Spring Forward 2012 PDF

Transcription

Spring Forward 2012 PDF
Spring 2012
Forward
The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
Trimming
the sails
One guide
dog owner’s
success against
the odds
Also inside: Specsavers Guide Dog of the Year Awards •
Guide Dogs’ Paralympic hopefuls • Royal Go Walkies
Remember a life
Change a life
Remember someone you love by
“My whole world
transforming a life
Giving to Guide Dogs in memory of a loved one can
help celebrate the life of that person - and makes a real
difference to the lives of blind and partially sighted people.
From requesting donations instead of flowers at a funeral
through to setting up a Tribute Fund and naming a
puppy in a loved one’s name, we’re happy to talk you
through the options. Please call us on 0845 603 1477, email
giftsinmemory@guidedogs.org.uk or visit
www.guidedogs.org.uk/remember
Registered charity in England and Wales (209617) and in Scotland (SC038979)
changed for the
better when Wanda
came into it. With her
at my side I got back
my independence,
confidence and
freedom.”
Mhairi Thurston
Contents
Regulars
5 Welcome
6 News
• Forgotten passengers
• New sensory tunnel
unveiled
• Campaigning against
VAT on dog food
14 A day in the life of…
Guide Dogs’ Chairman
Amos Miller
22 What’s on?
23 Your letters
18
Features
11
38 Competitions
10 Stepping out
Pups Betty and Kelly arrive
with their puppy walkers
11 Go Walkies
A walk in the Lake District
6
12 Paralympic dreams
Two guide dog owners’
hopes of glory
15
16 Who will you nominate…
in the Specsavers Guide
Dog of the Year Awards?
People and dogs
24
25
28
31
In Good Company
Thank you to our supporters
We’ll never forget
New partnerships
15 Past and present
Judy Taylor remembers her
57 years of being a guide
dog owner
18 Plain sailing
How Vicki Sheen found
sporting success with
guide dog Zeke
16
37 Brood stock focus
Life with guide dog
mum Peg
Please recycle this magazine
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
3
Pssst! Did you know by taking
me for a walk you can also
raise funds for Guide Dogs?
www.gowalkies.org.uk
www.facebook.com/gowalkies
0845 600 6787
Registered charity in England and Wales (209617) and Scotland (SC038979). 3357 2/12
Welcome
Editor’s
welcome
After the success of last year’s
Guide Dog of the Year, we’ve
secured Specsavers as sponsor
of the awards and we are
going bigger and better to
celebrate the success not just
of our outstanding guide dogs
but also our inspirational guide
dog owners, fundraisers and our
volunteers. Read more about this
year’s awards and how to make
nominations on page 16.
Our main feature in this
edition takes a look at guide
dog owner Vicki Sheen, who
overcame illness to win a blind
sailing championship in Perth
Australia and, continuing the
Editor: Elaine Cobb
Editorial Line: 0118 983 8364
Contributors: Lucy Miron,
Eifion Rees, Bryony Richards,
Fiona MacAulay, Annabel
Williams, Elaine Cobb,
James Kell
Designed by: Guide Dogs
www.guidedogs.org.uk
Contributions: Send items to
Forward at the Head Office
address or email forward@
guidedogs.org.uk. Unfortunately,
sporting theme, we interview
a pair of guide dog owners
who are Paralympic hopefuls
in the run-up to this summer’s
Olympic and Paralympic
Games in London.
the audio version of Forward
over the web. To sign up for
this, please email forward@
guidedogs.org.uk with your
name, email address
and postcode.
We also take a look at the
journey of pup Betty, who is
in puppy walking alongside
her puppy friend Kelly, and a
typical day in the life of Amos
Miller, who balances his role
as Chairman of Guide Dogs
with a busy professional life
at Microsoft.
Elaine Cobb
Editor
From this edition onwards,
readers can subscribe to
due to the sheer volume of
ideas we receive, we cannot
acknowledge every item. We
reserve the right to edit or refuse.
Registered Head Office:
The Guide Dogs for the Blind
Association, Hillfields, Burghfield
Common, Reading RG7 3YG
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 0118 983 8138.
Tel: 0118 983 5555
Fax: 0118 983 5433
www.guidedogs.org.uk
Email: info@guidedogs.org.uk
Founding Editor: The late
Captain Nikolai Liakhoff
MBE FRZS.
© 2010 Registered charity in
England and Wales (209617)
and in Scotland (SCO38979)
Cover: Vicki Sheen and guide
dog Zeke (Zorro)
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
5
News
Forgotten
Passengers
We find the forgotten passengers
Lucky puppy charms
Guide Dogs published the results of its Forgotten Passengers
survey in late January, which asked bus passengers about their
experiences while on board. The findings reinforced our belief that
all buses should have audio-visual announcements.
Ethical jewelry manufacturer
charityjewelry.com has joined
forces with Guide Dogs to
produce a cute bracelet
charm in support of
our Sponsor a Puppy
scheme.
We found that nearly nine in 10 blind and partially sighted
respondents had missed their stop because they didn’t know
where they were along their route. The same number had
experienced a driver forgetting to alert them to their stop.
Worryingly, 29 percent of respondents with sight loss reported
having drivers refuse to tell them when they were at their stop.
The report was featured across the media, including the Daily
Telegraph, The Scotsman and on BBC Radio 5 Live.
It’s a dog’s life for Bernie
Recently qualified guide dog Bernie faced an unusual challenge
when he was partnered with Sandra Usher from York. The two-yearold yellow Labrador golden retriever cross has learned to live with
Sandra’s seven cats. Sandra says; “She’s perfect with them. My
cats are all placid and gentle so they are like one big family and
love to play together. I know guide dogs are special but Bernie
really is a little trooper.”
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Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
Produced in
Thailand in small
UNICEF approved
factories, the
charms are
available in
sterling silver or
14 karat gold.
Guide Dogs
receives £10 for
each silver charm
sold, and £100 for
each gold charm. For more
information, visit
www.charityjewelry.com, choose
the UK and click on collection.
News
New sensory tunnel
makes its debut
In March, Crufts saw the first
outing for Guide Dogs’ new
Sensory Tunnel, which creates
an experience in the dark for
visitors to demonstrate the
heightened need to use our
other senses when we have
little or no vision. Those entering
the tunnel will encounter
different surfaces and other
sensory experiences, providing
an insight into the challenges
faced by blind and partially
sighted people on a daily basis.
Guide Dogs’ Corporate
Events Manager Jackie Potter
said: “Thanks to the tunnel,
thousands of visitors gained an
understanding of what it’s like
to have visual impairment and
how Guide Dogs can help.”
Marc Abraham, TV vet, was impressed by the Sensory Tunnel
Exhibition Road officially opens
Dangerous dogs
After long-running debate, London’s Exhibition Road was officially
opened on 1 February.
As Forward went to press, we
were waiting for a Government
announcement on a package
of measures to update the law
on dangerous dogs, which is
likely to include microchipping.
Guide Dogs won compromise from the council responsible, the
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, after taking it to a
judicial review, and strips of ridged corduroy were included as a
result. We’d now like to see new signs installed to alert motorists that
pedestrians have right of way and a crossing to help vulnerable
pedestrians who might be afraid to step out into moving traffic.
Guide Dogs wants compulsory
microchipping of all dogs
in England and Wales to
encourage responsible dog
ownership, as an average of
seven guide dogs are attacked
by other dogs every month.
An MBE for Rowena
Inspirational guide dog owner
Rowena Thomas-Breeze, aged
51 who trains in Rhyl, has been
made an MBE for services to
disabled swimming and for her
charitable fundraising for Guide
Dogs and Transplant UK.
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
7
News
One’s Royal Go Walkies
We’re calling for our supporters to help us commemorate the
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by joining a Go Walkies or by
organising their very own on the weekend of the Jubilee
celebrations, which is 2 and 3 June. Why not make your event
extra special by wearing Kings and Queens fancy dress?
The Kennel Club has been helping us to contact corgi breeders
and owners, who we’re hoping will get involved in a truly regal
corgi Go Walkies.
We’d love to hear about your event and for you to share some of
your photos with us, so why not send us a short summary of your
Go Walkies to gowalkies@guidedogs.org.uk?
? Find out more about
Go Walkies at www.gowalkies.org.uk.
Jollyes meets ambitious target
Raising £50,000 to cover the lifetime costs of a guide dog is no
mean feat but staff at Jollyes Petfood Superstores got behind
the initiative with gusto, raising the funds in record time.
Jollyes chose Guide Dogs as their first ever charity partner last
year while also celebrating the opening of their 50th store. They
are now waiting for their guide dog puppy to be born, whose
name, Riley, was chosen by the top performing fundraising store in
Kettering.
Jollyes’ Chris Poots with Guide
Dogs’ Jayne George
Regional Manager Chris Poots said: “It’s very satisfying that the
efforts and generosity of our staff and customers will significantly
improve the quality of a blind or partially sighted person’s life.”
VAT on dog food
A pat on the back for Dawn Valvona
Guide Dogs is campaigning for
food for assistance dogs to be
made VAT exempt, which would
save £300,000 a year. David
Cowdrey, Campaigns Manager,
said: “Current VAT rules exempt
greyhounds and classes them
as a working dog. It does not
seem fair that the greyhound
racing industry, which describes
itself as ‘one of Britain’s most
popular spectator sports’ can
benefit from this tax break,
when guide dogs that provide
vital support for disabled people
do not qualify.”
Carol Oxborough of New Haw
in Surrey nominated Dawn
Valvona for a pat on the back.
Carol said: “Dawn is a longtime puppy walker, puppy
walking mentor, emergency
boarder, speaker, fundraiser
and does all this whilst suffering
from MS. She is an inspiration
to all who meet her. She is the
reason why so many of us do
puppy walking in this area.”
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Do you know someone who deserves a pat on the back? Fill in the
‘Pat on the back’ form in the ‘Talk to us’ section of the VIP (voluteer
extranet) at www.guidedogsvolunteers.org.uk.
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
News
Explosive dogs
Four guide dog pups have changed their careers and trained as
explosive detection dogs with Sussex Police, working as part of the
security team at Gatwick Airport from March.
The four dogs, called Becks, Paddy, Zara and Ernie, were bred as
guide dogs but it was felt that they were more suited to careers as
police dogs. The dogs will be joining fellow ex-guide dog Yogi, who
works as a drugs, cash and firearms dog.
In other news...
Angela Hassall from Crewe
was the first person in Britain to
qualify with a dual trained guide
dog and hearing dog in 2003.
But Labrador retriever cross
Roddy is now hanging up his
harness since Angela recently
qualified with Mel, another
Labrador retriever cross. Like
Roddy, Mel has been trained by
both Guide Dogs and Hearing
Dogs. Roddy meanwhile is set
to enjoy his retirement with
Angela’s daughter Sarah.
On the subject of dual dogs,
Malcolm Mason’s multi-tasking
assistance dog Ash is a UK first.
The black Labrador retriever
cross is the first dog in the
country to be trained from a
puppy to be both a guide dog
and a wheelchair dog and the
pair form the second ever such
partnership in the UK. Ash was
bred and specifically trained by
Guide Dogs in collaboration with
Canine Partners.
Guide dog owner, Jason
Sheppard has won an Asda
ABCD (Above and Beyond
the Call of Duty) Award for his
excellent work, despite suffering
from eye condition nystagmus.
Jason works in quality control
at ASDA’s distribution centre
in Portbury Docks near Bristol,
always accompanied by black
Labrador retriever cross, Yates.
O2’s newest store on London’s
Tottenham Court Road is
improving its service to people
with sight loss by providing
expert advice on mobile devices
and applications. Staff have
received detailed training from
the Royal National Institute of
Blind People and manufacturers
such as Apple. Simon Davis, O2’s
Head of Corporate Responsibility
said: “At O2 we want to make
sure that everyone can enjoy
our products and services.”
FixMyTransport.com is a new
whistleblowing website which
puts British public transport
passengers in touch with
operators. Comments can be
about anything from trains that
are too short to a lack of audio
visual announcements on buses.
Devon based 82-year-old
grandmother Mary Shute has
been over-whelmed by tributes
to her former guide dog Yates
who died in October. Flowers
and letters appeared at Yates’
favourite walk but Mary was
most surprised to find a lovely
plaque had been positioned at
the spot and a donation made
by an anonymous donor. Mary
said: “I have been touched
by the kind and thoughtful
messages and flowers. It is so
heartening in this day and age”.
Officers in a police van in
Hampshire stopped to allow a
guide dog owner to cross in front
of them, the January edition
of Police magazine reported.
The woman and her guide dog
were waiting at the kerb, but
the passenger waved, signalling
them to cross. “The lady can’t
see your signal,” the driver said.
