ike many, my interest in the Collie’s development and breeding lines stemmed from a desire to learn more about my own stock. A curiosity first kindled by my
perceived likeness between Beulah’s Nightvictorious, as
portrayed in Margaret Osborne’s ‘The Collie’, and our
beautiful Emma. In attempts to discover whether
Nightvictorious had any influence over Emma’s ancestry
I admit to making rather a nuisance of myself, with
appeals to various kennel owners. Just as my efforts were
running out of steam, I acquired a retiring enthusiast’s collection of Stud Book, and Breed Record Supplement Rough Collie records for the period 1925 to 1979, giving my research the additional boost it required.
These records quickly became known, and I was increasingly asked to help with research. Audrey Chatfield being one of the earliest to request assistance after Miss Osborne’s health began to deteriorate, and for many years I supplied pedigrees for the ‘International Collie Handbook’s ‘Dogs of the Past’ feature, abandoned only after the publication of ‘International Rough Collie Pedigrees’. Requests for help continue to arrive from all over the world, many of the more interesting assignments entailing extensive involvement with breed club anniversary publications.
