veronika Weise
from London * Carol
Mannion from Coventry
Paul Horsfield & Carl
from Borehamwood
LxGR, Karen Munro
from Enfield * Anna
Adams from Daventry
Simon Jones & Ivy
from Epsom L, Barbara
Paul from Swindon *
Ellen Summerton from
Leamington Spa
Paul Manton & Kristian
from London L, Joan
Smith from Malmesbury,
Patricia Nixon from
Chippenham * Linda
Sheehan from Evesham
Catherine McAteer
& Unity from London
LxGR, Liz Wilkins from
Shepperton * Mrs
Davies from Telford
Maidstone
William Allen & Aero from
Seaford GRxL, Brenda
Weaver from Brentwood
* Darrin Grocock
from Lutterworth
Frances Ash & Isca from
Hove L, Tracey Williams
from Swindon * William
Kelso from Alcester
Terence O’Brien &
Casey from Chigwell
LxGR, Beata Jones from
Gillingham * Anna
Adams from Daventry
Richard Downey & Lady
from Ashford GRxL,
Elisabeth Meakin from
Woking * Mrs Coughlan
from Lutterworth
Darren Paddick & Nan
from Croydon GRxL,
Susanna Fleet from
Cambridge * Brian
Green from Birmingham
Barry Ginley & Skye
from Maidstone L,
Vanessa Johnson
from Sittingbourne
Patrick Roberts & Rufus
from London GRxL,
George Odell from
Chelmsford * Phil
Revill from Southam
Susan Jeffery & Bella
from Maidstone GRxL,
Angela and Paul
James from Chelmsford
* Sarah Pagan from
Leamington Spa
Amir Kamali Sarvestani
& Larry from London
L, Jackie Hardstaff
from St Andrews *
Annette Mulcahy from
Stratford-Upon-Avon
Davinder Kullar & Archie
from Gravesend GRxL,
Carol Vaughan from
Grays, David Moore
from Romford * D
Ward from Rugby
Leslie Smithson &
Guiness from London
LxGR, Philippa Leguen
De Lacroix from
London * Anna Adams
from Daventry
Gary Robinson & Pj from
St Leonards-on-Sea
GRxL, Louise Banham
from Sittingbourne, Paul
and Deborah Welch
from Ashford * Jackie
Elliott from Warwick
Janet Tuggey & Kinsey
from London GRxGSD,
Fiona Newman from
Tunbridge Wells * Mandy
Matkin from Burntwood
Patricia Welton & Imogen
from Hamwell L, Amanda
And Dean Arnold from
Swindon, Joan McCann
from Swindon * William
Kelso from Alcester
Samuel Wilkins & Pilot
from Gillingham GRxL,
Valerie Townsend
from Ashford * Jackie
Elliott from Warwick
Julia Wilson & Esme from
Worthing GR, Doreen
Griffin from Reading
* Barbara Walker from
Sutton Coldfield
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
41
New partnerships
David Wood & Nevis from
Hythe GRxL, Paul and
Deborah Welch from
Ashford, Louise Banham
from Sittingbourne
* Mary Cheesman
from Southam
Janet Wood & Bella
from Deal GSD,
Carole Arrowsmith
from Reading, Susan
Wilks from Slough,
Nicky Cockroft from
Wokingham * Mrs
Tindall from Coventry
Manchester
Judith Appleton &
Flash from Bolton LxL,
Marilyn Netherington
from Perth * Dawn
Wood from Kenilworth
Shanice Black &
Claude from Kearsley
L, Mary Slater from
Kelso, Debbie Horne
from Selkirk * Danielle
Vaughan from Wigston
Susan Chippendale
& Storm from Preston
LxGR, Rachael Cumming
from Brechin * Sandra
Bradburn-Vazquez
from Lichfield
Judith Daniels & Owen
from Chorley GRxL, Terry
Knight from Rotherham
* Mrs Edwards from
Leamington Spa
Margaret Ellerton & Tetley
from Blackburn L, Carole