“I know,” the passenger replied,
“I was waving to the dog.”
Volunteer liaison officer at
the Forfar Training School,
Lamont Forbes, was nominated
for an Active Citizens of
Europe 2011 award, for his
outstanding contributions
to volunteering and active
citizenship. The awards were
organised by Volunteurope, a
non-profit organisation which
promotes European citizenship.
Welsh Assembly Members have
been walking a mile in the shoes
of constituents with sight loss.
Guide Dogs Cymru has been
criss-crossing Wales on the
campaign trail, hosting blindfold
walks to raise awareness of the
challenges blind and partially
sighted people face getting out
and about.
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
9
Name a Puppy
Name a Puppy –
Betty’s journey...
In the last edition of this series where we follow
pup Betty, we learned more about Betty’s siblings
and were introduced to her mum and dad,
Deeva and Archie. This time we’re finding out
how Betty has settled into her new home with her
puppy walkers and we will be catching up with
Betty’s puppy friend, Kelly.
In October Betty left her brothers and sisters to
begin her journey as a little life changer. Her new
home is with puppy walkers Gill and Richard
Martin from Luton. The Martins have been puppy
walkers for six years and welcome German
shepherd cross Betty into the family as their sixth
guide dog in training.
“She is very cute,” Gill enthuses, “and she is also
slightly shy. We have had a slow start to training
but every day there are improvements. She has
visited shopping centres, stayed in a Travel Lodge
and is a celebrity at church on Sundays.”
Over in Surrey Betty’s puppy friend Kelly is also
proving to be a popular member of the local
church congregation. Black Labrador Kelly was
also sponsored and named by Dorothy Wells, and
since moving in with her puppy walker, Delores
Spurgeon, she has excelled in her training.
Delores said: “Kelly is a great pup with a massive
personality. She loves travelling in the car, enjoys
visiting church, the garden centre and tagging
along for the occasional pub lunch! Now that
she has had nearly all of her vaccinations we can
look forward to training her on public transport.”
Both Betty and Kelly are going to be spending
the next few months learning some more of the
basics before moving on to the harder lessons.
Next time, we’ll be finding out how the girls
are doing getting to grips with navigating town
centres and using buses, trains and taxis. We
will also be checking in with their puppy walkers
to see how they are feeling in the lead-up to
the puppies leaving home to enter the local
training school.
Would you like to Name a Puppy?
Betty’s friend, Kelly
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Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
For a gift of £2,500 you can donate a name
and we’ll send you a gorgeous photo of your
puppy and a certificate. For a gift of £5,000 you
can not only name your puppy but also get the
opportunity to meet and follow him or her!
Go Walkies
A cake walk
in Kendal...
The town of Kendal, in the Lake District, has all
the key components to make a Go Walkies for
Guide Dogs event a success – an enthusiastic
community of dog owners plus their friends and
families, guide dog owners, Guide Dogs’ staff and
local businesses and, of course, beautiful scenery.
Emma Turner, practice administrator at Kendal’s
Highgate Veterinary Clinic explains: “We
supported Go Walkies because we wanted to
raise money for a charity and as we have some
guide dogs on our client list, it’s good to know that
we’re helping them and their owners. We work
closely with Peter Emmett, who is Head of Events
at Guide Dogs and lives in Kendal, so we were
pleased we could help out with an event that’s on
his home turf.
“Everyone really enjoyed last year’s Go Walkies.
More than 60 people and 40 dogs took part and
we raised over £1,000.
“Our practice is on the High Street so everyone
passing by could see our display about the
event in our window. And the two-mile walk
started literally from our back door so we were
well placed in every sense to support the event.
Several of our staff took part, we had two
veterinary nurses at the start and finish and we
also provided goody bags.
“It was great to see so many
people in our community
coming together – that’s what
Go Walkies is all about.”
“We want to do even better this year (on 28 April)
so we’re looking at what else we can do – like
a raffle at the start – and we’re doing loads of
publicity. I couldn’t do the walk last year as my
twins were too young but I’m hoping they’ll
come along this year, maybe dressed up as
cute little dogs!”
Tell us about your event!
To register your event, visit
the Go Walkies website
www.gowalkies.org/uk or
call us on 0845 600 6787. The
Go Walkies team is on hand to
ensure you have all the support
you need. Don’t forget to tell
us how it went afterwards and
please send your photos to
gowalkies@guidedogs.org.uk.
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
11
Paralympic dreams
Lee and Lora living the
Paralympic dream
Around the world, thousands of athletes are gearing up for this
year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games. Among them are two
young British hopefuls, Lee Greatbatch and Lora Turnham. While
they won’t know whether they have been selected to represent
their country for several more weeks, both are training hard.
Helping them achieve their dreams are two very special fourlegged friends – their guide dogs Darby and Libby.
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Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
Lee and Lora
Lee’s story
Lee plays blind football, and with over 50 caps
representing his country internationally, including
the Blind Football World Cup, European
Championships and the Beijing Paralympic Games,
he is a seasoned professional. Blind football is
played with a team of four blind players and a
sighted goalkeeper. The ball contains ball bearings
and a sighted ‘guide keeper’ calls to the players so
that they know the rough direction of the goal.
“Most of the game is played inside your head,” Lee
explains. “Before the match you walk around the
pitch to get the dimensions and you keep in your
mind the diamond-shape formation of the team.
Communication is very important – we call to each
other when we have the ball or are going to tackle
– and you need good spatial awareness too.” As
well as fitness training, Lee is currently doing football
training two or three times a week, and plays for
West Bromwich in the Blind Football League. “My
guide dog Darby plays a really important part in
my training. With him I can travel by bus rather than
having to pay for taxis,” Lee says. “But I don’t take
him to the matches as he’s still young and I have
this fear he’ll steal everyone’s football boots from
the changing rooms!”
Lee describes waiting to hear whether he has
been selected for the Paralympics as “a bit like
waiting for exam results” but adds: “It’s a tough
call but I think I’m more excited about the birth of
our first baby in April!”
Lora’s story
Lora comes from an illustrious family of guide dog
owners – her mother and two brothers have the
same eye condition, and all have guide dogs.
Lora has had her guide dog, Libby, since she
was 17 and finds her a great support, not just in
terms of helping her travel to her six-times-a-week
training sessions, but also emotionally. “She’s very
calming when you’re nervous so it helps having
her around. I don’t take her when I’m competing
abroad but I really miss her, and I don’t have the
same freedom.” Their relationship is such a special
one that they were shortlisted for this year’s Kennel
Club ‘Friend for Life’ competition.
“Communication is very
important – we call to each
other when we have the ball or
are going to tackle.”
ride on a bike and it felt very natural – and within
three months I was at the Para-cycling World
Championships in Italy, where we won a bronze in
the road race!”
The pilot plays an essential role, as Lora explains:
“The pilot trains as hard as we do and I have to
rely on her to do all the steering. I have to relax
and respond to the movements of the bike, and if
she digs in, I know I have to pedal faster too.”
Since then Lora has competed all over the world
and is now racing with new pilot, Fiona Duncan.
Both have put their careers on hold (Fiona is
taking a sabbatical from being a policewoman),
while aiming for Paralympic glory. They have had
mixed results recently but are still hopeful of being
selected. “I love racing,” says Lora, “but I enjoy
winning more!”
Lee, Lora and Eukanuba
Procter & Gamble are sponsoring the Olympics
and their premium pet food brand Eukanuba has
made Lee and Lora the face of its advertising
campaign throughout 2012. Sales and Marketing
Director Annaliese Reekie says: “We are thrilled
Eukanuba can support Lee and Lora in their
Paralympic Games endeavours through
their guide dogs. Eukanuba has a long-term
relationship with Guide Dogs and the London 2012
Paralympic Games signals a great opportunity for
us to communicate this important relationship.”
Lora is relatively new to the sport of para-cycling,
where she rides tandem with a sighted pilot
in both road racing and track events. “I was
tired of athletics, which I’d done at school, and
discovered para-cycling through a friend. I had a
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
13
A day in the life of...
Amos Miller
Guide Dogs’ Chairman
and Trustee
Amos relies on his guide dog Trevor to help him juggle high-flying
roles at Guide Dogs and at world-renowned technology company
Microsoft. He tells Forward that he often gets the chance to mix work
with his passion for spreading the word about Guide Dogs...
“By day I work at Microsoft, where I’m an executive
adviser of enterprise strategy, but I combine this
with my role at Guide Dogs. So some days can
be very busy indeed. In the same day, I could be
helping recruit an honorary treasurer for Guide
Dogs, a really important role where getting
someone with the right skills is crucial, then dealing
with the mid-year review at Microsoft.
“There’s more crossover between the roles than
you might think. Recently I had a meeting at
Microsoft about a technology idea we’re exploring
with Guide Dogs. I strongly believe in developing
technologies that have the potential to significantly
improve the lives of those with sight loss.
“I also recently organised a group visit of Microsoft
staff to Guide Dogs’ training centre in Redbridge to
help them find out more about the charity’s work.
That was a fantastic opportunity for my employer
to get a greater understanding of the differences
the charity makes to people’s lives.
“Attending committee and council meetings is an
important part of being a Guide Dogs Trustee – it
gives you a real sense that you’re helping to steer
the organisation. It’s not all meetings, though. I’m
out and about meeting people such as guide dog
owners and volunteers to learn about experiences
on the ground.
“I’m lucky that Microsoft is completely supportive
of the work I do with Guide Dogs, but it can be
demanding managing my client work in tandem.
Ultimately, though, I find it hugely rewarding
balancing the two roles.”
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Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
Amos Miller with black Labrador guide dog Trevor
“Recently I had a meeting at
Microsoft about a technology
idea we’re exploring with
Guide Dogs.”
Past and present
Past and
present
Guide dog owner Judy Taylor
of Belper in Derbyshire is going
into her 57th year of guide dog
ownership and told us about her
memories.
“Now working with my seventh dog, I have
witnessed many changes. My first dog, Neana,
the black Labrador, was only 13 months old when
we qualified as a partnership in 1956. She had not
been spayed or puppy walked, and had been
bought from a dog dealer.
“Back then, the dogs were fed on raw meat and
vegetables. Enormous pieces of meat were cut
up in the centre by the kennel staff.
“My second dog, Dana, was not puppy walked
either, but by this time the bitches were being
spayed. It was not until my third dog in 1975 that
I not only had a dog that had been bred by the
Association and had been puppy walked, but
received a feeding allowance, and I no longer
had to pay for my dog’s veterinary treatment.
“Nothing can equal the love,
freedom and independence
that each of my dogs has
made possible in my life.”
“Now I am working with my seventh dog Elsa, a
beautiful golden retriever. Elsa is full of fun and at
six, still plays like a puppy. No one could wish for a
more loving and lovable companion and guide.
“Through the years I have seen and experienced
so many changes. Of course I haven’t thought
all of them a change for the better, but one thing
has never changed. For me, nothing can equal
the love, freedom and independence that each
of my dogs has made possible in my life.
“Apart from my family and friends, my greatest
love is for the work of the charity that has enabled
me to live a full and active life, and made it
possible for me to go out and about whenever I
wish, for over half a century.”
Guide Dogs has been transforming lives like Judy’s
for over 80 years. To find out how you can help us
create more life changing guide dog partnerships,
call the Gifts in Wills Team on 0845 603 1477 or visit
www.guidedogs.org.uk/giftsinwills.
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
15
Annual awards
Specsavers Guide Dog
of the Year Awards
This year our annual awards are bigger and better
and will not only celebrate the success of our
guide dogs and their owners, but also the people
that make these amazing partnerships possible.
You may have gathered by the name of the awards that the family run
opticians Specsavers has agreed to sponsor this year’s awards. A delighted
Richard Leaman, Chief Executive of Guide Dogs, told Forward: “Specsavers
is a longstanding supporter of Guide Dogs and they wanted to help us
recognise the hard work of all the members of the Guide Dogs family.”
Awards finalists will be invited to the awards event on the evening of 19July
where we will reveal this year’s winners. Read on for details about the
categories and how to nominate.
Guide Dog of the Year Award
Like last year, there are three categories
in this award for the year’s top dog –
Outstanding Work, Beyond the Call of
Duty, and Life Changing. Anyone
can nominate a guide dog if they
believe that the dog deserves
special recognition for its work over
the last year.
The Mark Pollock Award for
Inspirational Guide Dog Owners
Named in celebration of adventurer and guide dog
owner Mark Pollock, who is the first blind man to
have reached the South Pole, this award recognises
guide dog owners who have made an outstanding
achievement or overcome a significant challenge
in the last year.
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Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
Lifetime
Achievement
Award
If you know a volunteer
who has shown
longstanding dedication
to Guide Dogs and to
helping blind and partially
sighted people enjoy
the same freedom of
movement as everyone
else, why not nominate
them for the Lifetime
Achievement Award?
