Windsor, the foundation years |
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The first Windsor Championship Show was held in 1951. It had no connection with the Championship Show held before the war and had no assets of any sort. Because a Championship Show had to be sponsored by an existing Society the Windsor Gundog Society acted as the parent body, but throughout their joint existence the funds of these two organisations were kept completely separate.
Mrs. Edwards, the first chairman, resigned from this office on moving away from the district in 1952. The chairmanship was taken over by the Earl of Northesk, an office he held until his death in 1964.
Mrs. Catherine Sutton was appointed secretary in January 1962 but stressed that she could not be responsible for the Championship Show and the Windsor Gundog Shows. It was agreed that permission be sought from the Kennel Club for these to become quite separate with their own individual committees and officers. Lord Northesk took this matter up with the Kennel Club and so Windsor Dog Show Society came into being with its own committee and officers.
On the death of Lord Northesk, Mrs M. C. Garrish took over as chairman with Group Captain Sutton as vice-chairman and show manager. In 1975 Mrs. Molly Garrish resigned as chairman and at a meeting in September the vice-chairman proposed that Dr. Esther Rickards be elected chairman. This was carried unanimously and Group Captain Sutton remained as vice-chairman.
It was a sad day for Windsor and the dog world in general when Dr. Rickards died early in 1977. She had seen Windsor Championship Show grow from a one-day to a two-day and eventually to a three-day show.
The above extract is adapted from Catherine G. Sutton’s book “Dog Shows and Show Dogs” published in 1980. Mrs. Sutton was secretary of the Society from 1962 until 1988. |