Page 13 - 9 Spring 2023 Newsletter

Queen Mary, when 16 Keeshonds New start in England
crossed the Atlantic in style.
News of Mollie and Jere Collins
Miss Glover told me a sad tale of how appears again in the breed notes of
she had become separated from her 8th February 1952 when it was
Hagerose of Evenlode. Apparently, announced that they had returned to
having arrived in the USA, she England and were settling in the
needed to return to England to sort Salisbury area.
out permits and other business to
enable her to return long term. But They soon acquired a dog puppy and
war broke out and it was impossible naturally returned to Miss Hastings’
to get back. Mollie did everything kennel. Evenlode Young Geron. (By
possible to get Barbara's belongings Int. Ch. Rayvalen Geron of Grovelyn.
back to her and apparently some ex Wren of Evenlode) was purchased
successfully made the perilous as a pet for their young son, Tom.
journey across the Atlantic, but Geron was registered in Tom’s name
others did not. Hagerose was never and shown by him with considerable
able to be reunited with her owner success. Whelped in 1951, he
and died in America. achieved his title in 1956. During the
same year he achieved two of his
Richard Fort had been promoted to
President of ICI (New York) in 1938, tickets and several reserve CCs. As
but with the outbreak of war his Tom Collins was at school and Mollie
skills were needed by the British and Jere in America, Barbara Glover
Government and he joined missions handled Geron to his second CC at
charged with buying wartime supplies Bath under Leo C. Wilson. His third
from the US. He returned to the UK CC followed at Richmond under Miss
in 1941 and worked for the Ministry Cousins. Geron died of a heart attack
in 1965 and was greatly missed by
of Supply in London for the duration
of the war. He remarried in 1943 and all at Ven. He proved a useful stud
entered politics. and in addition to Vanderveer of
Vordon sired Ch. Rahida of Rhinevale.
Jere Collins was a dog enthusiast and
probably met Mollie through their Irene Tucker of the famous Vorden
joint hobby. Registration documents Kennel used Geron at stud on her Ch.
of the time showed him as co-owner Veraura of Vorden. Mollie Collins had
of some of the Van Sander dogs. The booked a bitch puppy from the litter
friendship must have blossomed as and requested the pup be registered
they married after the war. A smooth Vanderveer after a Dutch family
fox terrier man, Jere had one of the known to her. Vanderveer was to
leading kennels of them between the become the foundation bitch of the
wars. However, on marrying Mollie, Ven Kennel. Vanderveer proved to be
they were gradually phased out in not only a good showgirl, gaining her
favour of Keeshonds. He had a title in 1959, but also a valuable
Smooth Fox Terrier as a pet for a brood. She had two litters by Ch. Big
number of years, but always said that Bang of Evenlode, whose sire Young
he had married Kees and was content Tom was litter brother to Young
with them. Geron. The first whelped in 1960,
produced Ch. Berryvale Smug of Ven.

13