FORWARD: Autumn 2014
Guide Dogs presents the Autumn 2014 issue of Forward, the official Guide Dogs magazine.
Introduction
This document contains every part of the print version of Forward, and in the same order as that
used in the print edition.
Instructions
The list of contents following this paragraph uses hyperlinks within the titles – if you press enter
whilst the cursor is within the text of the article title you will be taken straight to the beginning of
that article. If you are using a mouse, press control and then right click on the title to use the
hyperlink.
To return to the contents use alt and left arrow, alternatively if your version of word does not
support this there is a hyperlink back to the contents at the end of each article.
All subheadings in articles are preceded with ++ if you would like to tab through an article by the
subheadings you can type ++ into the search and reach each heading by pressing enter.
Introduction
This document contains every part of the print version of Forward, and in the same order as that
used in the print edition.
Forward
The official Guide Dogs magazine Autumn 2014
Blue Peter - introducing Iggy puppy
Guide Dogs Week 2014 - find out how to join in the fun
Meet Ben, our youngest ever guide dog owner
Also inside:
 Guide Dogs - an exciting future ahead
 Puppy walking at school
 On the campaign trail
 And much more…
Contents
The contents, in order, are as follows:
Regulars - Welcome
Regulars - News
Regulars - View from the top
Looking ahead with our CEO
Regulars - Guide Dogs in the media
Highlights of our coverage
Features - Gearing up for Guide Dogs Week
It’s just round the corner
Features - Guide Dogs and Blue Peter
Iggy puppy inspires a new generation
Features - Pleased to meet you
Introducing Pete Osborne, Hull Mobility Team Manager
Features - Power to the puppy room
A great new partnership
Regulars - A day in the life of…
Ben, our youngest guide dog owner
Features - On the campaign trail
Building on our successes
Features - Guide Dogs - an exciting future ahead
Special feature
Features - Caped crusaders
Our Dogs Unite headline event
Features - Breaking down barriers
Guide Dogs’ partnership with South City College
Features - My Guide - growing in confidence
Building links in local communities
Features - Small changes, big difference
Taking care of our environment
Features - The Blind Drive challenge
An exciting day!
Features - Claire’s story
A heartwarming testimony
Features - Top marks for puppy Petal
A guide dog puppy goes to school
Features - Piper’s a popular puppy
Puppy walking in Jersey
People and dogs - Thank you to our supporters
People and dogs - In memory
People and dogs - We’ll never forget
Regulars - What’s on
Guide Dogs’ diary
Regulars - Letters and caption competition
Promotions
Contact details - a list of phone numbers and contact details
People and dogs - New partnerships
[Back to contents]
Welcome
++Editor’s welcome
Well, it’s been a pretty busy summer for everyone at Guide Dogs. We got off to a flying start in
June, with our headline Dogs Unite event at Queen Elizabeth Park in London. It was a great
success, bringing together hundreds of dogs and their owners to raise money for Guide Dogs you can read all about it on page 23.
Hot on the heels of Dogs Unite was another very special event: on 19 June we introduced the
world to Iggy, our Blue Peter puppy, featured on page 14. We’re all delighted that a new
generation of children are following Iggy’s progress and learning just what an amazing difference
she’ll one day make to a person who is blind or partially sighted.
Now we’re looking forward to an even busier autumn, with Guide Dogs Week just round the
corner. This year once again we’ll be asking everyone to Stand Out for Guide Dogs, helping to put
our work in the spotlight and spreading the message about our life-changing partnerships. It’s
going to be great fun and I can’t wait to see what inventive ways you all find to get involved.
Best wishes
Tracey Gurr
Included within this section is a photograph of Tracey Gurr.
++ The Team
Editor: Tracey Gurr
Editorial Line: 0118 9838811
Contributors: Lucy Llewelyn, Hannah Vickers, Rachael Smith, Hannah Robertson, Claire Devine,
James Kell.
