Breed Notes for January 2003

Mark and I first met Maurice in the mid 1970’s. In those days there were a number of societies that held shows in Hanwell, West London often putting on classes for the breed, something which was less common in those days, as a result of which we often used to meet up at these shows. Over the years we got to know him well and spent many happy times at shows, in those days it seemed that we were all much more able to enjoy ourselves at a show, win or lose and of course we all hoped to win, we still managed to have a good time. Often it was Maurice who helped make the day more enjoyable with his mischievous sense of humour.

His first champion was Kenf’s Red Buttons, a pretty red and white bitch sired by Ch Inverdon Ganymede out of Gonmyn Nina Ricci at Kenf who was a direct descendant of Maurice’s foundation bitch Amber. Maurice was particularly proud of the success of his home bred Ch Gonmyn Inspiration, by Ch Caswell Principality out of Ablazzor Miss Pebbles at Gonmyn. This tri bitch had a successful show career here in the UK gaining CC’s at both Crufts and the Northern and Eastern Counties Papillon Club Championship Show before leaving the UK to go to Chie Ejima of the Art Etoile and Queen Bless Papillons in Japan. Inspiration proved to be not only a very successful show girl but an outstanding brood bitch and I think it is true to say that her progeny has helped the great success of the Art Etoile and Queen Bless Kennels. Quickly gaining her International and Japanese titles she produced some outstanding offspring and it was a daughter of hers that produced the PCA Specialty BIS and Westminster BOB Am Ch Queen Bless Success Story.

Circumstances were such that Maurice was unable to keep more than one or two dogs at any one time and as a result there were periods when he was absent from the ring, but he always retained a keen interest in what was going on in the Papillon World. For many years he was an Area Representative for the Parent Club and over the years was a great supporter of the Benevolent Fund often helping out when Papillons needed rehoming. Sadly he never achieved his ambition of awarding CC’s in the Breed, although certainly he was qualified to do so, and it would seem politics and personalities played some part in this. Sadly as always there were those too quick to pass judgement on others and at times things were far from easy for Maurice. To his credit, through the good times and the bad he retained that mischievous sense of humour but underneath I am sure that he was at times quite hurt.

I know many of us will mourn his passing, like others Mark and I were proud to call him our friend, he was always good company and I hope fervently he has found the peace and calmness which perhaps evaded him in life. Our condolences go to his family and we hope they will take comfort in knowing that we share their loss. The funeral will be held on Thursday 30 January at 2.30 p.m. at the North East Surrey Crematorium, Sutton, Surrey. Donations in his memory can be made to the Papillon (Butterfly Dog) Club Welfare Fund and can be sent to the Welfare Co-ordinator Eileen Roberts.

From the USA comes news that Virginia Newton has passed away at the age of 90 years.  Her Mariposa Papillons are of course well known throughout the world and Mariposa are to be found in almost every American and Many Canadian Champion pedigrees. Her Ch. Gowdy of Mariposa sired 87 Champion get, and I understand is still the breed's Top  Sire in the USA. I also read that every American and Canadian Best In Show Pap with one exception goes back to Gowdy. She was one of the post World War II pillars of the breed, in the USA and spent her life totally devoted to the breed. She is the author of THE PAPILLON PRIMER, a Club publication which was honoured by the Dog Writers' Association of America. She is survived by her daughter Esther, a Professor at the State University of New York and herself an author.to whom our condolences go.

January 2003