espite the British monarchy continuing to exert its influence over ex-colonies who chose to retain their allegiance to the queen as the Commonwealth emerged out of the ashes of
Empire, changes in attitude characterised the ‘Swinging Sixties’ as the decade has become known. A reduction in world influence more than compensated for by the country’s emergence as a trend setter in such diverse areas as fashion, music, architecture, and attitudes which introduced a more emancipated outlook centred on a youth culture. The removal of restriction which had dominated the 1950s encouraged investments in a variety of public works, including the establishment of an embryonic motorway system, and as family incomes, leisure, and expectations increased a family car and annual holiday ceased to be the exception.
Change could also be detected in the canine world, although its primary influence remained in the hands of the more experienced. The large commercial kennel, so popular during the 1920s and 30s, all but disappeared, to be replaced by a large number of small family run establishments who looked on showing as a sport or hobby rather than an income source. Improvements in communications encouraging these new fanciers to engage at all levels of the canine world sending entries on an upward spiral.