Designed by: Guide Dogs
http://www.guidedogs.org.uk
Contributions: Send items to Forward at the Head Office address or e-mail
forward@guidedogs.org.uk. Unfortunately, due to the sheer volume of ideas we receive, we
cannot acknowledge every item. We reserve the right to edit or refuse. Forward is available in
Braille, large print, audio CD and online as audio and text files. It is also available as a PDF from
our website and in a range of languages - for this and mailing enquiries call 0870 2406993.
Founding Editor: The late Captain Nikolai Liakhoff MBE FRZS
Registered Head Office: The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, Hillfields, Burghfield Common,
Reading RG7 3YG
Tel: 0118 9835555
Fax: 0118 9835433
http://www.guidedogs.org.uk
E-mail: info@guidedogs.org.uk
(Copyright) 2010 Registered charity in England and Wales (209617) and in Scotland (SC038979)
Full colour advertising is available in Forward. For information on rates, publication dates and
circulation, please call 0845 3727330 or e-mail forwardadvertising@guidedogs.org.uk. Terms and
conditions apply.
Any products or services advertised in Forward by third parties are not in any way endorsed by
Guide Dogs and Guide Dogs shall not be responsible for the accuracy of any information
contained in such advertisements nor has it investigated or verified any of the information.
The front cover has a photograph of Ben with guide dog Logan.
The Guide Dogs logo is pictured on the top right hand side of the page, the logo is a blue shield
with the text “GUIDE DOGS” written in white, with a picture of a person walking a guide dog, also
in white.
[Back to contents]
News
++Talking Buses campaign - asking MP’s to hop on board
Over 2,000 people have taken part in our survey telling us about their bus travel experiences.
The results show there are still not enough buses with audio visual (AV) next stop and final
destination announcements. This is resulting in people missing their bus stops and preventing
people from getting around as independently as they’d like.
Next month we’ll be talking to politicians at the three main party political conferences about the
importance of Talking Buses. We’ll tell them about our survey responses and ask them to think
about their position on Talking Buses ahead of next year’s election. Keep up-to-date with our
party conference work on Twitter, Facebook and our website.
Included here is a photograph of a guide dog guiding a man off a bus.
++Campaign victory in Aberystwyth
Improvements are to be made to Aberystwyth Bus Station following a successful campaign
influenced by Guide Dogs Cymru. Blind and partially sighted people, including local guide dog
owners, said they felt at risk after Ceredigion Council redesigned the station as a shared surface where the footway and carriageway are at the same level - with poor colour contrast. An access
report by Guide Dogs strengthened the case and the council has agreed to make major changes.
Engagement Manager Andrea Gordon said: “This is very welcome news and puts a marker down
in Wales that says we mean business when we talk about campaigning for an inclusive
environment.”
Included here is a photograph of the shared space at Aberystwyth bus station.
++Text Santa to support Guide Dogs
Guide Dogs has been selected as one of the six beneficiary charities of ITV’s Text Santa appeal.
Text Santa, ITV’s annual charity fundraiser, will return in December 2014 to raise money and
awareness for six UK-based charities. The appeal has raised £15 million for charities since it
started in 2011.
Viewers will be encouraged to support our life-changing work with people who are blind or
partially sighted, and to attract as many donations as possible; Guide Dogs will receive a sixth of
the total raised. For more information, please visit http://www.textsanta.co.uk
Included here is a photograph of the logo, which reads: “TEXT SANTA (Registered), itv raising
funds for GUIDE DOGS”.
++National Breeding Centre - appeal for new Patrons
In three years we have bred over 4,400 puppies who will transform thousands of lives. Could you
help our National Breeding Centre do even more with an annual gift of £1,000? We’d love your
support - please call 0118 9838350 or e-mail karen.barns@guidedogs.org.uk
Included here is a photograph of two guide dog puppies.
