Page 28 - Online Spring 2022 Newsletter

Our Friend Eleanor

By Jenny Naylor

Some of you will remember Eleanor Fennah, from
the 1970s and 80s. Eleanor lived in North Wales.
Her first Keeshond was Cal, a Waakzaam puppy.
On losing him they desperately wanted another so
in stepped Neradmik Hobo and it was through him
that we became friends.
Eleanor wrote a poem about Hobo and had it published
in the Autumn 1984 Newsletter.

At a garden party organized by Mary Smyth (Waakzaam) in Derbyshire we
arrived at her home and parked the car. We took our two Keesies out of
the back. Close behind and parking alongside us was a family with a Keesie
in the back. They took the dog out of the car and I asked the name of the
dog. Imagine our surprise when the little boy told me it
was Hobo!
"Oh", I said to his mum, "you must be
Eleanor! We loved your poem!" She
was so pleased we'd enjoyed it and that
was the beginning of a great friendship.

After Hobo, Eleanor went on to own a
Gavimir puppy, Sunny. She gave a home
to Charlie, a puppy from our first litter,
whose owners had just produced a child
and no longer wanted the dog.
For one of my birthdays Eleanor gave me a
beautiful plate decorated with a picture of
Sunny and Charlie.

Eleanor's last Keesie was a Brykin puppy
from Jeane Waller. Our two families spent lots of happy
times together over the years.
Sadly Eleanor died unexpectedly in 2001. We miss her.
Without the Newsletter we may never have met. Audrey
Woodiwiss was the editor back then. Now we have Kit
doing a brilliant job of keeping us all in touch -
especially important for those of us unable to get to the
shows. Thank you so much, Kit. Finding a friend
through the Newsletter is a really nice way to find a
friend!
I think Eleanor would be happy having her poem published
again. So, in her memory, and for everyone to enjoy, here
is Eleanor's poem:
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