Rogers from Altrincham
* Sheila Higgins from
Milton Keynes
Margaret Gillan &
Wilson from Lytham
St Annes GRxL, Jean
Burton from Greenock
* Sarah Mitchell from
Stratford-Upon-Avon
Lee Thomas Hacking &
Uffa from Bolton LxGR,
Eileen Matthews from
St Helens, Margaret
Mableson from Redcar,
William Stutchbury from
East Boldon * John
Starkey from Malvern
Sandra Heaton &
Karen from Darwen
GRxL, Andrew Stephen
Powell from Chorley
* Roger Morgan
from West Malvern
Alan Edward Hughes
& Kim from Chorley L,
Ann Hammond from
Derby * Karen Robbens
from Leamington Spa
Keith Hughes & Quasar
from Preston GR, Janet
and John Young from
Derby * Philippa
Rainbird from Coventry
Ann Marie Lonergan
& Voss from Rochdale
GRxFCR, Jane
Stringfellow from
Lancaster * Alison
Jordan from Stafford
Richard Scott & Reno
from Lancaster L, Julie
Peel from Durham
* Cora Blaver from
Northampton
Andrew Shaw & Yukon
from Thornton-Cleveleys
LxGR, Terry & Deborah
Rankine from Filey * Sue
Davy from Oldbury
Alan St John & Jasper
from Darwen GRxL,
Bertha Morral from
Holbrook * Mrs Dawson
from Kenilworth
Newcastle
Dennis Armes & Jasper
from Hartlepool LxL,
Kathleen Coull from
Montrose * Anne
Baulch from Rugby
Richard Trelfa & Frankie
from Middlesbrough
LxGR, Alice and James
Tosh from Aberdeen *
Sue Davy from Oldbury
Nottingham
Florence Burn & Twig
from Gateshead GRxL,
Allison Durbidge from
Arbroath * Steve
Shaw from Coalville
Jennifer Cowell & Skye
from Derby L, Joan Cairns
from Wirral * Liz RussellYarde from Coventry
Lyn Carse & Eva
from Glasgow GRxL,
Hilary Sinclair from
Banff * Jason Webb
from Birmingham
Nathan Edge & Hudson
from Mansfield GRxL,
Hilary Allen from
Darlington * Cath
Pedreschi from Evesham
David Clithero & Albie
from North Shields
L, Alistair John Jack
from Inverness * John
Lovett from Telford
Nicola Gardner & Keith
from Sheffield GRxGSD,
Peter Fearnhead from
Bebington * Mandy
Matkin from Burntwood
Jennie Hodkinson &
Upton from Carnforth
L, Roland & Jacqueline
Dunn from Elgin
* Christina Bloxham
from Worcester
April Hawley & Elki
from Nottingham GRxL,
Pauline Gledhill from
Sale * Jason Webb
from Birmingham
James Hutton & Vargo
from Barrow-in-Furness
L, Margaret Anne Noble
from Cupar * Christine
Smith from Kenilworth
Julie Martin & Kes
from North Tyneside
L, David Wood from
Perth * Karen Robbens
from Leamington Spa
Louise Okello & Rhys
from Newcastle upon
Tyne GR, Gill Geddes
from Edinburgh * Mrs
Field from Warwick
Darren Potter & Ashley
from Newcastle Upon
Tyne L, Elizabeth
Apsley from Lisburn
* Jenny Ashley-Smith
from Coventry
Francesca Hooley &
Fruin from Nottingham
L, Linda & Allan Sloan
from Irvine * Danielle
Vaughan from Wigston
Stephen Loring & Loxy
from Barnsley GRxL,
Sara Rolleston from
Rushall * Mrs Coughlan
from Lutterworth
Nicholas Mulryan &
Comfort from Buxton
GSD, Freda Woods from
Wigan, Susan Brown
from Wirral * Rachel
Moxon from Stockton
Iris Peel & Delaney from
Nottingham GR, Elizabeth
Edmondson from
Huddersfield * Christine
Fowler from Southam
The photos on these pages are illustrative only; they do not correspond to listed partnerships.