++Blind Children UK launch a great success
On 27 May we launched Blind Children UK (formerly National Blind Children’s Society). As regular
readers will know, Guide Dogs joined forces with the children’s charity last year with the aim of
supporting many more of the UK’s 30,000 children and young people with sight loss, and their
families.
As part of the launch, we released new figures revealing that the number of children being
registered blind or partially sighted has increased by nine per cent since 2006. Our report was
taken up by national and regional media, with highlights including BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 5
Live and Sky News.
Included here is the Blind Children UK logo.
++Have you heard of Volunteer Voices?
We have a Volunteer Voices group in many of our mobility teams. These groups are made up of
different volunteers from the local team. Volunteers can give feedback to their Volunteer Voices
representative, which then goes to local and national teams, including Executive Board, where
relevant. If you want to have your say or find out who your local Volunteer Voice representatives
are, visit http://www.guidedogs.org.uk for details of your local team.
Included here is a photograph of two volunteers on a street collection. The text reads: “You
spoke, we listened – Volunteers making a difference”.
++International travel guide
Guide Dogs has launched a website to help guide dog and other assistance dog owners travel
abroad with confidence. It provides general advice and guidance to help assistance dog owners
with the things they need to think about prior to travel, whilst they are away and when they reenter the UK. Visit the website at http://www.assistancedogtravel.org.uk
Included here is a photograph of the website.
++Verity on the road to Rio
Guide dog owner Verity Smith is hoping to go for gold at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. A
talented dressage rider (as well as a singer-songwriter and author), Verity has competed for Para
Team GB and also competes in able-bodied events. As part of her bid for Rio, Verity is raising
money for both Guide Dogs and Riding for the Disabled. In an interview with international news
network CNN, Verity said, “When I ride it’s like flying. My feet never touch the ground.” To find
out more about Verity and how you can support her, visit Verity’s website: http://www.veritysmith.com
Included here is a photograph of Verity Smith with her horse and guide dog.
++Assistance dogs in Edinburgh’s Botanic Gardens
Edinburgh’s Botanic Gardens hosted an Assistance Dogs Day in June to highlight the accessibility
of this popular attraction. It also provided a great platform for Guide Dogs and other assistance
dog charities to showcase their work. Visitors enjoyed tours of the gardens, learnt more about the
various assistance dogs and took blindfolded walks with a guide dog.
Chris McCoy from VisitScotland said: “It was a terrific way to highlight the difference these
wonderful animals make and get people thinking about how they can make their own businesses
more accessible.”
Included here is a photograph of a girl taking a blindfolded walk.
++Talking cash machines
Lloyds Banking Group introduced 1,200 talking cash machines across the UK last year to make
banking more manageable for visually impaired customers and those with other disabilities. All
new cash machines also offer this service, enabling numbers to increase year on year. This is an
ongoing programme with the long term aim of rolling them out to the entire Lloyds’ estate of
about 7,000 cash machines across the UK. Customers can find their nearest talking machine by
speaking to their local branch or visiting http://www.LINK.co.uk
++Brian captures the spirit of Northern Ireland
Guide dog owner Brian McDonagh was recently celebrated at the Spirit of NI awards, winning the
Unsung Hero award.
After losing his sight, the 41-year-old from Omagh fell into a deep depression, until he was
matched with guide dog Innis. Now he gives inspirational talks to encourage people that there is
life after blindness.
About the award he said: “To be named the winner has taken me aback. It lets you know you’re
doing something right.”
Included here is a photograph of Brian and Innis with actress Bronagh Waugh and Sunday Life
editor Martin Breen.
++Guide Dogs Annual Awards
Nominations for the Guide Dogs Annual Awards 2014 have now closed but there’s still time for
companies to buy sponsorship or a table for the glamorous event on 10 December at the London
Hilton Park Lane, or to offer prizes - please call 0118 9838392.
