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Dog World news archive - September 2008

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A celebration of a full life

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04 Sep 2008 08:18
THE PARISH Church of St Mary at Kempsey, near Worcester, was full to capacity for the memorial service to the British dog world’s best known figure, Terry Thorn, who died on July 16 at the age of 73 after a hard fought battle against cancer, writes Simon Parsons.
The respect and affection in which Britain’s leading dog judge was held was indicated by the distances many had come – including from Europe, Ireland and beyond.
Even the East African Kennel Club was represented.
Among the roughly 350 people present were the chairman, many other committee and staff members of the Kennel Club, and especially members of the Crufts team.
The president of the Irish KC and representatives of countless championship and open show societies and breed clubs, all of whom would surely have had Terry as a judge some time over the past 30 years were also present.
Fellow judges, the press, traders, breeders and exhibitors and even two assistance dogs joined his widow Zena, family and close friends for a service which celebrated a life lived to the full and a man cut down at the height of his powers.

Highlights

It would be impossible even to begin to mention them all but I could not help but recall highlights of Terry’s judging career by seeing Betty Munt there, to whom he had awarded his first BIS, and Osman Sameja, who he had given BIS at Crufts.
A number of those attending had paid tribute the previous day to another major figure of the dog world, Leonard Pagliero at his funeral.
The service for Terry was led by the Rev Peter Holzapfel and the chosen hymns all reflected Terry’s love of animals – not just dogs, but horses and birds in particular – All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Creatures of our God and King and Morning has Broken.
Two touching songs were performed by Pekingese enthusiast Professor David Flynn.
Nine friends, all well known to the dog people present, gave their own personal tributes to Terry, touching on different aspects of his character, but all remarking on his courtesy, his professionalism as a judge and his ability to get on with everyone, from the leading international figures in the dog world to people just starting out.
Mick Horan mentioned Terry’s numerous other sporting interests, not least his love of racehorses and Greyhound racing.
Terry was best known as owner of Amrullah, ‘the least successful racehorse of all time,’ but he had an interest in a number of others which did rather better.
Among sporting figures Mick has known were Bobby Moore, Lester Piggott and Sebastian Coe and Terry would not have been out of place in this company, Mick said.
Norman Ziman briefly outlined Terry’s successes as a breeder and exhibitor of Salukis before he turned to judging and amusingly explained how they had first met when Terry needed grazing land for his two donkeys.
Norman mentioned Terry’s membership of the Connaught Lodge and movingly told us how he himself had gained strength during his own battle with cancer from Terry’s fortitude and unfailing cheerfulness throughout his ordeal.
Jeff Horswell said that everyone regarded Terry as a friend.
As a judge he was a role model for all, full of wise words and advice. He joked that Terry had invented a new breed, the ‘yours,’ as in “Bring out yours, madam.”
He had helped so many people progress in the dog world as was evident in the countless tributes that had been received.
“Leave it with me,” Terry would say, and you always could.
Warwick Winston had lived near the Thorns for many years and told us of the happy journeys he and Terry had shared to London, and enjoyable evenings at meetings of the Lodge. He emphasised what wonderful company Terry always was, how kind he and Zena had been when Warwick’s wife had died and his bravery during his final illness.

Cosmopolitan

Terry was a true cosmopolitan, and the dog scene outside Britain was represented by Dr Paolo Dondina who said they had a lot in common, notably an artistic and romantic attitude towards life. He passed on a tribute from FCI president Hans Muller who stressed what an ideal ambassador Terry had always been for Britain.
To the international dog showing community, ‘Terry was God for us,’ said Paolo – and the vicar assured us He would not be offended by the comparison.
Bill Moores gave a canine journalist’s angle, stressing Terry’s writing which was as immaculate as his appearance, his polished style and promptness in supplying his critiques.
He recalled Terry’s fondness for practical jokes – as when he sent an ambulance round to old mate Harry Jordan’s ring and when he ‘embellished’ one of Herbert Essam’s critiques.
Terry understood that dog shows are kept going by those who went home empty-handed and always showed equal respect to every exhibitor.
In a topical reference to the dog world’s recent troubles, Bill suggested we could do worse that think how Terry would have tackled this one – with his characteristic optimism, enthusiasm and determination to triumph over adversity.
Eric Smethurst recognised Terry’s courage in carrying out his final judging appointment at the National last year and outlined the various aspects of the KC with which he had been involved, including the judges working party and, of course, his all too brief chairmanship of Crufts, a show he had been connected with for many years.
He said Terry had left a profound influence on many aspects of the KC work which really mattered, regarding judges in particular.

‘Jack the lad’

He did not ignore the ‘Jack the Lad’ aspect of Terry’s personality but stressed what an enjoyable person he was to be with, with his generosity of mind and lack of edge.
He recalled the occasion when for once Mark Hutchings had got his own back on Terry as a practical joker, bringing a French girl to Crufts who pretended that Terry was her father.
Terry and Zena had made a formidable team, Eric said, and it was tragic that their 20th anniversary would have fallen on the day he was cremated.
Keith Nathan talked about Terry’s genuine warmth and helpfulness – not only had he achieved all he had set out to do in the dog world but he had then assisted so many others in ascending the ladder.
In his capacity as a show secretary he had often called on Terry for advice, which was always prompt, detailed and pertinent, he said.
Finally Marion Spavin described Terry as her soulmate, sharing the same sense of humour, and she had us all in stitches as she read out yet another of Terry’s jokes in the form of a letter claiming she’d agreed to give a good home to a totally untameable rescue dog – a happy note on which to end this celebration of a full life.

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