Fundraiser of the Year
Award
We’re celebrating the work of
individual fundraisers in the last
year and are inviting nominations
for fundraisers who have raised a
significant sum of money, raised
awareness, made innovations in
fundraising or who have shown
dedication to raising money for us.
Make your nomination
Young Person’s
Achievement
Award
Nominate a young person
between the ages of 14
and 25 if you think he or she
has made an outstanding
voluntary
contribution to
Guide Dogs in the
last year. This could
be for fundraising
or other voluntary
activity that helps
us get more
blind and partially
sighted people out
and about.
Outstanding Teamwork Award
Teams of two or more can be nominated for fundraising or
other voluntary work for us. You might want to nominate
the hardest working members of your local branch or other
teams who have come together to
raise funds, campaign or help in
another way.
Volunteer of the Year Award
If you know a volunteer who has shown
outstanding dedication and achievement in a
non-fundraising field, this is the category for them.
You may know an outstanding puppy walker,
boarder or even a volunteer driver, who you think
should be recognised for the work they do.
How to make a
nomination
Send us an explanation of no more than 500 words
saying why you think your nominated guide dog,
person or team should win in your chosen category.
Your nomination should reach us by 9am on 14 May.
Please remember to state your chosen category and
your own contact details, including name, address,
email address and daytime phone number and those of
the person or guide dog who you are nominating.
Please send your nominations to:
Guide Dog of the Year, Guide Dogs, Hillfields, Burghfield
Common, Reading, RG7 3YG or nominate through the
website at www.guidedogs.org.uk/gdoy2012.
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
17
Special feature
Plain
sailing
Vicki Sheen likes living
dangerously. The 49-year-old
from Brixham in Devon is not only
a world champion sailor, but got
into the sport through competitive
downhill skiing. So it’s no wonder
she has a fearless dog to match.
Golden Labrador Zeke is 3½ years old and after
almost two years with Vicki is almost as keen on a
life on the ocean wave as she is.
18
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
“He was the first of my dogs to actually enjoy
getting onto a boat, although the first time he
ended up in the drink,” says Vicki, who is head
of physiotherapy for Torbay and Southern Devon
Care Trust and a guide dog owner of 25 years’
standing. “He was so excited that he put his
paws on the side and pushed it away from the
pontoon and he fell in. Although he thought it
was equally brilliant being in the water!”
Zeke is Vicki’s fourth dog, taking over guiding
duties from Penny, now 11, who lives with
Vicki and her husband Ivan since retiring.
“She is Pebbles and he is Bam-Bam,” says
Vicki, comparing the doe-eyed Penny to
boisterous Zeke.
Blind sailing
“Zeke was the first of my dogs
to actually enjoy getting onto
a boat, although the first time
he ended up in the drink.”
As strong and willing as he is intelligent, Zeke
became the dynamic force that Vicki needed
to help her step up to several challenges in
different aspects of her life. She was born with
retinitis pigmentosa (RP), an eye disease that
causes damage to the retina and which finally
left her with only 2 per cent vision (10 per cent in
childhood): she could pick up some movement at
the periphery of her vision but nothing centrally.
But in 2010 she began to get severe pain behind
her eyes that bore all the hallmarks of migrainestrength ‘cluster headaches’. Eventually they
became so bad that Ivan insisted his wife visit
an optician friend for a second opinion. Acute
glaucoma was diagnosed, where the internal
pressure of the eye rockets suddenly. By the time
she was treated it was too late to save Vicki’s
residual sight.
As a result, working as a physiotherapist in a
sighted world, she had been able to position
herself to talk to patients in such a way that few
suspected she was partially sighted – one patient
even confided in her that she’d heard one of the
physiotherapists was blind, but hadn’t met her yet!
At the same time Penny was struggling with an
increasingly heavy workload and a bewildering
array of new environments. Vicki had just been
promoted to her current job and was having to
travel around the country attending conferences
and meetings.
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
19
Special feature
“I have the advantage of not getting distracted
by anything going on outside the boat. I just focus
on what the boat feels like underneath me.”
Match racing is different in that it isn’t a large
number of boats vying for first place, but a oneon-one dogfight between two boats manned by
three blind or visually impaired crew members.
It involves a half-mile dash to an audio-marked
buoy, then round and back. The goal is to finish
first by preventing the other boat from being first
back. It is a game of tactics rather than just pace,
which fits well with Vicki’s sporting ethos.
“I am goal-driven and competitive, but it’s not
necessarily about being first or the best, it’s
about being good. ‘First place is all that counts’
doesn’t resonate for me at all. If everyone’s
performance has been on the money then
that’s what’s of value.”
Zeke taking in the sea air
On top of all that she was training for the new
sailing discipline that would make her a world
champion: Blind Match Racing.
“I knew all the new things in my life were putting
pressure on Penny, while the loss of my residual
vision meant I wasn’t able to give her the help I’d
been used to giving. It did get to the point where
I was thinking in terms of the sailing, ‘Am I just
making life difficult for myself?’ Then I got Zeke,
and he really did turn it around for me.”
Her love affair with sailing began in 2000, when a
friend took her along to the Brixham Yacht Club.
Half the committee turned up for her first visit,
eager to discuss what they could do to help her
get into the sport. The outgoing and incoming
Commodores both offered their sons, both
experienced sailors, to literally show her the ropes.
“My lack of sight wasn’t an issue for them; they just
wanted to make it happen. I’m a Piscean so I love
the water. I knew straight away that this was the
sport for me.”
She became so proficient a main sheeter –
controlling the large sail that runs from the mast
to the back of the boat, the powerhouse of the
boat – that she was picked to take part in the
fleet-racing discipline at the Blind Sailing World
Championships in the US, Italy and New Zealand.
20
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
And yet despite herself, first place is exactly
what Vicki won at the World Blind Sailing
Championships in Perth last year.
After a gruelling six-month try-out for the UK
match-racing team, in January 2011 she learned
she hadn’t been picked to fly to Australia to
represent her country. Undeterred, and with
only six weeks to go before the competition, she
raised the funds, put her own team together and
entered regardless.
She and her two team mates, Nick Donnini and
Dennis Manning, had only three days training
together – “but being a last-minute entry gives
you a feeling of liberation,” Vicki recalls. “There’s
no weight of expectation, no pressure.”
That all changed after the first day, when Vicki’s
team were the only team to have won all four of
their matches. Suddenly they were the ones to
beat. By the end of the championship they had
won 16 out of 19 races, and the gold medal.
“It did get to the point where I
was thinking ‘Am I just making
life difficult for myself?’ Then I
got Zeke, and he really did
turn it around for me.”
Blind sailing
Above all Vicki loves working as a team. Whether
it is blind skiing – where competitors rely on the
shouted directions of a sighted guide, skiing just
feet ahead of them – or sailing, it is the sharing of
information, the development of relationships and
trust that are at the core of what she does.
“My partnership with my dogs is exactly the
same,” says Vicki. “It’s about communication and
supporting each other. Some people are scared
to put their trust in a guide dog. I don’t see it as
me being dependent on Zeke, or on other people
on board the boat – it’s a two-way street. When
you’re working with anyone, the key is to make it
a good experience for both of you.”
About blind sailing
Blind Sailing is a charity that helps blind
and partially sighted people get involved
in sailing at all levels. It arranges training
weekends for up to 12 blind and partially
sighted people at venues including
Cowes, Isle Of Wight, Windermere and
Sussex Harbour.
Visit www.blindsailing.net or email
blind.sailing@yahoo.co.uk. The Royal Yacht
Association’s Sailability programme has
helped more than 20,000 people with a
disability sail regularly and has centres
around the UK - www.rya.org.uk.
And Zeke is certainly enjoying his experience
of working with Vicki. While he doesn’t race
competitively, he joins her and Ivan on
recreational cruises. He is adept at getting up and
down steep companionways and understands the
heeling of the boat. Nose up and ears blown back of Zeke and her other dogs to make sense of
by the wind, every inch the salty sea dog, “he’s
situations and to guide her through them, but in
the perfect guide dog for me,” says Vicki.
emotional terms too. “I’m no longer anxious about
whether the journey will be possible, whether I’ll
She relishes the freedom that Guide Dogs has
cope,” says Vicki. “I lost both of those benefits
given her – not just in the physical sense, the ability before Zeke came along.”
Vicki at the helm
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
21
What’s on
What’s on
QAC Sight Village
16 June – Mile End
Stadium, London
Guide Dogs will be attending
QAC Sight Village, the top
exhibition for blind and partially
sighted people in the UK, on:
24 April in Edinburgh; 25 April in
Glasgow and in November in
London.
Guide Dog
Fun Days
Come and enjoy a great day out for the whole
family at one of our Guide Dog Fun Days
There will be something different at each event with a blind drive
in Llandough, a loch-side walk in Forfar, a farmers market at
Leamington and trips around the training school at Atherton and
Redbridge.
9 June – Forfar Training School
16 June – Redbridge Training School
23 June – Leamington Pump Room Gardens
2 September – Atherton Training School
16 September – Llandough, Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan
13 to 17 July – BBC Gardeners World Live
Guide Dogs will be presenting its new sensory tunnel, an experience
in the dark demonstrating the heightened need to use our other
senses when we have little or no vision.
Guide dog demonstrations will also be taking place at the
Gardeners Green section www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com.
22
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
Visit www.qac.ac.uk for more
information.
Metro Athletics
Championships
The annual Metro Athletics
Championships are held every
summer in London. Sponsored
by Guide Dogs, the event is
attended by blind and partially
sighted athletes from all over
the country.
Visit www.metroblindsport.org
for more information.
Letters
Your letters
Have you got any questions or comments for Forward? If so, write
to forward@guidedogs.org.uk or to Forward, Hillfields, Burghfield
Common, Reading, RG7 3YG.
Lasting partnerships
Buddy dog joy
I thought it might be interesting to find the couple
with the largest number of guide dog years
between the two of them. In our case the statistics
are as follows. In August, I will have owned a
guide dog for 50 years, and in November, my wife
Gail will have owned one for 41 years, making a
grand total of 91 years for us as a couple. I am
not claiming this as any sort of record, but am just
interested to know of any other similar couples.
I wanted to drop you a line to say how much I
enjoyed the magazine this time. I particularly liked
the article about the buddy dog and the little girl,
I have to admit to having had reservations at first
about the program but having read a couple of
articles now about how Buddy dogs have helped
people, I feel more reassured about the scheme.
Kind regards, Mrs Tracy Lloyd
We are both currently working our seventh dog
each, and as both our dogs are only two, we can
hopefully look forward to another seven to eight
years with these two, by which time we will have
passed our century of continuous ownership. If
nothing else, this proves that working a guide dog
most certainly keeps you fit. My dog is a black
retriever Labrador cross named Roly, and Gail’s is
a yellow retriever Labrador cross named Yasmin.
Bill Guest, Leyland, Lancs.
Reply from the Editor:
Thanks for writing to let me know how much you
enjoyed the story about Abigail and her buddy
dog Ursula. If any readers hear stories about Guide
Dogs that inspire them, please get in touch.
New partnerships
I was quick to write and complain about the
omission of the names of guide dog owners
from the last edition of “Forward” so I feel
obliged to write again to say a big thank you
for reconsidering your decision. Not only have
you reinstated the names, but given extra and
interesting information about the puppy walkers
and brood bitch holders.
Kind regards, Colin Fisher
Reply from the Editor:
Thanks to all those who wrote to let us know
they’re pleased to see the guide dog owners
names back in Forward. Some of you asked
whether the names of those missed in autumn
will be included. We called to check and have
listed those who agreed to appear.
Pup Wallis at Sanquhar Loch in Forres
A nice tail
Here’s a photo of pup Wallis, a golden retriever at
nine months old at Sanquhar Loch in Forres, bonny
Morayshire. She’s such a peaceful little pup, all
my others chased the ducks and swans away but
they always swim towards her.
Anna Temple, puppy walker
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
23
In good company
In good company
A few examples of our corporate partners
Eukanuba and puppy Nuba
Are we your Charity of the Year?
Procter & Gamble’s premium pet food brand
Eukanuba has kicked off its sponsorship of Go
Walkies by funding guide dog puppy Nuba. The
three-year partnership between Guide Dogs
and Eukanuba will support the planned growth
of Go Walkies through on-pack promotions,
joint marketing and prize draws. This will help
Go Walkies for Guide Dogs reach its goal of
becoming the world’s largest dog walk in
record-breaking time!
Every year we are fortunate enough to be
selected as companies’ Charity of the Year
partner. Not only do these companies help raise
much-needed funds but they also help raise
Guide Dogs’ profile, both locally and nationally.