++High honours
Guide Dogs volunteer Sandra Waspe, from Suffolk, has received the British Empire Medal for
services to Guide Dogs in East Anglia. Sandra’s husband, Graham, is a guide dog owner. Sandra
started volunteering for Guide Dogs in 1969, collecting milk bottle tops to recycle. She became
one of the original committee members of Bury Saint Edmunds group, and is now treasurer and
trading secretary for Stowmarket group, which she started in 2009. She’s also a speaker and
speaker co-ordinator for East Anglia.
Sandra said: “I wouldn’t have received this honour without the help of all the people I’ve worked
with, and the generosity of the public. People are very generous not only with their donations,
but also with their spirit.”
Included here is a photograph of Sandra Waspe, with two dogs.
++In brief
++Wedding favours
Newly-weds can support Guide Dogs on their special day by giving their guests personalised and
unique wedding favours. There is a range of professionally produced cards, pin badges and fluffy
puppies. The favours can be delivered across the UK for a small postage fee. For more
information, please contact 0845 3727402 or e-mail weddings@guidedogs.org.uk
Included here is a photograph of a wedding card.
++A commendation for John
John Welsman, Guide Dogs’ Policy Business Partner (travel and transport), has been awarded a
commendation certificate by the British Transport Police Assistant Chief Constable. It is in
recognition of the work he did in supporting them in improving relationships with the
communities they serve, blind and partially sighted passengers in particular.
++New ID in place
By now all guide dog owners, as well as other assistance dog owners, will have their Assistance
Dogs UK ID book. Effectively it acts as a kind of passport, making it easier for service providers
to recognise the legitimacy of a dog and owner trained by a recognised training organisation and
their rights, within reason, to have a dog in places where pet dogs are normally excluded.
++Rocky foils intruders
Guide dog Rocky proved himself a real champion when he foiled an attempted burglary in
Holywell, North Wales. The five-year-old black labrador retriever cross barked loudly to alert his
sleeping owner, Mike Webster, to a trio of would-be intruders at a bedroom window. “He is a bit
of a hero,” said Mike.
++Celebrating 50 years
Since 1964, Alan Roberts has had seven guide dogs, all German shepherds. His dogs have taken
him on some amazing walks in the Lake District. Alan said: “There’s nothing better than doing a
walk alone around Derwentwater listening to the sound of birds singing echoing off the
mountains.”
Included here is a photograph of Alan Roberts and his guide dog in the Lake District.
[Back to contents]
News from Guide Dogs’ CEO
++View from the top
One of the best things about my job is the opportunity it gives me to meet so many extraordinary
people - particularly our volunteers.
As regular readers will know, the first week of June was National Volunteers’ Week which gave us
the chance to say a huge thank you to our thousands of volunteers. Whether you’re a puppy
walker, driver, collection box coordinator; whether you raise money on the high street, speak to
children about our work, help with administration or PR, or any of the other myriad roles taken on
by volunteers, we are extremely grateful for your time, talent and energy.
I was privileged to meet around 130 volunteers at a really interesting event we hosted during
Volunteers’ Week at our National Breeding Centre, where we all learned a great deal about
volunteering - the joys and the challenges!
Since the last edition of Forward I’ve also travelled further afield, visiting Microsoft in Seattle,
USA, with Jenny Cook, our Head of Strategy and Research. We were there for their “Ability
Summit” promoting the ground-breaking work that Guide Dogs and Microsoft have been doing
together over the last three years. We met Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO and sponsor of our
Cities Unlocked programme, which aims to open up the urban landscape for people with sight
loss. Guide Dogs is at the heart of this technological breakthrough, and it is clear Microsoft are
putting huge resource, skills and expertise into it. The programme is progressing well, and we’ll
update you more comprehensively in the next issue of Forward.
Talking of progress, I’m sure you’ll agree it’s vital for charities to strive constantly to get better at
what they do. We rely on the generosity of the public and we owe it to our donors to make sure
we offer the best possible services to people with sight loss. That’s why, over the last two years,
we’ve been testing a new way of working and training our dogs which will have benefits for our
service users, volunteers, staff and the dogs themselves. It will mean we can tailor our services
even more closely to the needs of individuals who are blind or partially sighted and increase the
number of people we’re able to support. There’s a special feature on it later in the magazine - I
hope you’ll be as excited about it as I am.