42 Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
New partnerships
Nicola Simpson &
Lex from Nottingham
GR, Jacqueline
Oliphant from Whitley
Bay * Pam Kimmins
from Birmingham
Marilyn Spray & Poppy
from Nottingham LxGR,
Linda Patricia Myatt
from Leeds * Sue
Davy from Oldbury
Graham Street & Lucy
from Sheffield L, Imke
Thomson from Dundee
* Annette Mulcahy from
Stratford-Upon-Avon
Kathy Bye & Eleanor
from Ely GR, Elizabeth
Melville from Clactonon-Sea, Dawn Ross
from Woodford Green
Lucy Dawson & Becky
from Norwich LxGR,
Patricia Giles from
Godalming * Mrs
Davies from Telford
Margaret Fletcher &
Pebbles from Norwich
GRxL, Natasha Lattimore
from Loughton * Jayne
Hallam from Walsall
Christine Walton &
Binnie from Chesterfield
GRxL, Penny Rutherford
from Harrogate *
Sarah Mitchell from
Stratford-Upon-Avon
Nicola Hughes & Onyx
from Wisbech GRxL,
Helen Seaman from St
Albans, Roy Brown from
Hemel Hempstead,
Gillian Martin from Luton
* Phil Revill from Southam
Peter Walton & Eva
from Derby GRxL, Ruth
Fischer from Crewe
* Julia Veasey from
Leamington Spa
Ray Ling & Otto from
Lowestoft GRxL, Christine
Brown from Leighon-Sea * Julie Arnull
from Stourbridge
Kay Wheeler & Coco
from Doncaster L,
Marie Westmore from
Fleetwood * Danielle
Vaughan from Wigston
Stephen Page & Jasper
from Norwich GRxL,
Myrtle Pacey from
Bridport * Natasha Brady
from Northampton
Peterborough
David Allen & Eddie
from Norwich L, Sharon
Atkins from Stourbridge
Richard Brinkley & Uri
from Norwich LxGR, Colin
Carn from Plymouth *
Mrs Davies from Telford
Jacqueline Brooks & Meg
from Haslingfield GRxL,
Nicola Neesam from
Livingston * Mrs Lockley
from Leamington Spa
Linda Robinson & Arrow
from Repps with Bastick
GRxL, Diane Armshaw
from Burton-on-Trent
* Darrin Grocock
from Lutterworth
Mick Scadden & Molly
from St Ives L, Patrick
Hutchinson from
Colchester * Marion
Vernall from Ledbury
Ami Turnbull & Keiran
from Ipswich GRxGSD,
Rosalind Herbert
from Westcliff-onSea * Mandy Matkin
from Burntwood
Scott Vallance &
Benjie from Stalham
GSD, Daphne Swain
from Woodford Green
* Andrew London
from Hereford
Claire Wallace & Blaze
from Gamlingay L,
Michelle Taylor from
Mepal * Marion
Vernall from Ledbury
Reading
Paul Bennett & Berry
from Reigate GRxL, Lori
Munday from Bracknell
* Cherry Gillbard
from Aldingbourne
Emma Boswell & Rani
from London GR, Richard
Gregory from London *
Gill Moss from Banbury
Annie Cote & Nelson
from Bognor Regis
GRxL, Gillian Bane from
Cambridge * Brian
Green from Birmingham
Kristina Dodd & Gretal
from Lightwater
LxGR, Heidi Barton
from Swindon, Carol
Laycock from Wantage,
Joan McCann from
Swindon * Anna Adams
from Daventry
Richard Foot & Annie
from Burgess Hill L,
Maggie Speirs from
Sevenoaks * Marion
Vernall from Ledbury
Gillingham * Ginny
Turner from Leicester
Pauline Mines & Odelle
from High Wycombe
L, Rebekah Cornford
from St Albans, Robert
Whalley from Watford
* Janice Briggs from
Leamington Spa
Roslynn Oliver & Jess from
Faringdon LxGR, Lynda
Buchanan from Nantwich,
