Page 11 - 9 Spring 2023 Newsletter

VEN

The story of a great kennel - Part one.

By Jane Saunders
The Ven Kennel was one of the most kennel maid at Evenlode met Mrs Fort
influential and successful of the post and this was to lead to a lifelong
war kennels but the story started friendship between Barbara Glover
back in the 1930s when as a young and Mollie which was to span two
married woman Mollie continents and 50
Collins first obtained years.
the breed. Mollie’s first
name was in fact Mary The beginnings
but for some reason
Mollie became the The following account of
name by which she was the first meeting
generally known. appeared in the May
1965 Keeshond Club
From my childhood newsletter Mollie wrote
recollections Mollie and the following in that
her husband Jere issue: “One spring
always showed great evening in 1932 I went
kindness and were a to see Miss Hastings
fount of knowledge to and her family and was
a Keeshond mad child. taken for a walk by her
We used to be given a down the fields with her
day off school to visit Keeshonds.
the large Southampton Mollie Collins The enchanting sight of
show on the common these fluffy white tails
opposite my grammar school. I would like bouncing rabbits disappearing
make straight for the dog show where into the dusk was one of the factors
Mollie and Jere were always to be which made me lose my heart to this
found on the benches with whatever charming breed. It ended up by my
Kees they were showing at the time. taking home with me two puppies.
A packed lunch stowed safely under Fuzzy and Buzzy by Miss Hastings’
the bench and I was in my element! imported Black Bock out of Orania.
They always had time for people and Fuzzy lived to be 17 years of age and
were prepared to share their ended her life with me in the USA”.
knowledge and expertise with others.
Put to Birtsmoreton Jon, Fuzzy
In the 1960s the Ven kennel was at produced Mollie's first show dog,
its height with a string of champions American champion Black Peter. In
owned and bred by Mollie resident at the same article Molly recalls her first
Ven. The real story of Mollie's club show at Tattersalls
addiction to Keeshonds started 30 Knightsbridge.
years before when as Mrs Richard ” I was the proud winner of a highly
Fort she visited Miss Hastings’ famous commended card which put me into
Evenlode kennel. A young student transports of delight until eaten by its

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