“Nuba will be the
Go Walkies mascot”
Nuba will be the Go Walkies mascot and face of
our campaign. You can also sponsor Nuba via his
own online giving site www.virginmoneygiving.
com/gowalkies if you do not have a dog or
cannot participate in a walk yourself.
To find out how your dog can join in the fun,
and potentially bag themselves six months’
worth of Eukanuba dog food, please visit
www.gowalkies.org.uk.
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Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
We are always looking for new Charity of the Year
partners, so if you, or someone you know, work
for a company with such a scheme, do please
consider putting us forward. For more information,
please contact our Corporate Partnership
Manager, Jessica Stickland on 07990 540 132.
Specsavers keeps on giving
Last year Specsavers celebrated 25 years in
business and, as part of a long association with
Guide Dogs, committed to raising £250,000. This will
fund 25 guide dog puppies through to qualifying
with their new blind or partially sighted owner. So
far, Specsavers have raised £135,000 and they are
also headline sponsors of this year’s Guide Dog
of the Year Awards. Thank you to everyone at
Specsavers for their ongoing support.
Fundraising
Special thanks
Thelma’s surprise
Fundraiser Thelma Wilson was honoured for her
tireless fundraising efforts at an award ceremony
in Leeds on 3 December. Thelma won the Leeds
Volunteer of the Year Award for raising more
than £100,000 for the Leeds Branch, making the
regional office the top performing in Britain.
For the past 10 years, Thelma has run charity
stalls, doggy tombolas and visited all kinds of
groups to raise money and talk about guide
dogs’ skills. As well as having two dogs of her
own, including retired guide dog, Alma, Thelma
also gives respite care to guide dogs when their
owners go on holiday, taking in several dogs
each year. She has even recruited her husband,
Peter, as a volunteer driver.
Thelma Wilson, ‘Leeds Volunteer of the Year’
Courtesy of Lynn News
Thelma said: “I really feel honoured, especially
as it is for something that I love doing and find so
rewarding. It was good to receive the award but
of course it’s all the other members of the branch
who help to raise the money!”
Riding to the rescue
Anne Holt, Estates Welfare Officer at the Queen’s
residence at Sandringham, Norfolk, has donated
£1,950 to the King’s Lynn & District Branch after
arranging a charity horse ride around the estate.
Anne organises two events each year, each in
aid of a different charity. Branch chairwoman,
Gill Southgate, gave Anne a framed guide dog
photo as a thank you.
Anne Holt (left) and her horse, Estrella, with Gill
Southgate and her retired guide dog, Sadie
30th anniversary
The Bury St Edmunds Branch celebrated its
30th anniversary and reaching a £500,000
fundraising milestone last year with a reunion. The
branch started after then Guide Dogs Regional
Fundraiser, Tony Castleton, spotted the potential
of a small group of ladies who held coffee
mornings in aid of Guide Dogs. The branch still
has its original chairman, Mike Clarke, and Sue
Dunn and Jill Gooch have also been committee
members from the start.
From left: Jill Gooch, Tony Castleton, Chairman
Mike Clarke and Treasurer, Sue Dunn
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
25
Thank you
3
1
2
Thanks to our supporters
• Students from Weald Grammar School in Kent
raised £441.05 by painting nails and selling
doggy merchandise at their Christmas Fair.
There were games including guess the dog’s
name and a tombola. Pupils had help from
Guide Dogs volunteers and volunteers from
the school’s Business Enterprise Project,
Vanessa Johnson and Ian Goodwin.
Image 1
• Members of the Nuneaton and Bedworth
Branch held a very successful quiz night
and raised £250. The event was held at the
Sharnford Arms pub in Sharnford, Leicestershire,
in November and branch member Sue Orrill
said: “We thank Jayne and Steve Smith, who
are the best landlord and landlady ever.”
Image 2
• Hazel Dent of North Sea Village in Ashington,
Northumberland, held her annual Coffee and
Quilts day in November and raised £585 for
Guide Dogs.
• The Exeter Mobility Team collected £1,300
with a ten pin bowling night. The evening was
organised by Dog Care and Welfare Adviser,
Glenda Webb, who was joined by staff, guide
dog owners, friends, volunteers and staff from
local vet practices, car clubs and Action for
Blind People.
Image 3
• Members of Blackburn with Darwen Branch
have received a cheque from Queens Lodge
Nursing Home in Blackburn for more than
£1,400, raised by fundraising events during
last year, including a Christmas fair.
• The Arbroath and District Branch held two
Christmas carol concerts arranged by Marjory
Hughes, Reception Co-Ordinator at the Forfar
Training School, volunteer Lamont Forbes, and
friend, Bill Beedie, raising £476. Festive musical
events featuring Lamont playing the keyboard
at Abbeygate Shopping Mall in Arbroath and
at a branch of Tesco in Montrose raised more
than £2,000, the latter also featuring trainers
and their dogs from Forfar.
• Teachers at The Earls High School in Halesowen,
West Midlands, presented a cheque for £250
to Guide Dogs instead of giving each other
Christmas cards after being impressed by
the progress of pupil and guide dog owner,
Amy Kettle, when training with her guide dog.
• The Saffron Walden Branch in Essex, formed in
September, started its fundraising with a bang
with its first two collections raising nearly £900.
The 16-strong group includes three guide dog
owners and a puppy walker, and the group
also had a full-page spread in their local paper.
26
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
5
Our supporters
6
4
• When chairman of the Cambridge Branch,
John Reynolds, was asked to bid for a £700
donation from Cambridge University’s Estate
Management Department, he did such a good
job that the university upped its gift to £1,000!
Branch members took along some of their
puppies when they went to collect the cheque
from departmental manager, Mike Wetton.
Image 4
• The Waitrose branch in Holsworthy, Devon,
donated £569 to the Okehampton Branch. In
the scheme, shoppers are given a green token
every time they visit, which they use to vote
for one of three different good causes every
month by placing the token into a box. The
causes then get a share of £1,000, depending
on how many tokens they get.
Image 5
• Pupils at Argyle House School in Sunderland
presented a cheque for a whopping £5,111
to the Sunderland & South Shields Branch.
Accepting the cheque were Martin and Mavis
Brennan with guide dogs Amy and Milly. Mavis,
a volunteer speaker, and Amy are regular
visitors to the school, and youngsters raised the
cash through a variety of sponsored activities.
• Guide dog owner Jenny Dale raised more than
£200 by completing the equivalent of a half
marathon at her gym. Jenny was joined by her
guide dog, Leo, as she walked 13 miles over
two days at Dimensions Health & Fitness Club
in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, doing hour-long
stints with breaks in between.
• Vince Jones, landlord of The Village Inn in
Liddington, Swindon, and two members of
staff from Eastcott Vets ran in the Nationwide
Swindon Half Marathon during Guide Dogs
Week. Vince raised more than £1,400 for us
and Eastcott Vets is aiming to raise £10,000,
which includes 22 of their staff doing the
Coniston Challenge.
• Drinkers at the Black Bull Inn in Great Smeaton,
Northallerton, North Yorkshire, donated £1,107
in less than a year in the pub’s countertop
collection box. Landlord and lady, Paul and
Lesley McConnell, boosted the figure by
arranging a series of raffles, with the cash
donated to the Dales & District Branch.
• Guide dog puppy, Nimbus, met children during
assembly at Osbaston Church in Wales School
in Monmouth as part of his puppy training.
Nimbus is named after Nimbus Records, a local
company which has supported the Forest of
Dean Branch for the past five years. Youngsters
are now planning to fundraise for Guide Dogs.
Image 6
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
27
Canine obituaries
We’ll never forget
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.
If you are a guide dog owner, current or retired, and you want to talk to a trained listener, who is also
a guide dog owner, about the experience of losing your dog, call the STEP line on 0845 372 7474
between 8am and 10pm daily.
We are sorry that we do not have space to print all of the tributes that we have received and so we
will include those who have passed away most recently in a future edition of Forward.
Aden 11.12.98 – 10.11.11
Guide dog to Rosa
Needham. “I will always
remember your lovely
ways – you’re in my
heart. Sleep well my
darling.”
companion to
advanced training
guide dogs. “A
delightful boy, thank
you for ten wonderful
years. Remembered
with love.”
Bee 26.8.95 – 17.1.12
Retired to Jenny and
Eric Marlow for nine
years. “A very special
lady, we miss you so
much. You will never
be forgotten. Run free
Bee-Bee.”
Benson 3.7.98 – 28.11.11
Guide to John Jackson.
“We are missing you so
much, what a star you
were. God bless my
little pal.”
Bella 5.2.02 – 30.6.11
“Friend to so many
guide dog pups and
missed so much our fun,
gentle and beautiful
‘Big Girl’ – running free
now with Leider!” The
Mackay family.
Benny 9.11.99 – 1.12.11
Early retirement with
the Schmitt family,
Aden
28
Bee
Betty 11.07.96 – 28.11.11
Exemplary guide and
much loved companion
to Joan Marshall. Sadly
missed by Joan and
puppy walkers Kath
and Jack Standring.
“Treasured memories of
our Black Beauty.”
Brian 26.10.00 – 26.01.12
Much loved guide dog
to Margaret Theobald
and puppy walked by
Bella
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
Mrs Alloway. Happily
retired to the Taviner
family as a wonderful
pet. “To know him was
to love him.”
Bruce 26.10.00 – 22.8.11
Guide dog to Edna
Murgatroyd, retired
to Ron and Margaret
Radcliffe. “Goodnight
wonderful friend and
best pal.”
Carla 13.4.96 – 14.8.11
Guide to the late Colin
Hale. Adored for the
past nine years by
Catherine, Rowena
and family. “Carla, how
I miss you. Till we meet
again, my lovely girl.”
Christy
10.11.96 – 06.12.11
Guide dog to Susan
Hunter. “My loyal and
loving guide dog, who
was my companion
Betty
Bruce
and loving friend. She
will be deeply missed.”
Susan and Alec.
Crispin 17.4.99 – 12.12.11
Guide to Brian Fenn.
“From the minute we
met he became a very
close friend. We were
just so proud of him.”
Curtis 15.2.01 – 20.11.11
Guide dog and
companion to Mike
Duxbury and his
family and friends.
“Sadly missed by all,
everyone who met
him loved him.”
Deano (Dean)
20.8.97 – 2.7.11
Guide to James
O’Driscoll and retired
to Christine Hartley.
“A happy and gentle
boy greatly loved,
cherished and
missed by all so much.”
Carla
Crispin
Curtis
Dean
Elliot 11.2.02 – 1.11.11
Second guide to Paul
Horsfield. “A very
special boy, taken
suddenly, missed and
loved more than words
can say.”
Frizz 3.1.98 – 4.10.11
Guide to Lesley
George, puppy walked
by Tom and Sue Bailey.
“Faithful to the end,
still brightening up
everyone’s day and
missed by all.”
Gael 7.1.97 – 30.9.11
Guide dog to Natalie
Burton. “A very special
girl and my best furry
friend. You were more
than just my dog, I’ll
never forget you.”
Haydn 16.3.97 – 24.11.11
Guide to David Nicol,
retired to the O’Shea
family. “Crafty,
gentleman thief,
always his own man.”
Heston 15.1.98 –
24.12.11
First guide dog to Mark
Evans. “A special friend,
loved by everyone and
missed by all who knew
him. God bless, sleep
tight big fella xx.”
Karl 5.2.00 – 13.1.12
Wonderful guide and
companion to Gordon
Pepper
Quin
Elliot
Frizz
McWilliams and much
loved by Elaine and
Harry in retirement. “The
perfect partner whose
peaceful end came
much too soon.”
Leider 15.8.00 – 31.10.11
Wonderful Mum to 16
pups and friend to so
many more! “Always in
our hearts – my special
girly! Running free
now with Bella!” The
Mackay family.
Mace 27.9.96 – 23.11.11
Retired to Ian and Liz
Barnes, a lovely dog
with lots of personality.
“Goodnight old boy.”
Norman 19.4.98 –
7.12.11
Retired to Howie and
Trish Smith. “One in
a million, you will be
missed by all the family.
Run free sunshine.”
Paige 20.12.99 –
28.12.11
Guide dog to Jason
Lockwood. “A true
friend to the very end.
I never met an angel
until I met you. All our
love, Mum and Dad.”
Pepper 18.2.98 –
18.12.11
A wonderful prince
and guide to Carrie
for ten years; a
Ruby
Rupert
Haydn
Heston
devoted friend to
Mike and Hazel in his
retirement. “Everyone
loved you”.
Quin 19.2.98 – 3.11.11
Puppy walked by and
re-homed with the
Edwards family.
“You never quite
made the grade, but
as a friend and family
member, you could not
be faulted.”