Gill Maynard from
Southampton * Sharon
Pogson from Bromsgrove
Jean Smith & Flora from
Abingdon L, Sue Taylor
from Farnham * Sheila
Coton from Birmingham
Lauren Weaver & Nelson
from Wokingham L,
Martin Cooper from
Portsmouth * AnnMarie & Kevin Meredith
from Kidderminster
Shrewsbury
Kevin Betteridge & Billy
from Cradley Heath GSD,
Margaret Mattingly from
Morecambe * Andrew
London from Hereford
Sarah Burrows & Hamish
from Wolverhampton
GR, Harry Stringer from
Bolton * Katherine Baker
from Mitcheldean
Tim Guttridge & Zeke
from Reading GRxL,
Tom & Donna Coy
from London * Ginny
Turner from Leicester
Nicholas Jenks &
Cobbett from Botley
GRxL, Margaret Reynolds
from Faversham,
Samantha Brown from
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
43
New partnerships
Tracey Clasper & Bonnie
from Stoke-on-Trent
LxGR, Karin Croasdale
from Chester * Elizabeth
Sagar from Warwick
* Sheila Higgins from
Milton Keynes
Paul Hamilton from
Montrose * Julia
Duncan from Daventry
Southampton
Bill Hadley & Stevie from
Oldbury LxGR, Dorianne
Butler from Malton
* Sandra BradburnVazquez from Lichfield
Deborah Booth & Jasper
from Bournemouth LxGR,
Patricia Booth from
Lutterworth * Sharon
Pogson from Bromsgrove
Deborah Mitchell &
Edith from Portsmouth L,
Anthony Chamberlain
from Taunton * Dawn
Collins from Telford
Craig Hathersmith &
Dixie from Walsall GSD,
Sharon Forshaw from
Warrington * Rachel
Moxon from Stockton
Alan Fletcher &
Nutmeg from Swindon
GRxL, Svenjei And Mrs
Kathleen Eriksen from
Torquay * Brian Green
from Birmingham
Gareth Holdcroft &
Ross from Stoke On
Trent L, Robert Ingham
from Washington *
Jenny Ashley-Smith
from Coventry
Suzanne Foyle & Annie
from Alresford GRxL,
Jane Collins from Rosson-Wye * Tracy Twomey
from Leamington Spa
Janie Johnson & Rumble
from Stoke-on-Trent
GRxL, Maureen Hoey
from Belfast, Jacqui
Gormley from Ballyclare *
Dawn Collins from Telford
Peter Gear & Sandy
from Trowbridge GRxL,
Rachel Patterson
from Basingstoke
* Mrs Coughlan
from Lutterworth
Colin Jones & Sparky
from Oldbury GR, Joan
Grace from Liverpool *
Mrs Field from Warwick
Matthew Gettins &
Zag from Havant
GRxL, David Climmer
from Studley * Ginny
Turner from Leicester
Judith Lissamore &
Vikki from Dudley L,
Kathleen Batchelor from
Manchester * Christine
Smith from Kenilworth
John Moore & Freddie
from Bewdley GR,
Joanne Smith from Wirral
* Mrs Field from Warwick
Janet Porter & Tosh
from Walsall GRxL, Jill
Radcliffe from Poulton
Le Fylde, Vivien Parker
from Leyland, Yvonne
Onslow from Chorley *
Janet Holt from Hinckley
Margaret Thomas &
Tango from Stafford
L, Susan Coxon
from Nottingham
Graham Grange &
Jade from Swindon
LxGR, Alan Roscoe from
Welling * Sharon Pogson
from Bromsgrove
Debbie Hughes & Mary
from Weymouth GR,
Christine Fowler from
Southam, Helen and
Richard Thistlethwaite
from Rugby * Christine
Fowler from Southam
Nicola Hull & Nia from
Poole GRxL, Alison Kent
from Taunton * Robert
Jones from Rushden
Jean Maskell &
Magic from Eastleigh
GRxL, Jacqueline &
