The Dog Show Joan D Carnall
My husband and I came to live in Spurstow in February 1978. Not long afterwards we were invited by the Rev. Timothy Atkins to attend the Beeston Castle Fete meeting. During the reading of the previous Minutes by secretary Rosemary Dulson of Wardle "someone" had suggested that it might be a good idea to include a "Dog Show" at the Fete.
I stupidly said that I would be willing to help whoever would be running it. To my horror Rev. Timothy got up, crossed over to me, handed me a small piece of paper and said "Perhaps you would like to run it." So that was how we came to have an Exemption Dog Show at Beeston Castle Fete.
At the same time my husband was asked to take over the running of the Book Stall from Mr & Mrs Alfred Smith who wished to retire after many years. Although he accepted and ran the Book Stall for many years, he was unable to do so that year as he took to his bed that Fete week very ill with shingles. After a long time he handed it over to Eric Wallington but still manages to assist each year.
Going back to the Dog Show, this was quite a difficult task for me, as being new to the area, I knew no-one. However Miss Churton was helpful at suggesting various people I might approach about getting posters (Michael Fowles), schedules (various sources), scout tent, there were rosettes to order, licence from the Kennel Club, prizes (many donated), then the late Mr Albert Stockton, our then Churchwarden, kindly donated a shield (AL Stockton Shield) to be held by the winner of the Best Pedigree Dog for one year. This of course had to be tracked down and returned each year.
I knew Mrs Hilda Gregory - Bakers of Tarporley slightly through the bakers shop and she kindly offered to judge our first show, and suggested one or two other judges for later shows until I got to know "dog people" when showing my own dogs about the county. She also brought Mr Ken Warburton of Tarporley to act as Steward, which he continued to do until my last show in 1993.
I approached Mrs Ros Cheshire and she gladly agreed to take over, along with her husband Roger acting as Steward, and a very good team they have made. I would like to think that this Exemption Dog Show (consisting of 4 Pedigree Classes under Kennel Club Rules and 6 Non-Pedigree Classes) brought many extra people and their friends to the Fete.
The only snag has been the exhibitor having to pay Castle entry fee plus the Dog Show entry fee. As this does not happen at other Exemption shows; it has meant that the Dog Show entry fee has had to stay low. It has all been great fun but hard work for one person on their own, but I wouldn't have missed it for anything and I have made so many friends.