Committee Biographies

Position on the Committee:  Chairman & Health Representative

Year Joined the Committee:  c. 1992

Proudest Moment in Goldens:  Passing the Show Gundog Working Certificate in 2019

Other Interests:  Have passport, will travel – preferably to see wildlife – the Galapagos, Botswana and Madagascar being highlights

What do you enjoy most about the Club?  Hard to limit it to one thing as I enjoy all aspects of our activities

Who would you most like to meet?  David Attenborough

Something you might not know about me:  I lived in New Zealand for 12 years

Position on the Committee:  Vice Chairman & Puppy List Co-Ordinator

Year Joined the Committee:  2005

Proudest Moment in Goldens:  Making up a full champion in style with BIS at the GRC in 2001 – Ch Ousevale Lady Eleanor JW

Other Interests: Cooking, gardening, travel, walking

What do you enjoy most about the Club? The cameraderie and being part of a really lovely committee who are there for you during the best and worst times

Who would you most like to meet?  Mrs Charlesworth

Something you might not know about me:  I was secretary of the Silsoe & Dist Young Farmers Club.  In a similar vein I’ve judged sheep, cattle and goats!    I was also part of the Young Farmers Amateur Dramatic Society.

Position on the Committee:  Secretary, Member of the Working Sub-Committee and favourite position assisting with co-ordination of our Jewel in the Crown … The Rally

Year Joined the Committee: 2012

Proudest Moment in Goldens: After many years serving as a member of the committee, to take on the role of club secretary is without doubt my proudest moment. To be given the role amongst such esteemed company on our committee is truly humbling and an incredible honour.

Other Interests:  I love my job as an early years teacher and my ‘little people’ continue to inspire me every day.  I am also heavily involved in guiding and have never left the organisation since joining as a brownie and in 2019 was proudly awarded the accolade of District Commissioner

What do you enjoy most about the Club?  Being part of a truly wonderful committee who I am proud to call my friends. 

Who would you most like to meet?  Impossible, but Olive Baden Powell

Something you might not know about me: Despite loving my career path, whilst growing up my biggest ambition after realising that I was never going to make it as one of ‘Charlie’s Angels’ was to be a member of the British Airways cabin crew, I had the application forms completed and still have them just in case. However, I can still do the emergency evacuation just in case it’s ever needed at a show.

Position on the Committee:  Breed Education Representative, Judges Sub-Committee, Tea & Cake Maker at events

Year Joined the Committee:  2011 (I think)

Proudest Moment in Goldens:  Dog CC at Leeds 1999

Other Interests:  My beautiful grandchildren

What do you enjoy most about the Club?  The camaraderie of a fantastic committee

Who would you most like to meet?  Billy Connolly

Something you might not know about me:  I went to school with a Bay City Roller and an Olympic gold medallist!

Position on the Committee:  “I’m just an ordinary member – no talents” (Ed – come on Di that’s not true!)

Year Joined the Committee:  2009

Proudest Moment in Goldens:  Giving my first set of Tickets at WELKS in 2015 and our BOB Sh Ch Ritzilyn Doctor Pepper JW doing Gundog Group 4

Other Interests:  Knitting for charities – mainly neo-natal babies

What do you enjoy most about the Club?  The Rally and Funday, the Best Golden Retriever Event of the Year!

Who would you most like to meet?  Lionel Richie

Something you might not know about me:  I was a Wild Biker Child…..!

Position on the Committee:  Unofficial Club Food Taster

Year Joined the Committee: 2009

Proudest Moment in Goldens:  Watching (my wife) Di give her first set of Tickets

Other Interests:  Eating

What do you enjoy most about the Club?  The friendly banter with the exhibitors at our shows

Who would you most like to meet? The Hairy Bikers

Something you might not know about me: I hate plain chocolate and sprouts

Position on the Committee:  General Committee Member

Year Joined the Committee:  2008

Proudest Moment in Goldens:  Becoming Secretary of this Club

Other Interests:  Sports for the less able (my husband Terry and I were instrumental alongside other families when the Spastic Society became Scope in creating CP Sport)

What do you enjoy most about the Club?  The Committee!  What can I say as former Secretary – Simply the Best!

Who would you most like to meet?  I think I would go with Richard Gere (have you seen him as the silver fox in the hotel film set in India (Marigold?).  I’m still dribbling promise!

Something you might not know about me:  I spent an evening with Bill Nighy in the Albert Hall at a Van Morrison Concert – charming man

Position on the Committee:  To do as I’m told

Year Joined the Committee:  2007 (I think)

Proudest Moment in Goldens:   I’ve been lucky enough to have quite a few proud moments with all my dogs but the stand out one was winning the Bitch CC at Crufts in 2015 with my beautiful Orla – and then going on to make her up a full champion.

Other Interests:  Golf and Donkeys

What do you enjoy most about the Club?  The superb committee I work with, who all work so hard to keep the club running with our wonderful events

Who would you most like to meet?  Tiger Woods

Something you might not know about me:  I love an adrenalin rush, having spent a week cage diving with Great White Sharks out in the Pacific Ocean, skydived and bungee jumped on numerous occasions

Position on the Committee:  Member of the Baking Team

Year Joined the Committee:  2020

Proudest Moment in Goldens:  Being awarded 1st Place in the Post Graduate Bitch class with my gorgeous Dora under Frank Kane at Crufts 2019.  Also, Dora winning the RCC at SWGRC when she was 9 months' old

Other Interests:  Showing and enjoying our miniature donkeys and baking cakes

What do you enjoy most about the Club?  Such a welcoming and friendly Club

Who would you most like to meet?  A Millionaire

Something you might not know about me:  I have holidayed in a Convent in New York

Position on the Committee:  Membership Secretary

Year Joined the Committee:  2021

Proudest Moment in Goldens:  I have been very fortunate to have had a lifetime commitment to wonderful family of goldies and have been proud of them all. However, when I retired 2 1/2 years ago Tilly joined the ‘family’ and I decided to start showing and we have been learning the ropes together. My proudest moment was qualifying and showing Tilly at 2020 Crufts. I was a bundle of nerves whilst she took it all in her stride!