Ruby (Robbie) 8.2.03 –
7.12.11
Guide to Peter
Liesching, puppy
walked by Anne and
Stan Breach and
retired to Sally and
Philip Mawson. “Run
free beautiful girl, in our
hearts forever.”
Rupert 21.11.98 –
26.11.11
Guide to Charles
Clothier and much
loved by Angela,
Tracey and the rest of
the family. “Always in
our hearts. Run free
Rupert Bear.”
Samson
30.3.01 – 16.11.11
“A sweet, gentle giant,
we will always miss our
lovely big teddy bear.”
Saxon 6.5.96 – 8.12.11
Puppy walked by
Mr and Mrs C Clark
and held as a stud
dog by Mr and Mrs
Baker. “A wonderful
dog and a true
gentleman.”
Sheila (Dillyp) 10.12.96 –
26.11.11
Guide to Lynn Bourne.
“My feisty, clever,
loyal companion. She
restored my confidence
and kept me part of
the human race. Much
loved and missed.”
Sherry 26.6.99 – 29.9.11
Puppy walked by Ann
Hill and rehomed by
Margery and Don
Wakefield. “An eager
gentle friend to all
people, missed by
so many.”
Sadie 15.1.99 – 29.11.11
Retired guiding angel of
Gill Southgate, puppy
walked by Sue Franz.
“Always waggie-tailed
whilst guiding me safely.
Sweet dreams my lovely
girly xx.”
Sadie
Leider
Smokey 20.12.99 –
8.1.12
Guide dog to Brian
Crossette, puppy
walked by Mr and
Mrs C Yardley. “A
true loving pal to the
end, good night brave
heart, miss you.”
Samson
Saxon
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
29
Smokey
Sula
Sula 29.9.95 – 26.8.11
Brood bitch for Guide
Dogs and family
member to Caroline
and Peter Minty. “You
will be missed by
everyone, especially all
your friends in the
local pub.”
Taylor 10.8.96 – 7.11.11
Guide to Bobby
Johnson and retired
Yarna
to John and Glad
Davenport. “Our home
is empty without you.”
Umber 10.4.95 – 4.11.11
Retired to Mrs Mandy
Hopewell and guide to
Mr David Calderwood.
“A perfect gentleman
and my best friend.”
Willis 9.3.02 – 23.10.11
Guide to Eric Sayce
Lance 14.4.98 – 4.8.11
Last summer, Tony Averis lost his first guide dog
Lance, who was rehomed during his retirement
by Karen Averis and Rob Wear.
Tony said: “Lance was sometimes not the best
guide dog in the world but he was very special
and served me loyally for 10 years. He was my
friend, confidante and inspiration to start living
again. Lance helped me develop social skills
and gave me extra confidence, he was also a
complete ladies’ man and prone to stealing the
occasional bacon sandwich, but we loved him
for it.”
Karen remembers: “He came to myself and my
partner Rob for his retirement and we had two
wonderful years with him. You are greatly missed
Lance and we hope that you are playing football
up in heaven!”
Rob added: “As one of the lucky people that
had the good fortune to help Lance in his
retirement, I am proud to say that Lance was not
really a pet, but a friend. Lance, you are missed
by both me and your mum and I write with tears
in my eyes. You will be missed always!”
Our guide dogs, dogs in training, puppies and
breeding stock are very special to us all and
it’s a time of great sadness when one of these
wonderful dogs passes away. To commemorate
them, Guide Dogs has an Online Memorial Book
called Paws for Thought, where our dogs can
30
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
Yates
and retired to David
and Irene White.
“Happy, faithful, gentle
lad who brightened up
everyone’s day. Sleep
well my friend.”
Yarna 28.9.97 – 1.10.11
“Yarna has given us
many years of love,
companionship,
comfort and happiness,
and leaves a huge
hole in our hearts.
Missed dearly by the
Marshall family.”
Yates 7.7.01 – 26.10.11
Guide dog to Mary
Shute in Paignton. “Go
roly poly with the clouds
Yates. Rest in peace,
always in my thoughts.”
be honoured with a complimentary listing of
their name. This is also an opportunity for anyone
who has been touched by the life of one of our
special dogs to come together to celebrate
their life. Friends and family are invited to view
and click on the name of their much-loved dog
to visit the special website where, in return for
a donation, a page can be created to share
memories, photos and dedications.
Visit www.giftsinmemory.org.uk to view this
special Memorial Book.
If you would like your dog’s name to appear in
our ‘Paws for Thought’ Memorial Book, please
contact the Gifts in Memory team on 0845 603
1477 or email giftsinmemory@guidedogs.org.uk.
New partnerships
Congratulations
This edition of Forward sees a longer list of new partnerships than normal because we have printed
the names of the guide dog owners whose names we missed from the autumn edition.
Partnerships qualifying since 30 June are listed in order of guide dog owner, dog, town, breed, puppy
walker and brood bitch holder. Those who qualified before 30 June 2011 whose names were missed
from the autumn edition are listed at the end of this section in order of owner, dog and town and all
other information was printed in the autumn edition.
Bedfordshire and Herts
Pat Berry & Tia from
Enfield L, Suzanne
Patrick from Rochester
• Mr & Mrs Watson from
Leamington Spa
Bristol
Ian Beverley &
Evans from Mirfield L,
Jacqueline Bushell from
Kingsbridge • Mercer
from Warwick
Andrea Bishop & Sandy
from Taunton L, Sarah
Nicholls from Barry,
Yvonne Strawson from
Cwmbran • Brian Green
from Birmingham
Roderick Carne & Morris
from Burnham-on-Sea
GRxL, George McCaffery
from Corsham • Peter
& Christina Clinton from
Hinckley
Steve Cunningham &
Foster from Southam
GSD, Carol Jordan
from Bristol • Carla
Nieuwenhuizen from
Banbury
Sally Hardwill & Yusef
from Chard L, Sharon
Atkins from Stourbridge •
D Ward from Rugby
John Tovey & Valdez
from South Glos L,
Nicola Greensill from
Wolverhampton • Janet
Ansell from Kenilworth
Tilly Trotter & Gwyn from
Cullompton GSD, Keith
Lyon from Walsall • Mr &
Key:
x – Crossbreed
CCR – Curly Coat Retriever
COL – Collie
Mrs Tindall from Coventry
Rosalind Watkins &
Poppy from Bristol LxGR,
Julie Pocknell from
Merthyr Tydfil • Deborah
Kelsey from Coventry
Tony White & Yoshi from
Exeter LxGR, Kathy
Williams from Barnstaple
• Mary Herbert from
Warwick
Rebecca Blaevoet &
Karrie from Aberbargoed
L, Victoria Arbenz from
Wolverhampton,
Kate Price from AshbyDe-La-Zouch • VJ
Addison from Rugby
Kevin Davies & Mason
from Ferndale LxGR,
Mr & Mrs Wand from
Bridgwater • Pippa
Challenger from
Evesham
Karen Gibbons & Norris
from Tonypandy LxCCR,
Ashley Gray from Tranent
• Janet Court from
Birmingham
Marian Lewis & Anjelo
from Aberystwyth GRxL,
Michael Davie from
Loughborough • Y Dillon
from Warwick
Julie Rees & Gwen from
Swansea GRxL, Patricia
Revell from Solihull •
Jeanette Hannon from
Oldbury
Paul Rowlands & Ziggy
from Maesteg L, Sandra
Wickson from Walsall •
Pauline Goodrich from
Leicester
Sue Sims & Flora from
Hengoed GRxL, Carol
Moran from Clevedon,
Sharon Fitzpatrick
from Weston Super
Mare, Hilary Reed from
Westbury • Mr & Mrs
Allen from Worcester
Central London
Emma Bailey & Zeb from
Hereford GRxL, Denise
Baugh from Basingstoke
• Liz Russell-Yard from
Coventry
Diane Kebbell & Rana
from London L, Liz Wilkins
from Shepperton
Sheila Simons & Laser
from Thames Ditton
LxGR, Fran Taylor from
Tonbridge • Mr & Mrs
Warner from Pershore
Chris Holmes & Lottie
from Richmond GRxL,
Marisa Pauwels-Jeffrey
from Barnet • Mr & Mrs
Hanson from Coventry
Andrew Hussey & Shelley
from Greenwich GRxL,
Sheena Gordon from
Epsom • Jane Hart from
Cirencester
Fereshteh Khosroujerdy
& Bruce from London
GRxL, Tim Jones from
Chelmsford • Helen Easty
from Kettering
Geoff Lloyd & Star from
Lancing LxGR, Gloria
Holmes from Princes
Risborough • Joy
FCR – Flat Coat Retriever
GR – Golden Retriever
GSD – German Shepherd Dog
IWS – Irish Water Spaniel
Dickinson from Abingdon
Jane Phillips & Bella from
London GRxL, Mary Toole
from Chelmsford • Helen
Easty from Kettering
Cumbria and
Lancashire
David Brewin & Chloe
from Thornton-Cleveleys
L, Mr & Mrs Hicks from
Lytham St Annes •
Mr & Mrs Wyatt from
Leamington Spa
Jonathon Davis & Macca
from Lytham St Annes
LxGR, L Beers from
Liverpool • Rita Tongue
from Shipston-on-Stour
Charles Doherty & Otto
from Morecambe GRxL,
Mr & Mrs Clarke from
Winsford • Tracy Twomey
from Leamington Spa
Jackie Fielding & Boots
from Manchester LxGR,
Elizabeth Louise O’Malley
from Liverpool • Joy
Dickinson from Abingdon
Frank Gorton & Guilder
from Blackburn GRxL,
Fiona Sangster from
Leicester • Phil Revill from
Southam
William Guest & Roly
from Leyland GRxL, Mary
Cheadle from Stafford
• Liz Russell-Yard from
Coventry
Robin Jameson & Gig
from Lancaster GRxL,
Jan Kart from Halifax •
Anne-Marie Sparks from
L – Labrador
SPIN – Spinone
STP – Standard Poodle
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
31
New partnerships
Southam
Julie Oliver & Queenie
from Preston GRxL, Mr &
Mrs Bland from Burnley
• Elaine Roberts from
Stourbridge
Robert Stoker & Paula
from Whitehaven LxGR,
Jean Rennie from
Rochdale • Joyce
Bartlett from Rugby
Susan Wakeley & Tim
from Thornton-Cleveleys
GR, Alison TannerDavies from Wirral •
Sarah Douglas from
Bromsgrove
East Anglia
Janet Alder & Shumba
from Epsom LxGR,
Debra Deane from
Waterlooville • Mr & Mrs
Bayley from Malvern
Alan Chamley & Hollie
from Cambridge L, Sheila
Pope from Rayleigh
• Cora Blaver from
Northampton
Peter Chapman & Sarge
from Lowestoft LxGR,
Frances Popplewell from
Hockley, Cynthia Duvall
from Rochford • Mr &
Mrs Walker from Sutton
Coldfield
Simon Daws & Lennox
from Woodbridge LxGR,
B Darwent from Sheffield,
Sarah Saunby from
Sheffield • J Roberts from
Brackley
Victoria Framingham &
Parker from Kings Lynn L,
Anna Poole from Esher
• Sandra Boden from
Rugeley
Nicola Hughes &
Kayleigh from Wisbech
GR, Irene Songhurst from
Maidstone
Krystyna Jenkinson &