Included here are two photographs. The first is of Richard Leaman, Guide Dogs’ CEO. The second
is of Manchester Mobility Team saying thank you to their volunteers.
[Back to contents]
Guide Dogs in the media
++Guide Dogs in the media
It’s been a busy few months for Guide Dogs in the media.
++Daily Mail online
The website reported that guide dog puppies are now allowed on Virgin Atlantic Little Red
services from Manchester to London as part of their training. The story also appeared in The Sun
and Our Dog magazine.
++BBC One: Crimewatch Roadshow
Guide dog owner Kirsten Barrett from Bridgend talked about the attack on her former guide dog,
Norman.
++Disney Junior: Furry Friends
Guide dog owner Kerry Singleton, her young family and guide dog Harley, featured on this new
show for younger viewers.
++The Telegraph online: Dogs Unite
Hollyoaks actress Jorgie Porter, among other celebrities, supported our Dogs Unite launch event
at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London (refer to page 23). Ahead of the event, Jorgie showed
her support for hero guide dogs by stepping out as their superhero sidekick, which was covered
by the Mirror Online, Vogue magazine blog, London24.com and Digital Spy. Jorgie also appeared
in a video on Guide Dogs’ You Tube channel and Dogs Unite featured in The Mail on Sunday, Time
Out magazine and Wharf magazine.
Included here is a photograph of Jorgie Porter holding a dog at the Dogs Unite event.
And of course…Iggy the new Blue Peter guide dog puppy has been appearing on our screens this
summer - read more about her on page 14.
Included here is a photograph of Iggy with presenter Lindsey Russell.
++ITV: This Morning
Guide dog owners Mark and Claire Gaffey appeared on the programme after getting married. The
couple say it’s all thanks to their guide dogs, who hit it off when they attended the same training
course. The story also featured in Best and Closer magazines in April.
Included here is a photograph of Mark and Claire Gaffey on their wedding day, with their guide
dogs.
++BBC 1: The One Show
Tony Brown-Griffin appeared on The One Show when her guide and seizure alert dog, Hetty, won
the Heroic Hound award at SuperDogs Live, part of the London Pet Show.
Included here is a photograph of Tony Brown-Griffin with her horse and seizure alert dog.
[Back to contents]
Guide Dogs Week
++Gearing up for Guide Dogs Week
Guide Dogs Week is just around the corner and we’re asking you to Stand Out for Guide Dogs
and tell the world about our life-changing work.
Not only is Guide Dogs Week great fun, it’s also a fantastic opportunity to get important
messages across. This year we’re focusing on our Talking Buses campaign, calling on the
government to introduce audio visual announcements on all new buses - crucial for passengers
with sight loss.
++Get on board the Stand Out bus
During September, in the lead-up to Guide Dogs Week, our bright yellow Stand Out bus will tour
the UK. Setting out from the London Transport Museum after our official launch on 4 September,
the bus will visit Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool and Glasgow, before heading back to London.
This will be a bus like no other, with exciting on-board experiences and the chance for everyone including dogs! - to sign our petition for Talking Buses.
++Donate an hour
We’re asking people to donate an hour of their time during Guide Dogs Week to help us continue
our vital work. There are lots of ways you can do this, including taking part in one of our brilliant
Let’s Glow activities:
++Let’s Glow - Collect
Take part in a local Guide Dogs collection - or host your own collection in your workplace or social
group using our Guide Dogs Week envelopes.
++Let’s Glow - Dress in Neon
On Friday 10 October we want the whole UK to glow! Ask everyone you know to go to work
wearing neon and help us light up the nation.
++Let’s Glow - Together
From coffee mornings to zumbathons - we’d love you to get together with friends and family and
host your own event. Why not host a cake sale and decorate your cupcakes in neon colours or
hold a neon party?
