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"A
Bit of History"
by Jim Stewart.
Founder member and Vice Chairman.
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You
may wonder about the circumstances under which the Scottish
Border Terrier Club came into existence and when the Club was
formed. As a straightforward date does not fully answer the
question, I will therefore attempt to identify the critical
events leading to the Club in its present day form.
The Club's conception
was a straightforward affair whereas its birth was both difficult
and protracted. In the early and middle 1970's there was a growing
band of Border enthusiasts, mainly in Central Scotland, many of
whom turned out regularly at the local shows where the Breed was
scheduled (and often when not scheduled to compete in Any Variety
classes) and it was the friendships formed at this time which
gave rise to the idea of a breed club for Border Terriers in Scotland.
The prime movers in promoting this idea were John Fulton, the
Club's honorary president and the late Jenny Ritchie, both well
known in the Breed for their Woodneuk Border Terriers. |
| The first minuted
meeting was held on the 21st March 1976 in the Orange Hall in
Larkhall and the main business of that meeting was to agree to
go forward with the formation of a breed club for Border Terriers
in Scotland and elect an Interim President (Mr. John Fulton),
an Interim Vice President (Mr. Walter Gardner) and an Interim
Secretary/Treasurer (Mrs. Janet Russell). A note on the minutes
provides a flavour of the time: "Tea was provided by the
ladies and donations from those people partaking of tea amounted
to £3.381/2." The donor of the half pence has never
been revealed! The Club's application for registration was submitted
to the Kennel Club shortly after this meeting and was duly advertised
in the June issue of the Kennel Gazette. |
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The
next meeting took place on the 7th November 1976, again in Larkhall.
A Committee of 12 was elected and the proposed Club's Rules and
Regulations were discussed. Feelings ran high on certain aspects
of the proposed Rules and Regulations; however, agreement on their
content was reached at the meeting. Additionally, the meeting
was advised that, despite objections lodged following the advert
in the Kennel Gazette, the Kennel Club were in favour of the proposed
Club's registration continuing.
At the meeting on the 27th March 1977, considerable opinion was
expressed that there was little need for the proposed Club and
that Border Terrier owners' needs could be met for the time being,
by forming a Scottish branch of the Border Terrier Club. The doubts
remained and a vote was taken at the August 1978 meeting on whether
the registration process should continue or not. The vote went
for the process to continue.
However, interest in the Club waned as the process was beset by
communication problems with KC and between members and the loss
of Club data. The registration was eventually completed and in
a letter from the Kennel Club dated 16th January 1980, confirmation
was received that the Scottish Border Terrier Club had been added
to their register. But darker days were to follow and although
the Club had participated in matches with other dog clubs over
the preceding years, it was noted at the AGM on13th December 1981
that there had been no Club activities during that year. Additionally,
the Club had been fined by KC for failing to pay the Maintenance
of Title Fee and forward outstanding Annual Returns.
At the Club's AGM on 13th December 1981, two new Office Bearers
were elected, Dr. Arthur Sneeden as Chairman and Mrs Christine
Lindsay as Secretary/Treasurer and a list of possible activities
for the coming year was compiled. It seemed that the Club was
now re-energised and in November 1982 it held its first Open Show
in Kirkintilloch in conjunction with the West of Scotland Combined
Terrier Club (now the Terrier Club of Scotland). It was fitting
that the judge for that show was the Club President Mr. Walter
Gardner. The first Limit Show was held in the familiar venue of
Thornhill Community Centre, Falkirk in October 1982 with Mrs Elaine
Cuthbertson judging. The shows were supplemented by the introduction
of the annual members' rally, the annual social event and fund
raising activities. This most remarkable transformation continued
and culminated in the award of Challenge Certificates to the Club
for the first Championship Show in 1985.With the coming of Championship
Show status, the Club had matured and developed into the organisation
we know today. |
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