Dolly from Kings Lynn
GRxL, Irene Harman from
Bognor Regis • Danielle
Vaughan from Wigston
Paul Johnson & Hunter
from Newmarket GRxL,
Joan Frogbrook from
Orpington • Peter &
Christina Clinton from
Hinckley
Timothy Poole & Ellis
from Caister-on-
32
Sea GRxL, Jeanne
Harrall from Swanley •
Rebecca Jackson from
Kidderminster
Maureen Ransome &
Eve from Great Yarmouth
GRxL, Sharon Tarleton
from Woodford Green •
Rebecca Jackson from
Kidderminster
Bernie Reddington &
Ashley from Norwich
L, Lynda Petit from
Wallingford • Sue
Robinson from Worcester
Gill Southgate & Yazmin
from Kings Lynn L, Delores
Spurgeon from Cranleigh
• D Ward from Rugby
Emma Webster & Claire
from Dereham L, Vincent
Phipps from Knebworth •
Sam Oakley from Rugby
Alan Wright & Naylor
from Kings Lynn L,
Rosalind Herbert from
Westcliff-on-Sea • Gail
Winnett from Birmingham
East Midlands
Jake Coles & Arnie from
Lincoln GRxFCR, A Brown
from South Shields • Julia
Evans from Bromsgrove
Gillian Deane & Raynor
from Boston LxGR,
Barbara Jane Kelly from
Chester • Sally Barsby
from Buckingham
Graham Fordham
& Storm from Louth
GRxL, Caroline Bagley
from Sheffield • Molly
McDonnell from Warwick
Malcolm Mason & Ash
from Tamworth LxGR,
David Wright from
Manchester • Samantha
Reid from Chipping
Norton
Jane Orchard & Rea from
Skegness LxGR, Elizabeth
Dale from Chester •
Annette Smith from
Swadlincote
Doctor Emma Rowlett &
Tally from Nottingham
LxGR, Russell James
Truelove from West
Bridgford • Sylvia Burgess
from Buckingham
Alan Tibble & Blake from
Lincoln GRxL, Marjan
Cornelia Neil from
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
Sunderland • Peter &
Christina Clinton from
Hinckley
East Scotland
Alexander Armstrong
& Zarus from Peterhead
GRxL, Paul Condie
from Edinburgh •
Dawn Collins from Telford
John Howie & Kristo from
Dalkeith L, Lena Reid
from Newtownabbey •
VJ Addison from Rugby
Doctor Elizabeth
Marsden & Lexy from
Ayrshire GRxL, Lorna
Boyde from Bangor •
Margaret Buckingham
from Warwick
Elizabeth Mathers &
Joe from Kilmarnock L,
Sandra Littlejohn from
Arbroath • Donna
Gillbee from Rugby
Donald McGregor &
Indie from Glasgow
LxGR, Heather & Alistair
Walker from Perth • RC
Soley from Redditch
Angela Sirrell & Hatty
from Livingston GRxL,
Sheila Adam from
Dundee • Dianne Merker
from Malvern
Barbara Urquhart &
Ava from Kilmarnock
GRxFCR, Yvonne & Terry
Wisdom from Aberfeldy
• Julia Evans from
Bromsgrove
Essex
Ellen Barton & Nadia from
Woodford Green L, Louise
Race from Rayleigh, Jan
Flower from Upminster
• Pat Stafford from
Calverton
David Eves & Lassie from
Burnham-on-Crouch L,
Nikki McCormack from
St Albans, Jean Nield
from Harpenden • Janet
Ansell from Kenilworth
David Freeman & Hugh
from Witham LxGR, Paul
Doyle from Barnet • Joy
Dickinson from Abingdon
Barbara Gilhooly &
Vegas from Colchester
L, Vanessa Johnson from
Sittingbourne • Erica
Dowse from Coventry
June Maylin & Shannon
from Stanford-le-Hope
LxGR, Patricia Canning
from Southampton • Mr
& Mrs Walker from Sutton
Coldfield
Lucy Morris & Bruce
from Clacton-on-Sea
LxGR, Linda Patricia
Myatt from Leeds • Mr
& Mrs Simpson from
Leamington Spa
Maureen Spicer & Macs
from Harlow LxGR, Fiona
Newman from Tunbridge
Wells • Mr & Mrs Simpson
from Leamington Spa
Exeter
Nigel Davies & Squire
from Torquay LxGR,
Jennifer Webber from
Weston-Super-Mare • Mr
& Mrs Walker from Sutton
Coldfield
Rowan Graham & Kate
from Plymouth L, Mr
& Mrs Newport from
Lichfield • Annette
Mulcahy from StratfordUpon-Avon
Craig Pearce & Rosie
from Exeter GRxL, Nan
Phillips from Usk • G
Tookey from Warwick
Albert Pinfold & Joss
from Ottery St Mary
GRxL, Janet Boswell
from Llantwit Major •
Karen Robbens from
Leamington Spa
Angela Scott & Oliver
from Plymouth GRxL,
Valerie Charles from
Cardiff • Tracy Twomey
from Leamington Spa
Caroline Soal & Tucker
from Paignton L, Helen
Sansome from Solihull •
Mr & Mrs Watson from
Leamington Spa
Joy Taylor & Linda from
Holsworthy GRxL, Janice
Keegan from Solihull,
Mary Reeves from Walsall
• Mr & Mrs Hanson from
Coventry
Greater Manchester
Robert Butterworth &
Wilson from Todmorden
L, Penny Gillespie from
Wilmslow, P Hill from
Bolton
New partnerships
Pam Hackett & Yassie
from Altrincham L,
Doreen Redfern from
Warrington, David
Joseph Snape from
Warrington • D Ward
from Rugby
David Harris & Tilly from
Chorley L, Jeanne
Cookson from Blackpool
• Peter & Christina
Clinton from Hinckley
Elizabeth Keeling & Stan
from Dukinfield GR, Helen
Cookes from Nuneaton
Joan Reed & Chester
from Worsley L, Christine
Ible from Bolton • Mr
& Mrs Phipps from
Lechlade
Ian Sproson & Corky
from Littleborough GRxL,
Roger Steele MBE from
Sheffield • Mr & Mrs
Lockley from Leamington
Spa
Hull
Craig Cash & Kirk from
Barton-Upon-Humber
GRxL, Carol Ann Ross
from Sheffield, Geraldine
Joy Eva Newman
from Cheadle • Mr
& Mrs Moloney from
Leamington Spa
Jean Coop & Laila from
York GRxL, Annabel
Wynne-Jones from
Liverpool • Margaret
Buckingham from
Warwick
Sheila Dent & Marti from
Hull L, Susan Dearden
from Bolton • Sarah
Stanley from Rugby
Samantha Harrison &
Sal from Hull GRxL, Jean
Robinson from Sheffield
• Maria Leggett from
Oxford
Coral Hewitt & Kyle
from Grimsby L, Helen
Murray from Southwell
• Terri Chambers from
Redditch
Seanah Hughes & Zoe
from Hull L, Carol Sproull
from Montrose • Pauline
Goodrich from Leicester
Tom Langan & Libby
from Kirkella GRxL, Helen
Kilpatrick from Belfast •
Margaret Buckingham
from Warwick
Stephen Spamer &
Newton from Hull L,
Stacey Dawn Roberts
from Mansfield • Gail
Winnett from Birmingham
Carol Spencer & Frankie
from Hull L, David Fry
from Winchester •
Sandra Sweetland from
Stratford-Upon-Avon
Sandra Usher & Bernie
from York LxGR, John
Potter from Dunfermline
Kent and East Sussex
Yvonne Balch & Wheat
from Dover GRxL, Stacey
Moar from Cambridge •
Mr & Mrs Coughlan from
Rugby
Stephen Benningfield &
Yulie from Bromley GRxL,
Peter Edwards from
Chorleywood • Dawn
Collins from Telford
Peter Butcher & Lorna
from Bexhill-on-Sea
GRxL, Carole Arrowsmith
from Reading •
Margaret Buckingham
from Warwick
Linda Johnson & Dixon
from Margate GRxL,
Lynda Hamblet from
Bolton, Lorraine Lee from
Newcastle-upon-Tyne •
Danielle Vaughan from
Wigston
Kane Mills & Ashley from
Edenbridge GRxFCR,
Beverley Kempson from
Hexham • Julia Evans
from Bromsgsrove
Paul Millross & Wanda
from Hailsham
GRxL, David Purl
from Bexleyheath •
Cathy Simpson from
Cheltenham
Nina Montoya & Daisy
from Maidstone GRxL,
Christine Stanley from
Harpenden, Madeline
Mason from Luton,
Barbara Halliwell from
Hitchin • Danielle
Vaughan from Wigston
Sheila Nutbeam & Kerrie
from Kingston-uponThames GR, Margaret
Mardell from Rochester
• Hazel Cross from
Evesham
Merseyside
David Bennett & Norma
from Birkenhead L, Cath
Myall from Lymm • Gail
Winnett from Birmingham
Heather Comerford &
Hettie from Warrington
GRxL, Donna Raschke
from Newton-le-Willows,
Betty Carins from Wirral
• Jane Chance from
Kidderminster
Chris Copeman & Pablo
from Llandudno L, Allison
King from Crewe •
Barbara McMillan from
Stratford-Upon-Avon
Nigel Dunt & Denby
from Menai Bridge GRxL,
Annette Bastianelli from
Dunfermline
Mark William Evans &
Andrea from Northwich L,
Grace Caroline Jackson
from Chorley • Sandra
Hoffman from Coventry
Hannah Fairclough &
Josh from Crewe L, Jill
Clyde from Sheffield •
Dianne Merker
from Malvern
David Froggatt &
Gally from Liverpool
GSD, Joan Grace
from Liverpool • Mr & Mrs
Tindall from Coventry
Cathy Gardner &
Emma from Liverpool
GRxL, Margaret
Balderson from Keighley
• Dawn Collins from
Telford
Paul George & Jasper
from Llandudno GRxFCR,
Robert & Vera Gordon
from Aberdeen • Mr
& Mrs Rogers from
Bromsgrove
Angela Hassall & Mel
from Crewe GRxL,
Kathleen Batchelor from
Manchester • Mr & Mrs
Lyle from Warwick
Jon Hastie & Alvi from
Wirral LxGR, Anne
Lifsey from Doncaster •
Lynne Marie May from
Northampton
Colin Lamont & Onyx
from Liverpool GRxL,
Suzanne Wolstencroft
from Leeds • Tracy
Twomey from
Leamington Spa
Mary Moody & Hattie
from Wirral LxGR, Janet
Franklin from St Helens
• Carol McAteer from
Stourbridge
Anne Morris & Honey
from Rhyl GRxL,
Maureen Chambers
from Huddersfield •
Rebecca Jackson from
Kidderminster
Patrick Peters & Kane
from Wrexham L, Doris
Milligan from Clitheroe •
VJ Addison from Rugby
Martin Ralfe & Otto from
Wirral L, Louise Pilling
from Rochdale, Gail
Cartwright from Chester,
Barbara Roberts from
Chester, S Yearsley from
Northwich • Annette
Mulcahy from StratfordUpon-Avon
Roy Robinson & Archie
from Liverpool L, J
Sudworth from Wigan
• Sue Robinson from
Worcester
Ronnie Wynn Thomas &
Wesley from Llangefni
GRxL, Linda Judith Wilson
from Knaresborough •
Mr & Mrs Gowling from
Coventry
Jeanette Wagg & Zia
from Birkenhead GRxL,
Jennifer Higgins from
Beeston • G Tookey from
Warwick
Karen Woods & Venice
from Kirkby L, Elaine
Hope from Whitley Bay
Northern Ireland
June Best & Alec from
Craigavon GRxFCR,
Diane Hankin from
Kirkcaldy • Julia Evans
from Bromsgrove
David Glendinning &
Lynn from Rathcoole
GRxL, Lydia Martin
from Aberdeen • Mr
& Mrs Hanson from
Coventry
Diane Healey & Eric from
Lisburn GRxGSD, Robert
& Vera Gordon from
Aberdeen
Mary Hutcheson & Truffle
from Belfast GR, Dawn
Pirie from Aberdeen
• Sarah Douglas from
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
33
New Partnerships
Bromsgrove
Pauline McKenna &
Yalena from Downpatrick
L, Lisa Marland from
Helensburgh • D Ward
from Rugby
Northumberland and
Tyne and Wear
Lynda Rhodes & Nina
from Hebburn L, Lana
Brand from Carnoustie,
Samantha Sarah Godley
from Kirriemuir • Gail
Winnett from Birmingham
Dorothy Richardson
& Terra from South
Shields GR, COM