Other Interests:  Gardening, cooking, swimming and walking the dogs

What do you enjoy most about the Club?  How very welcoming and friendly all the Committee Members are and what a great sense of humour and fun everyone has

Who would you most like to meet?  Monty Don

Something you might not know about me: I used to run a Brownie Pack in Chelmsford, great fun

Position on the Committee:  Field Trial Secretary

Year Joined the Committee:   I have known Golden Retrievers all my life and was involved in the first Club events, my parents being founding members.  I have never served on the committee but am part of the working sub-committee

Proudest Moment in Goldens:  1) Our 4 SGWC’s, one of which was achieved whilst Don was in Papworth undergoing heart surgery – I didn’t know which to be more worried about!  2) Qualifying for Crufts twice – that may seem small beer to some but if you only enter single figures of shows a year and only one Ch. Show it puts a different perspective on it.  3) Leading a field trial with Bryanstown Ballinacor, Tealcreek Ted Corrigan of B. and Kailzie Una of B. on 3 different occasions – you’ll have to take the word of the onlookers for that as we never made it to the awards!

Other Interests:  Cooking, gardening and photography, reading, writing but no, not ‘rithmatic!

What do you enjoy most about the Club?  I love that we are a Club that is prepared to give its members stepping stones to achieve, whether it’s the fun dog show at the rally or the Apple Tree Training Day – we recognise that everyone has to start somewhere

Who would you most like to meet? (Nobody currently springs to mind!)

Something you might not know about me: I was a keen ballroom dancer years’ ago and began taking my medal exams

Position on the Committee:  Working Test Secretary/Rescue & Rehoming Officer

Year Joined the Committee:  Second Tour of Duty (2020)

Proudest Moment in Goldens:   There are quite a few. However, the two that spring to mind are plucking up the courage to enter my first working test, the ECGRC Novice Dog/ Novice Handler, with my very first Golden Retriever, Bruce, and winning it and my very first Field Trial win with my once in a lifetime dog, Mouse.

Other Interests:  Photography, shooting and generating Excel spreadsheets to manage my life

What do you enjoy most about the Club?  The members of the Committee and the general inclusiveness of the Club

Who would you most like to meet?  The Photo Journalist and War Photographer Don McCullin

Something you might not know about me:  My two nicknames.  At school I was known as Chesh (as in Cheshire Cat as I always used to smile) and, after leaving the dizzy height of Academia and getting my first real world job, as Doctor Dolittle (and it wasn't due to my ability to talk to the animals!)

Position on the Committee:  Member of the Working Sub-Committee,  stewarding at field trials, also setting up shows with Kevin and stewarding the fun dog show at the rally

Year Joined the Committee:  1993/4 (And founder member of the Club)

Proudest Moment in Goldens:  Meeting Shirley in the show ring at Hemel Hempstead

Other Interests:  Clay shooting

What do you enjoy most about the Club?  The company

Who would you most like to meet?

Something you might not know about me:  I was a fireman on the railway in the late 1950’s.  I also bred a full Champion – Camrose Gay Delight of Sladeham.  I won the BCC at the GRC Ch Show at Sandford-on-Thames in 1964 under Joan Tudor with my own Gay Time of Sladeham.  She also won the RCC at Leeds Ch Show.

Position on the Committee:  Magazine Editor/Web

Year Joined the Committee:  2014 (from memory)

Proudest Moment in Goldens:   It has to be my show and working successes with my dear departed Watson, including our first CC, winning our class at Crufts, BIS at the GRC Open show and passing his Show Gundog Working Certificate

Other Interests:  I play the violin and viola in a string quartet and my local orchestra

What do you enjoy most about the Club?  It’s a privilege to be part of such a supportive, knowledgeable friendly committee – and several of them bake very nice cakes!

Who would you most like to meet?  , Rishi Sunak (to thank him for bailing me out when he did), closely followed by the hairdresser this coming Monday…

Something you might not know about me:  In 2003 I met the Queen in my capacity as Secretary of the Havering Concert Orchestra.  At the time I was on jury service at the Old Bailey – but the judge kindly suspended the whole trial for an afternoon enabling me to carry out my civic duty!

Position on the Committee:  ‘Tech guy’ when needed

Year Joined the Committee:  2017

Proudest Moment in Goldens:  My lovely Cadhla gaining her first CC

Other Interests:  Learning languages (currently Spanish), dog training, travelling, singing in the car (on the way to dog shows)

What do you enjoy most about the Club?  The People – we can always have a laugh!  And the fact that we care about the breed

Who would you most like to meet?  Jim Morrison

Something you might not know about me:  I used to sing in a rock band and write lyrics

Position on the Committee:  tba!

Year Joined the Committee:  2023 (after several previous stints)

Proudest Moment in Goldens:  There have been many occasions when I have been proud of our dogs but I think I must choose Crufts 2006, when our darling Ch Chinnordale Kirriebillie was awarded the dog Challenge Certificate.

Other Interests:  Gardening, cooking and enjoying life with a crazy working Cocker Spaniel who works so well next to the Goldens on a shoot day

What do you enjoy most about the Club?  I'm looking forward to being part of this wonderful, hard working committee, with its caring friendly people

Who would you most like to meet? The Dog Listener, Jan Fennell

Something you might not know about me:   One of my first jobs was for British Airways as a “Trolly Dolly”