++Make your own bus!
Download and print our design at http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/GDW2014 Send photos of your
little big bus on tour to campaigns@guidedogs.org.uk or use #littlebigbus on Facebook or Twitter.
If you would like to donate an hour, please text “volunteer” to 84555.
Join in the fun
 Make your own Stand Out bus - get your young friends to help!
 Buy our special Guide Dogs Week pin badge from branches of Specsavers or Pet Hut. Visit us
at Pet Hut’s national collection on 27 and 28 September.
 Sign our petition and get all your friends and family to do the same.
 Encourage everyone you know to donate an hour and join in our Let’s Glow activities.
 Find the Stand Out bus and hop on board if it comes to your city.
 Spread the word on Facebook and Twitter.
For everything you need, visit our Guide Dogs Week website:
http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/GDW2014
Included here are various photographs of people in different locations “Standing Out” for Guide
Dogs in 2013. Locations include the Angel of the North, the Royal Albert Hall and Liverpool
Football Club.
[Back to contents]
Guide Dogs and Blue Peter
++Iggy puppy inspires a new generation
Young puppy Iggy is proving a big hit with a new generation of Blue Peter viewers. They’re
following her as she takes the first steps on her journey to becoming a guide dog.
It’s the latest chapter in a very special relationship between Guide Dogs and Blue Peter. We first
joined forces with Blue Peter fifty years ago. Now it’s the turn of a new generation of children to
gain a unique insight into the life of a guide dog.
That life started on 19 April at the National Breeding Centre when the new puppy was born. The
Blue Peter team named her Iggy, which is the name that Blue Peter presenter, Lindsey Russell,
chose.
Iggy first appeared on our screens on 19 June and Blue Peter viewers are currently following her
progress with the family who are her puppy walkers. Mum Anna says: “We’re massive fans of
Blue Peter. Being asked to puppy walk Iggy is a fantastic opportunity - we couldn’t possibly have
turned it down.”
So far Iggy has been learning the basics, settling into her new home, getting used to wearing a
collar and developing good social behaviour.
She’s also been making regular appearances on Blue Peter, winning the hearts of children and
their families too. Lindsey Russell says: “Iggy is just so cute but she’s growing up fast and
already learning so much that will help her become a great guide dog. I’m so proud of her.”
Increasingly, the family and Lindsey will familiarise Iggy with public transport and travelling in the
car, and visit different environments such as town centres, shops and cafés. After about a year,
she’ll go on to learn the skills she’ll need to become a guide dog. She’ll then be matched with
someone who is blind or partially sighted and her life-changing career will begin.
To find out more about Iggy, tune in to Blue Peter at 5.30pm on Thursdays or visit the CBBC
website – http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc
Included here are five photographs. The first is of Lindsey holding Iggy in the Blue Peter studio.
The second is of Lindsey making friends with Iggy’s mum, Yvonne. The next photograph is of
Iggy with her littermates at our National Breeding Centre. The fourth is of Iggy and one of her
brothers. The last photograph is of Iggy sleeping.
[Back to contents]
Introducing...
++Pleased to meet you
Our new Mobility Team Manager for Hull, Pete Osborne, never thought his career would bring him
to Guide Dogs, even though he’s a guide dog owner himself. He shares the path he’s taken and
why he’s so pleased to have arrived.
Pete was born without any vision, and became a guide dog owner in 1990, while at Leeds
University studying English and phonetics. “Leeds is a huge campus with 25,000 students,” Pete
explains. “It was stressful getting around. I knew a guide dog would make a big difference to
getting the most from student life.”
He describes that difference as “absolutely astonishing” and is full of praise for the freedom guide
dog Pip gave him.
Pete ran Braille production at the university, so when a similar job came up at RNIB, it was a
logical next step. Pete believes strongly that Braille opens up opportunities in education and work
and became a national and international advocate for it, chairing the World Braille Council. “I was
known as “Mr Braille”,” he laughs.