Russell from Aberdeen
• Sarah Douglas from
Bromsgrove
Bryan Robson & Vanya
from Houghton Le Spring
L, Catriona Rose from
Edinburgh • Janet Ansell
from Kenilworth
Janet Rowe & Lana from
Gateshead L, Zuzana
Gibb from Greenlaw
• Sarah Stanley from
Rugby
Steve Taylor & Tess from
Washington L, Anna
Temple from Forres •
Mr & Mrs Watson from
Leamington Spa
Louise Thompson &
Ursula from Hebburn
L, Vida Anderson
from Scone • Janie
Macqueen from Fenny
Compton
Sheffield
Eric Brown & Ajax from
Rotherham GRxFCR,
Hilary Murray from
Leyburn • Julia Evans
from Bromsgrove
Shrewsbury
Kay Bailey & Rabbie
from Stoke-on-Trent
GRxL, Judith Evans from
Edinburgh • Jackie Elliott
from Warwick
Vicky Evans & Jazz from
Telford L, S Moss from
Honiton • Donna Gillbee
from Rugby
David Heeley & Seamus
from West Bromwich
GSD, Marianne Taylor
from Tranent • SH Cox
34
from Axminster
Amy Kettle & Connie
from Halesowen GRxL,
Nicola Suggitt from
Frampton Cotterell •
Mr & Mrs Thomas from
Leamington Spa
Betty Oldbury & Eadie
from Tamworth GRxL,
Tracey Hope from Solihull
• Jackie Elliott from
Warwick
Colin Proudlock &
Oakley from Stafford
GRxL, Sue Herman
from Warwick • Mr
& Mrs Edwards from
Leamington Spa
David Reynolds & Kate
from Stoke-on-Trent
GR, Coral Williams from
Evesham • Hazel Cross
from Evesham
Yvonne Smith & Betty
from Halesowen GRxL,
Frances Barnett from
Market Harborough,
Wendy Wright from
Kettering • Liz RussellYard from Coventry
Tracey Webb & Hattie
from Burntwood LxGR,
Jean Thorpe from
Dronfield, Linda Holmes
from Nottingham • Joy
Dickinson from Abingdon
Patrycja Zukrowska
& Tessa from
Wolverhampton
GRxL, Victoria Hurst
from Wrington •
Cathy Simpson from
Cheltenham
Shires and London
Boroughs
Gary Ankin & Zag from
Milton Keynes GRxL,
Wendy Hartwell from
Braintree • G Tookey
from Warwick
Lisa Hendy & Hilary from
Reading GRxL, Helen
Beije from Swindon,
Tracey Silver from Didcot
• Dianne Merker from
Malvern
Liz Roe & Ice from Milton
Keynes LxGR, Dr Linda
Leon from Bishops
Stortford • RC Soley from
Redditch
Colin Seymour & Zandra
from High Wycombe L,
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
Hazel Mander-Callaby
from Royston • Pauline
Goodrich from Leicester
South of Scotland
Nancy Blaik & Molly
from Edinburgh GRxL,
Kelly O’Keeffe from
Bristol, Linda Vafidis from
Bridgend • Danielle
Vaughan from Wigston
Helen Borthwick & Dixie
from Duns LxGR, Liz
Watson from Lancaster
• Pauline Vining from
Alcester
Iain Cochrane &
Owen from Cumnock
GRxL, Allan Mackay
from Glasgow •
Tracy Twomey from
Leamington Spa
Leigh Davis & William
from Oxgangs FCRxGR,
Mr & Mrs Kelly from Alloa
• Linda Mallette from
Worcester
Lynn Gordon & Jeannie
from Bellshill GRxL, Karen
Brown from Edinburgh
• Elaine Roberts from
Stourbridge
Patricia Maison & Todd
from Edinburgh GR, Ruth
& Iain Coker from North
Berwick
Andrew McNeill &
Lez from Edinburgh L,
Elizabeth Apsley from
Lisburn • Marion Vernall
from Ledbury
Amanda Mulvanny &
Debbie from Edinburgh
GRxL, Bill & Joyce Auld
from Glasgow • Danielle
Vaughan from Wigston
Jessie Quin & Trent from
Edinburgh GR, M Levein
from Kirkcaldy, Sarah
& Craig Ramage from
Forfar, Shiela & Peter
Halley from St Andrews
David Shearer & Pearce
from Melrose L, Wendy
Nicol Bruce from
Inverurie • Sandra Boden
from Rugeley
Jane Stevenson & Daisy
from Troon LxGR, Sharon
Murray from Bangor •
Deborah Kelsey from
Coventry
Southampton
David Daniels & Irwin
from Portsmouth LxGR,
Patricia Booth from
Lutterworth • RC Soley
from Redditch
Sarah D’Souza & Crystal
from Chippenham L,
Yvonne Kidd from Solihull
• Mr & Mrs Wyatt from
Leamington Spa
Margaret Hill & Ollie from
Swanage GRxL, Susan
Orrill from Nuneaton • VJ
Addison from Rugby
Ian Morris & Gunner
from Portsmouth GRxL,
George Odell from
Chelmsford • Mr & Mrs
Lockley from Leamington
Spa
Margaret Salt & Tish
from Romsey L, Elaine
Clydesdale from Stirling •
Peter & Christina Clinton
from Hinckley
Peter Sheath & Innis from
Southampton LxGR, Mark
Flannagan from Solihull •
RC Soley from Redditch
Sue White & Mai from
Portsmouth L, Val Rowe
from Stafford, Madeline
West from Heath Hayes
• Sarah Stanley from
Rugby
Michael Wilkins & Pebble
from Trowbridge L,
Margaret Rhodes from
Solihull • Sandra Boden
from Rugeley
Surrey and West Sussex
Glenn Baldock & Arny
from Epsom L, Diane
Page from Clacton-onSea
Andrew Emmett &
Tasmin from Guildford
GR, Kathleen Mason
from Peterborough •
Sarah Douglas from
Bromsgrove
Philip Indge & Lester from
Surbiton GR, Mary Duffy
from London
Linda Lovatt & Kane from
Croydon GRxL, Nikki
Rodwell from Tunbridge
Wells • Victoria Milligan
from Henley-in-Arden
Karen Matson & Wayne
from Egham FCRxGR,
Beverly Hill from
Gillingham, Sue Langdon
New Partnerships
from Longfield • Linda
Mallette from Worcester
Janet Raybould & Eva
from Horsham GRxFCR,
Richard Bailey from
Southampton • Mr & Mrs
Rogers from Bromsgrove
Meredith Vivian & Victor
from Great Bookham
L, Jean Beniston from
Bognor Regis
Gemma Williams &
Reggie from Redhill GRxL,
Christine Barlow from
Harlow, Maureen Osman
from Sevenoaks • AnnMarie & Kevin Meredith
from Kidderminster
Teeside, Durham and
North Yorkshire
Elaine Badrick & Jodi
from Pity Me GR, Gillian
Santos from Musselburgh
• Gill McDowell from
Holmfirth
Deborah Calvert
& Harvest from
Guisborough GRxL,
Daniel McKeeman from
Dunfermline • Nicola &
Ian Roberts from Craven
Arms
Luke Hewitt & Riva from
Durham LxGR, Morag
Thomson from Aberlour
• Sally Barsby from
Buckingham
Lisa Oram & Norton
from Spennymoor
LxGR, Caroline Horn
from Glasgow •
Carol McAteer from
Stourbridge
Louise Sutherland &
Amos from SaltburnBy-The-Sea GRxFCR,
Sarah Anderson from
Dunfermline • Julia Evans
from Bromsgrove
Paul Whiting & Iain from
Hartlepool LxGR, Betty
Brown from Melrose • RC
Soley from Redditch
Warwickshire
Simmone Gould &
Lyle from Solihull GRxL,
Joanne Catherine Smith
from St Helens, Gillian
Pay from Frodsham •
Mr & Mrs Hanson from
Coventry
Josie Head & Bruce
from Northampton
GRxL, Gillian Baggen
from Nuneaton •
Rebecca Jackson from
Kidderminster
Stephen Illidge & Vinny
from Chorley L, Steve Ball
from Coventry • Erica
Dowse from Coventry
Peter Keeley & Jet from
Hinckley L, Michael
Clifford from Neath
• Gail Winnett from
Birmingham
Ryan Kelly & Marley
from Nuneaton L, Hamid
Shadrokh-Cigari from
Birmingham
Tony Kimpton & Abba
from Lancaster LxGR,
Diane Godfrey from
Holcombe • Samantha
Reid from Chipping
Norton
Sandeep Leighs &
Venice from Leicester L,
Nicola Kynaston-Pearson
from Bampton
George McKay &
Woodie from Corby
GRxL, Melissa Allen from
Bristol • Mr & Mrs Taylor
from Coventry
Katie Meakin & Lance
from Coventry GRxL,
Gillian Sheppard from
Barnstaple • Sandra
Boden from Rugeley,
Angela Rattray & Ushka
(Oscar) from Solihull
LxGR, Iain Lonsdale from
Corsham • Pam Kimmins
from Birmingham
Jane Thompson & Jarvis
from Northampton GR,
Brenda Thomson from
Sutton Coldfield • Gill
McDowell from Holmfirth
West of Scotland
Isobel Brown & Betsy
from Thurso GR, Sandra
Brand from Laurencekirk
Michael Davies & Sharpe
from Inverness LxGR,
Patricia M Brown from
Dundee, Neil & Carol
Wood from Dundee • Mr
& Mrs Walker from Sutton
Coldfield
Joyce Macpherson &
Queenie from Glasgow
GR, Grace Brock from
Dunfermline • Elizabeth
Henry from Leamington
Spa
Angela McInnes & Kai
from Glasgow GR, Peggy
& Tony Thornton from
Tillicoultry
Brian McRoberts & Davey
from Glasgow GR, Carol
Bruce from Prestwick •
Mr & Mrs Clarke from
Brierley Hill
Pamela Moore & Eddy
from Glasgow L, Rachael
Cumming from Brechin
• Mr & Mrs Platt from
Solihull
Diane Pender & Marvel
from Hawick GR, Irene
Dreghorn from Glasgow
• Joyce Bartlett from
Rugby
West Yorkshire
Jane Brown & Hazel
from Hebden Bridge
GRxL, Helen Plowman
from York • Nicola & Ian
Roberts from Craven
Arms
Pauline Macdonald
& Alex from Leeds
GR, Peter Hulme from
Northwich
Peter Melling & Zimba
from Halifax GRxL, Dennis
Harrison from Rotherham
• G Tookey from Warwick
Norma Robertson &
Paige from Leeds L, Lynn
Maule from Nottingham
• Sandra Boden from
Rugeley
Mandy Schofield
& Wendie from
Bradford GRxL, Karen
Dawn Reynolds from
Altrincham • Mr & Mrs
Coughlan from Rugby
Paula Webster & Venice
from Keighley L, Susan
Lendrem from Hartlepool
• Janet Ansell from
Kenilworth
Angela Wright & Della
from Pontefract GRxL,
Chris Howes from
Altrincham • Adele
Sullivan from Banbury
Worcester
Stephen Beard & Astra
from Hereford GRxFCR,
Alison Jordan from
Stafford • Julia Evans
from Bromsgrove
Claire Belham & Zoe
from Droitwich L, Mr &
Mrs Dodds from Kirkcaldy
• Jean Short from Milton
Keynes
Scott Bishop & Watson
from Birmingham GR,
Norma Stent from Bath
• Mr & Mrs Powell from
Coalville
Paul Farmer & Grant
from Gloucester LxGR,
Mary Robertson from
Birmingham • Pauline
Goodrich from Leicester
Lee Greatbatch & Darby
from Worcester GRxL,
Diana Molcher from
Kettering • Trudy Evans
from Coventry
Sharon Jones & Rosey
from Kempsey GR,
Tracey Woodhouse from
Weston-Super-Mare,
Isobel Cooper from
Bristol • H Ablett from
Kenilworth
Daniel Ryan McCarlie &
Larry from Hereford LxGR,
Bernadette Dornan from
Solihull • Mr & Mrs Warner
from Pershore
Paul Nicholls & Kinsey
from Birmingham GR,
Rachel Tobin from
Malvern • Hazel Cross
from Evesham
Eileen Poole & Jade
from Birmingham GRxL,
Christine Blandford from
Tavistock • Phil Revill from
Southam
David Vincent & Gilbert
from Evesham GRxL,
Matti Prow from Newton
Abbot • Mr & Mrs
Lockley from Leamington
Spa
Selena Williams & Sonny
from Gloucester GRxL,
Nicole Richards from
Birmingham • Molly
McDonnell from Warwick
Autumn 2011
partnerships
The guide dog
owners’ names in the
partnerships below were
missed from the Autumn
2011 edition.