44 Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
Marilyn Shepherd & Betty
from Portsmouth GRxL,
Brian Attwood from
Burnham On Sea * G
Tookey from Warwick
Tim Williams & Bronze from
Westbury GRxL, Sue Spicer
from Portsmouth * Jackie
Elliott from Warwick
Welwyn Garden City
John Beaumont & Nyle
from Stevenage GRxL,
Susan Chambers from
Chelmsford * Mary
Cheesman from Southam
Tracy Brunelli & Betty
from Diss GRxL, Sheila
Bleach from Worthing
* Mrs Coughlan
from Lutterworth
Malcolm Cooper &
Bennett from Cambridge
GR, Patricia Butcher from
Wisbech * Barbara Walker
from Sutton Coldfield
Terry Cooper & Gus from
Chelmsford L, Ann White
from East Cowes * Joan
Perry from Southam
Mary Dawson & Elvis from
Welwyn Garden City GR,
Margaret Mardell from
Rochester * Deborah
Kelsey from Coventry
Crystal Hedges & Amber
from Basildon LxGR,
Martin and Joady
Mitchell from London
* Sharon Pogson
from Bromsgrove
Maureen McKenzie &
Pip from Southend-onSea LxGR, Jane Castle
from Sevenoaks * Mrs
Davies from Telford
Raymond Phipps &
Maxwell from Colchester
GR, Sarah Murphy from
London * Katherine
Baker from Mitcheldean
Eddie Rimmer & Yara
from Milton Keynes
GRxL, Jennifer Higgins
from Nottingham * Mrs
Field from Warwick
Carol Standen & Baker
from Basildon GRxL,
Alan Field from Ashford
* Cherry Gillbard
from Aldingbourne
Umit Turkusev &
Rochester from
Hackney LxL, Andrew
And Nicola Cornick
from Swindon, Joan
McCann from Swindon
* Gordon Macrae
from Over Norton
Peter Waller & Arthur
from St Albans
GRxFCR, Paul Doyle
from Barnet * Alison
Jordan from Stafford
New partnerships
Breeding Stock
Ali * 26.11.13 * L * Bitch *
Ms D Collins from Telford
* Mr D O’Donoghue
from Gillingham
Faith * 22.10.13 * GR *
Bitch * Mrs S Burgess from
Buckingham * Mr & Mrs
C Treweek from Leeds
Honey * 15.12.13 * L *
Bitch * Mrs M Leggett
from Oxford * Ms JW
Wilson from Sale
Bernie * 09.10.13 * GSD
* Bitch * Mrs J Evans
from Bromsgrove * Mrs S
Franz from Cranbrook
Flynn * 14.12.13 * L * Stud
* Mrs L Russell-Yarde
from Coventry * Mrs D
Wyatt from Shipley
Jacky * 10.01.14 * L *
Bitch * Mrs S Hanson
from Coventry * Mrs KT
Traynor from Tyldesley
Bessie * 21.10.13 * L * Bitch
* Outside Bred * Mr M
Robins from Porthcawl
Gabby * 21.11.13 * L *
Bitch * Outside Bred
* Donated Dog
Beth * 14.11.13 * L *
Bitch * Mrs JL Wassell
from Warwick * Mrs JL
Wassell from Warwick
Hector * 14.11.13 * L * Stud
* Mrs CM Pedreschi from
Evesham * Mr A Robson
from Dunfermline
Jamie * 17.12.13 * L *
Stud * Mrs S Hanson
from Coventry * Mr D
Walker from Ardrossan
Charity * 15.12.13 * L *
Bitch * Mr I Hendry from
Birmingham * Mrs K
Menzies from Rosyth
Hesta * 14.11.13 * L * Bitch
* Mrs CM Pedreschi
from Evesham * Mrs MJ
Cullen from Larkhall
Courtney * 09.10.13 *
GRxGR * Bitch * Mr &
Mrs Davies from Telford
* Mrs J & L Meaney
from Chatham
Hetty * 26.11.13 * L * Bitch
* Mrs CM Pedreschi
from Evesham * Mrs PM
Moran from Halifax
Daisy * 14.11.13 * L *
Bitch * Mrs L Morris from
Stratford-Upon-Avon
* Mrs KM McGuigan
from Macclesfield
Holly * 17.12.13 * L *
Bitch * Mrs M Leggett
from Oxford * Ms C
Steyn from Edinburgh
Jane * 09.10.13 * GR *
Bitch * Ms C Williams
from Evesham
Janet * 09.10.13 * L *
Bitch * Mr M Piper from
Rugby * Mrs K Yates
from Chester Ms ZT
Tomkinson from Crewe
Joanie * 14.01.14 * L *
Bitch * Mrs S Hanson
from Coventry * Mr GP
Ethelston from Ripley
Kizzy * 09.10.13 * GSD *
Bitch * Mrs J Evans from
Bromsgrove * Mrs J J
Garrill from Blackpool Mr
J Southall from Blackpool
Could you be a brood bitch holder?
We are always looking for more volunteer brood bitch holders, who
look after our guide dog ‘mums’ in their own homes. You need to
live within an hour’s drive of our National Breeding Centre, near
Leamington, not work more than four hours per day, have a secure
garden, and be able to transport the guide dog mum to and from
the centre. For more information, please call 0845 372 7432 or email
bshenquiries@guidedogs.org.uk
Lylah * 14.01.14 * L * Bitch *
Miss S Evans from Rugby *
Mrs P Galgut from Ascot
Peppa * 02.12.13 * L *
Bitch * Ms D Collins from
Telford * Miss K Cole
from Billericay Mrs C
Potter from Chelmsford
Poseiden * 20.01.14 *
GSD * Stud * Outside
Bred * Donated Dog
Rumba * 05.12.13 * L
* Bitch * Mrs J Hallam
from Walsall * Mrs EJ
Danby from Keith
Suzi * 21.10.13 * GRxGR *
Bitch * Mr & Mrs Davies
from Telford * Mrs D
Clarke from Swindon
Vanda * 26.11.13 * L *
Bitch * Mrs J Hallam
from Walsall * Mr VJT
Thorpe from Wakefield
Veevee * 26.11.13 * L
* Bitch * Ms D Collins
from Telford * Mrs M
Powell from Rugby
Yasmin * 17.12.13 * L *
Bitch * Mrs D Field from
Warwick * Mr J Bailey
from Chelmsford
Yosie * 05.12.13 * L *
Bitch * Mrs D Field from
Warwick * Mr WJ Aaron
from Lytham St Annes
Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
45
Letters and caption competition
Letters
A Christmas cruise
Thanks to Joyce Storer for
sending this great photo of
Ken Whitcombe and guide
dog Greg in Madeira on
New Year’s Eve. Joyce met
them on a Fred Olsen cruise.
They experienced Force 12
gales, which apparently
didn’t faze Greg at all!
A fascinating read
Congratulations to the
team on the latest edition of
Forward. I read fascinating
articles on dogs and their
owners and learnt about
the people behind the
Wedding bells
scenes. There was fundraising
Janet Sample sent us a lovely and how to get involved,
photo of her wedding day,
humour and sadness; how
proving, in her words, that
does anyone get through
“it’s never too late to fall in
the ‘In Memory’ section
love.” Both guide dog owners, without tears? I have
Janet and Ralph had been
supported Guide Dogs since
family friends for many years
collecting silver foil as a child
but their lives took a different in Bolton and visiting the
turn in July 2012. What
centre there. Thank you for
started with a date quickly
continuing to keep people
became an engagement
informed and involved in
and less than one year
such an interesting way.
later, they tied the knot
with guide dogs Ajax and
Caroline Fairbrother
Lana as guests of honour.