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
35
New partnerships
Bedfordshire and Herts
Nikki Allan-Dan & Rita
from London• Emma
Handford & Odene from
Watford
Bristol
Colin Barnett & Volley
from Penzance•
Wendy Evans & Ingrid
from Exeter • Michael
Linford Stafford & Yuma
from Bristol • Rachael
Elizabeth WilliamsLocke & Keeley from
Bristol • Thelma Youd
& Drew from South
Gloucesterhire
Central London
Sue Bott & Faith from
London• Barry Hopcroft
& Marley from London•
Noula Insole & Jamie
from London• Lisa Keys
& Barney from London
• Christophe Lesieur &
Molly from London •
Larry McAspurn & Flax
from London• Artur
Ortega & Mercer from
London • Andrew
Palmer & Wickes from
London • Martin Roberts
& Vikki from Ipswich•
Lesley Royan & Tara
from Wantage• Teresa
Williams & Olive from
London
Cumbria and
Lancashire
Bob Clegg & Domino
from Burnley • Susan
Devine & Faldo from
Leyland • Gail Guest &
Yasmin from Leyland •
Kimberley Hetherington
& Cindy from Carlisle
• Carl Ibison & Piper
from Thornton-Cleveleys
• Dorothy Rimmer &
Vargo from Ormskirk •
Norman Seed & Patch
from Morecambe •
Derek Vaughan & Bonnie
from Penrith • Andrew
Wade & Macca from
Fleetwood
East Anglia
Kelly Kirk & Una from
Thetford • Merry Manley
36
& Kaiser from Lowestoft •
Siobhan Meade & Mac
from Great Yarmouth
• Teresa Skurek & Ned
from Kings Lynn • Jayne
Stone & Finley from
Great Yarmouth • Robert
Watson & Millie from Ely
East Midlands
Edwin Brown & William
from Grantham•
Mary Clark & Parker
from Boston • Alan
Crowther & Ellis from
Derby • Christopher
Fielding & Shadow from
Nottingham • Peter
Halford & Dibble from
Boston • Olive Pitt &
Faith from Rotherham •
Graeme Tranter & Odina
from Derby• Wilma
Tummond & Millie from
Chesterfield
East Scotland
Miles Graham Butcher
& Billy from Kirkcaldy
• Morag Denholm &
Urma from Bathgate•
Fiona Garner & Cally
from Denny• Eleanor
Jardine Conacher
Mason & Yasmin from
Alloa• Gordon Joseph
McNeil & Ryley from
Denny•William Duncan
Sharkey & Lily from
Aberdeen• Lee Ann
Stewart & Quaver
from Dunfermline•
Angela Wales & Uffa
from Glasgow• Pauline
Watson & Karlie from
Clydebank
Exeter
Rose Hewitt & Peter from
Paignton• Steven Hicks
& Robin from Redruth•
Donald Jackson &
Spirit from Paignton •
Rosie Keast & Yolande
from Plymouth• Adrian
Sparkes & Gloria from
Exeter • John Went &
Yvette from Exeter
Greater Manchester
Anthony Alfred Bolton &
Angus from Bolton• Beth
Rogan & Amber from
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
Manchester• Margaret
Anne Stockdale &
Karena from Darwen
Kent and East Sussex
Edward Brewer & Yozie
from Merstham
Sue Carden-Price & Jules
from Canterbury
Cindy Fendt & Kyle from
Deal
Anthony Jeffery &
Skipper from Sevenoaks
Lewis March & Barry from
Ramsgate
Ioanna Nomikoy & Elsie
from Sittingbourne
Merseyside
George Griffiths & Albert
from Crewe • Harry
Jones & Veda from Wirral
• Andrew Parkinson
& Farley from Crewe•
Peter Potter & Cooper
from Northwich • Mary
Simpson & Kay from
Liverpool
Northern Ireland
Kevin Gormley & Imogen
from Omagh• Amanda
Hanna & Questa from
Gilford • Vicky Kyle & Ivy
from Larne • Leonard
Makuch & Azra from
Enniskillen • Elaine Orwin
& Chaz from Bangor •
Helen Russell & Uschie
from Belfast • George
Sloan & Greg from
Newtownabbey
Northumberland &
Tyne and Wear
Joan Carr & Voss from
Ashington • Julie De
Paulle & Umber from
Blyth • Peter Duddy &
Luke from Wallsend •
Barbara Howe & Truffle
from Bedlington • Susan
Williamson & Neena from
Houghton-le-Spring
Sheffield
Rob Arrowsmith & Forrest
from Doncaster • Toni
Brown-Griffin & Hetty
from Tunbridge Wells •
Beryl Sharp & Quaver
from Barnsley
Shrewsbury
Stella Brough & Sherie
from Willenhall • Christine
Hancock & Teresa from
Wolverhampton • Andy
Lovell & Pippin from
Newcastle • Nicola
Wright & Lara from
Wolverhampton
Shires and London
Boroughs
Sally Davies & Chris
from Didcot • Graham
Henley & Rory from
Hayes • Karen Jones &
Henry from Thatcham •
Susan Mary Ross & Bryn
from Newport Pagnell
• Yvonne Souch & Tilly
from Witney
Alan Weaver & Betsy
from Milton Keynes •
Lena Welch & Texan
from Milton Keynes
South of Scotland
Jessica Anne Tuomela &
Glacier from Edinburgh
• Caroline Currie &
Travis from Sanquhar
• Patrick Duffy & Yoko
from Cumbernauld
• Edmund Dunlop &
Irenie from Prestwick •
Dakpa Gyaltsan & Chris
from Dumfries • Dianne
Theakstone & Eddy from
Gartcosh
Southampton
Freda Allen & Tish from
Southampton • Liz
Banbury & Katie from
Eastleigh • Julia Barry &
Isla from Basingstoke •
Linda Bowers & Yarna
from Poole • Anthony
Bristowe & Nimmo
from Bradford-on-Avon
• Malcolm Cripps &
Greg from Portsmouth
• Carolyn Exley & Finch
from Southsea • Ashley
Eden Guerin & Diesel
from Melksham •
Diana Mansfield & Katie
from Swindon • Rose
Perrett & Kenna from
Salisbury • Michelle
Waters & Bill from
Eastleigh
Breeding stock
Surrey and West Sussex
Michael Adams &
York from Morden •
David Keith & Dion
from Wallington •
Margaret Nutter &
Sharna from Lancing •
Robert A Privett & Kyra
from Epsom • Jeffrey
Stockwell & Quinta from
Guildford
Teeside, Durham and
North Yorshire
Tina Dodd & Smartie
from Scarborough •
Beryl Garnham &
Tammy from
Chester-le-Street
Karen Hamill & Paris
from Peterlee
Christine Kay & Sula
from Darlington
David Pritchard & Isaac
from Leyburn • Betty
Sullivan & Elni from
Middlesbrough • Dennis
Varley & Ward from
Middlesbrough •
Hilda Watts & Flora
from Hartlepool
Warwickshire
Benjamin Dickson &
Erwin from Leicester •
Vaughan Rees &
Waldo from Warwick
West of Scotland
Stephen Flett & Tyler from
Glasgow • Reverend
Robert Hetherington
& Tetley from Paisley •
Irene Love & Rilla from
Grantown-on-Spey • Joy
Roberts & Velvet from
Aviemore •
Rubina Shah & Kassie
from Glasgow • Agnes
Steel & Maisie from
Helensburgh
Barbara Whiting & Veda
from Hamilton
West Yorkshire
Hilary Adolfson & Trent
from Leeds •
Helen Davies & Tasmin
from Bradford •
Caroline Levitt & Nell
from Hebdon Bridge •
Christine Newcombe &
Miller from Paignton
Emma Oldfield & Yardley
from Wakefield • Rudy
Ruddock & Captain from
Leeds • David Walker &
Flora from Pontefract
Worcester
Doreen Butt & Kirima
from Cheltenham •
Patricia Chapman &
Anabel from Stroud •
Jim Doyle & Wilt from
Broadway • Joanne
Doyle & Olive from
Birmingham • Marie
England & Brittany from
Hereford •
Clare Finnimore & Rhian
from Cirencester •
Ashley Greenaway &
Amos from Birmingham
• Dianne Harrington &
Kaylea from Tewkesbury
• Michael Jones &
Garner from Droitwich •
Carole Smith & Tommy
from Evesham • Ray
Smith & Hedley from
Broadway • Michael
Stayte & Duggie from
Cheltenham • Philip
Taylor & Garth from
Gloucester
Breeding stock
Elcie • 07.11.11 • GR •
Bitch • Mrs S BradburnVazquez from Stafford •
Mrs P Hall from Bideford
Floss • 08.12.11 • L •
Bitch • Mrs B Wilkinson
from Pershore • Mr & Mrs
RJ Widdows from York
Fran • 07.11.11 • L •
Bitch • Mrs B Wilkinson
from Pershore • Mr &
Mrs Coker from North
Berwick
Fudge • 07.11.11 • L •
Bitch • Mrs B Wilkinson
from Pershore • Mrs J
Wright from Romford
Jem • 07.11.11 • GRxL
• Bitch • Mrs C Bloxham
from Worcester • Mr CG
Herbert from Glasgow
Jem • 08.12.11 • L •
Bitch • Mrs S Higgins from
Milton Keynes • Mrs J
Thomas from Tillicoultry
Jodi • 17.11.11 • L •
Bitch • Mrs S Higgins from
Milton Keynes • Mrs M
Whatley from Dartford
Johnson • 17.11.11 • L
• Stud • Mrs S Higgins
from Milton Keynes •
Miss D Reynolds from
Bromsgrove
Kallie • 05.10.11 • L •
Bitch • Mr D Yarwood
from Birmingham • Mr GJ
McGregor from Tayport
Keeley • 05.10.11 • L •
Bitch • Mr D Yarwood
from Birmingham • Mrs D
Molcher from Kettering
Kessler • 05.10.11 • L •
Stud • Mr D Yarwood
from Birmingham •
Miss A Durbidge from
Arbroath
Kirsty • 07.11.11 • L •
Bitch • Mr D Yarwood
from Birmingham • Mrs S
Nason from Southam
Lola • 05.10.11 • L • Bitch
• Mr & Mrs Mercer from
Warwick • Mr B Roberts
from Walsall
Lucy • 05.10.11 • L •
Bitch • Mr & Mrs Mercer
from Warwick • Mrs H
Gray from Westhill
Molly • 08.12.11 • L •
Bitch • Mrs M Lawrence
from Kidderminster • Mr
& Mrs G Danskin from
Edinburgh
Sugar • 07.11.11 • L •
Bitch • Mrs R Bagley from
Coventry • Mr S Calder
from Bury St Edmunds
Vasco • 07.11.11 • GR •
Stud • Mrs S BradburnVazquez from Stafford
• Mr S Farren from
Sittingbourne
Westley • 07.11.11 • L •
Stud • Mrs R Bagley from
Coventry • Mr D Yale
from Gillingham
Willow • 07.11.11 • L •
Bitch • Mrs R Bagley from
Coventry • Ms K Henry
from Birmingham
Zoe • 05.10.11 • GRxL
• Bitch • Mrs CE Turton
from Solihull • Mr WD
Macdonald from West
Calder
Zoe • 07.11.11 • LxGR •
Bitch • Mr & Mrs DM Field
from Warwick • Mrs P
Parker from Cambridge
Zukie • 07.11.11 • LxGR •
Bitch • Mr & Mrs DM Field
from Warwick • Mrs N
Neesam from Livingston
Brood stock focus
Volunteer John Marchant from Milton Keynes got
in touch to share some photos of guide dog mum
Peg and her pups. John said: “Fortunately, we
have not lost any and as far as I know they are all
well and healthy... the first two weeks are relatively
easy and then the fun starts!”
See John’s photos at www.facebook.com/
guidedogsUK.
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
37
Competition
Spring quiz
Test your knowledge with this quiz, themed to the Spring season
and its Easter festivities and win a £10 Marks & Spencer voucher.
1.
2.
3.
Which event marks the
beginning of spring in the
Northern Hemisphere?
4.
Which American holiday is
similar to a Swedish Easter
Week tradition?
5.
Which ancient monument
was built facing the sunrise
of the Vernal Equinox?
6.
What is “spring fever”?
7.
On what day is Easter held
every year?
Where did the tradition of
wearing new clothes on
Easter Sunday originate?
On 15 April the Titanic
sank but in what year did
this occur?
8.
What is the birthstone for
April?
9.
The narcissus plant is
otherwise known by which
popular name?
10. Why are bunnies and
eggs symbols of Spring
and Easter?
11.
Congratulations to Mrs MG Burke of Llandudno and Tony Preston of Ipswich who were our winners for
the Winter quiz. Visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/forward for the answers to the Winter quiz.
Caption competition
Thanks to Jan Cox for this cheeky photo of Pelham,
who didn’t quite make it as a guide dog but still has
a sense of humour about it!
Send your caption to us by 16 May 2012. The prize is
a £10 Marks & Spencer voucher.
To enter, please email us at forward@guidedogs.org.
uk or send your answer on a postcard along with
your name and address to Forward, Guide Dogs,
Hillfields, Burghfield Common, Reading,
RG7 3YG.
The Winter caption competition winner was
Laura Cluxton of Tullibody, Alloa, whose winning
caption was: “This team’s gone to the dogs.”
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
38
Forward Magazine | Spring 2012
is allowed per envelope. 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 16 May 2012.
As you step into Spring become
part of a life changing adventure
Sponsor a puppy from just £1 a week
Please call 0870 240 6993 or text CUTE to 84555
www.sponsorapuppy.org.uk
‘Like’ our Facebook page to see
more cute guide dogs in training
www.facebook.com/SponsorAPuppy
www.guidedogs.org.uk/go
Start your amazing
journey today and take
on the challenge of a
lifetime...
Dog Sledding
in Sweden
Sun 17 March Sat 23 March 2013
Deposit £595
Balance £595
Sponsorship £2,930
To See all our overseas challenges visit: www.guidedogs.org.uk/overseas
We’re here between 9am-6pm and we’d love to hear from you
Call: 0845 6006787 Email: events@guidedogs.org.uk
Registered charity in England and Wales (209617) and in Scotland (SC038979)