Caption competition
Thank you to West Yorkshire puppy walker Jean Endersby
for this picture of studious young guide dog pup Patch.
What do you imagine he’s thinking? Please send your
caption idea on a postcard to Forward, Guide Dogs,
Hillfields, Burghfield Common,
Reading RG7 3YG, or email
forward@guidedogs.org.uk with
your name and address. There’s a
£10 Marks and Spencer voucher for
the winner.
The winner of the last caption competition was Mrs V H
Tennant with: “I know I buried it somewhere. I’ll just have to
take pot luck!” – we hope you enjoy your voucher.
Competition rules
The competitions are open to anyone resident in the UK, except
employees of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, their
families and anyone connected with the competition. No
purchase necessary. Proof of posting cannot be accepted as proof
of delivery. No responsibility can be accepted for entries delayed,
damaged or mislaid or wrongly delivered. Illegible entries will
be disqualified. Only one original entry is allowed per envelope.
46 Forward Magazine | Summer 2014
The winners will be notified by either post or telephone and the
results will be published in the next issue of the magazine. The
winners must agree to the publication of their names, photographs
and any publicity, if requested. In all matters concerning the
competitions the Editor’s decision is final. No correspondence can
be entered into. Entry implies acceptance of the rules. The closing
date for these competitions is 20 June 2014.
Gifts in Wills
7:00AM
8:07AM
7:00AM
9:00AM
8:07AM
11:31AM
9:00AM
2:00 PM
11:31AM
3:27PM
2:00 PM
3:27PM
8:44PM
4:15PM
11:00 PM
8:44PM
4:15PM
11:00 PM
Will you leave a gift that’s full of life?
Will you leave a gift that’s full of life?
Guide dog Pippa is there for her owner Lynette all day, every day. She’s
given
her dog
the Pippa
confidence
enjoying
her whole
again
Guide
is thereto
forstart
her owner
Lynette
all day,life
every
day.without
She’s
relying
on
others.
“With Pippa
by my
side, her
mywhole
friends
bewithout
my friends
given
her
the confidence
to start
enjoying
lifecan
again
relying
on
others.
“With
Pippa
by
my
side,
my
friends
can
be
my
friends
not my carers,” says Lynette. Please leave a gift in your Will to Guide
Dogs
my visually
carers,” says
Lynette.
Pleaselive
leave
a giftday
in your
Will full.
to Guide Dogs
andnot
help
impaired
people
every
to the
and help visually impaired people live every day to the full.
For a free information pack and DVD,
For a free information pack and DVD,
visit guidedogs.org.uk/giftsinwills, call us on
visit guidedogs.org.uk/giftsinwills, call us on
0845
603603
1477
ororfillfillininthe
0845
1477
theform
form below.
below.
TitleTitle
Name
Name
Address
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PhoneNo.
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045325_GD_LEGACY_ATL_PRESS_250x173mm_v9.indd 1
045325_GD_LEGACY_ATL_PRESS_250x173mm_v9.indd 1
Pleasereturn
return
envelope
Please
in in
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envelope
to: to:
Freepost
RSBC-ARYS-YATB,
Freepost
RSBC-ARYS-YATB,
Gifts
Team,
Guide
Dogs,
GiftsininWills
Wills
Team,
Guide
Dogs,
Chippenham
SN14
6NG
Chippenham
SN14
6NG A14G80001
A14G80001
A charity registered in England and Wales (209617) and Scotland (SC038979).
A charity registered in England and Wales (209617) and Scotland (SC038979).
09/10/2013 14:37
09/10/2013 14:37
to Guide
All profits go
Dogs
er 2014
Spring/Summ
New
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a
by guarantee and
(291646) Wales
limited
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s.org.uk
registeredScotland
charity
and
www.guidedog
(209617)
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Dogs’
www.dogalog
are Guide
but so
life changing,
loss is
‘Sight
983 5555
CHSMGD
© The
Gloucester
Card Company,
British
Great
www.greatbritishcards.co.uk
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registered
a
by guarantee and
(291646) Wales
limited
Wales
and
A company and in England
in England
(SC038979)
s.org.uk
registeredScotland
charity
and
www.guidedog
(209617)
e.com
Dogs’
www.dogalogu
are Guide
but so
life changing,
loss is
‘Sight
983 5555
New!
Tel: 0118
Birthda
© The
CHSMGD
0009
Gloucester
Card Company,
British
Great
www.greatbritishcards.co.uk
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Stationary ran
New and exclusive
to Guide Dogs…
Food treats
Order onli
s
Fabulous gift
s
Pet accessorie
call
gue.com or
ne at Dogalo
1
0845 371 137
Spring/Summer catalogue
out now! Call 0845 371 1371
for your copy.
Only available from Guide Dogs, our new range
of branded gifts, stationery and pet products.
100% of profits go to Guide Dogs
Pet fleece blanket
£9.99
Keep your pet comfy and cosy in this
blue fleece blanket with paw prints
and Guide Dogs logo.
Code: 14721
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday
Featuring
guide dog
pups!
Happy Birthday
A company limited by guarantee registered
in England and Wales (291646) and a
charity registered in England and Wales
(209617) and Scotland (SC038979)
Tel: 0118 983 5555
www.dogalogue.com
A company limited by guarantee registered
in England and Wales (291646) and a
charity registered in England and Wales
(209617) and Scotland (SC038979)
www.guidedogs.org.uk
‘Sight loss is life changing, but so are Guide Dogs’
Tel: 0118 983 5555
www.dogalogue.com
Wales (291646)
in England and
ee registered
(SC038979).
and Scotland
limited by guarant
A company
Wales (209617)
England and
idedogs.org.uk
registered in
.com www.gu
and a charity
www.dogalogue
card
5555
Tel: 0118 983
the sale of this
benefits from
Guide Dogs
www.guidedogs.org.uk
‘Sight loss is life changing, but so are Guide Dogs’
© The Great British Card Company, Gloucester
www.greatbritishcards.co.uk
CHSMGD 0003
© The Great British Card Company, Gloucester
www.greatbritishcards.co.uk
CHSMGD 0005
A company limited by guarantee
registered in England and Wales
(291646)
and a charity registered in England
and Wales (209617) and Scotland
(SC038979).
Tel: 0118 983 5555
www.dogalogue.com www.guidedogs.org
.uk
Guide Dogs benefits from the
sale of this card
A company limited by guarantee registered
in England and Wales (291646) and a
charity registered in England and Wales
(209617) and Scotland (SC038979)
Tel: 0118 983 5555
www.dogalogue.com
www.guidedogs.org.uk
‘Sight loss is life changing, but so are Guide Dogs’
www.paperthemes.co.uk
o.uk
www.paperthemes.c
© The Great British Card Company, Gloucester
www.greatbritishcards.co.uk
CHSMGD 0009
Puppy birthday card collection
£4.99
Puppy notelets wallet
£4.99
Pack of 10 cute puppy cards, two
of each design. A great way to wish
someone a happy birthday. Includes
envelopes. 14cm x 14cm.
Code: 14500
Pack of eight cards, two of each design,
supplied with handy wallet. Includes
envelopes. Perfect for ‘thank yous’ and
keeping in touch. 12cm x 12cm.
Code: 14508
Guide Dogs jute bag
£3.50
Don’t forget your shopping bag. 47cm x 34cm x 16cm
Code: 14616
Visit www.dogalogue.com to see our full range of products!
To order call 0845 371 1371 or visit www.dogalogue.com
Please quote D14G27001 or indicate you saw this advert in
Forward when ordering.
Guide Dogs is a registered charity in England and Wales (209617) and in Scotland (SC038979) 7308 04/14