During those years, Pete also squeezed in a Masters in Business Administration and a qualification
in voice coaching. “I enjoy teaching voice production and singing enormously,” he says. “I love
bringing the sound out of people, building their confidence so they can inspire others with their
voice.”
The move to Guide Dogs came when Pete was looking “for an organisation making a difference to
real people’s lives.” So what’s he discovered in his first few months?
“The dedication of the staff is amazing. And there’s no way of describing what our volunteers do they’re phenomenal.”
For Pete, it’s an exciting time to work for Guide Dogs, with the potential to help thousands more
people with sight loss. “I’ve had loads of opportunities to get out and do things but I’m constantly
reminded of the thousands that aren’t getting out. I have an affinity with them; that’s what
drives me.”
Included here are three photographs. The first is of Pete in the office. The next is of Pete with his
guide dog. The last photograph is of Pete in an office meeting.
++The lighter side
We asked Pete a few “Desert Island Discs” questions:
What music would you take to your desert island? I can’t choose one piece - but I love all choral
music. My dogs get used to lying on the floor listening to evensong.
What book would you choose? “Under Milk Wood” by Dylan Thomas - I love the brilliant if slightly
crazy language.
And your luxury item? A “beans to cup” coffee machine - a great coffee leads to a great day!
[Back to contents]
Powerful partnerships
++Power to the puppy room
Put some guide dog puppies in a room full of students and everyone’s happy! The students help
socialise the puppies, while the puppies help the students unwind from exam stress.
A partnership between Guide Dogs and Nottingham Trent University’s Student Union (NTSU) is
proving a big hit. It’s led to Guide Dogs being chosen as their charity of the year, and, as part of
that, guide dog puppies have been lending a relaxing paw to some over-stressed students.
The idea for a puppy room at Nottingham was suggested by an enterprising student who was
influenced by similar set-ups in Canadian and Japanese universities. Closer to home, we also
have puppy rooms at Saint Andrews and Aberdeen universities. They’re always hugely popular
and a great way to fundraise too. NTSU is already over halfway to raising its target of £5,000 to
name a puppy, thanks to student donations.
Staff and volunteers from NTSU and Guide Dogs’ Nottingham Mobility Team supported the puppy
room, making the day a real team effort. The students also talked to guide dog owners, finding
out more about sight loss and the difference a guide dog makes to a person who’s blind or
partially sighted.
Student Bryony O’Dowda said: “It was great to interact with the guide dogs and their owners and
find out more about all the work that goes into their training. It most definitely took my mind
away from the stress of third year deadlines!”
The ongoing partnership will help local puppy walkers, who’ve been welcomed with open arms, to
walk their puppies in the student union building. It’s a great way to familiarise puppies with new
sights, sounds and smells. Meanwhile, Nottingham Mobility Team will offer students a range of
exciting volunteering opportunities, including My Guide partnerships. They’ll also support students
running their own projects on behalf of Guide Dogs.
Included here are four photographs of students and guide dog puppies in the puppy room.
Photographs courtesy of Debbie Whitmore.
[Back to contents]
A day in the life of...
++Ben, school boy and youngest ever guide dog owner
11-year-old Ben, from near Newcastle, became our youngest guide dog owner when he was
partnered with Logan in February. Ben and his mum, Colette, tell Forward about life with Logan
and the “awesome” friendship they share.
A very special set of circumstances brought Ben and Logan together: the positive approach of
Ben’s family; the fantastic support of his special needs school; the dedication and skills of staff
from the Newcastle Mobility Team; and one special guide dog. Logan had already been a guide
dog and, at just under four years old, had developed a good sense of responsibility. Colette says:
“Logan looks at Ben constantly. He really takes care of him. You can see the connection between
them.”
On a school day it’s Colette who’s up first, so she feeds Logan and takes him outside to relieve
himself. Logan then goes upstairs for a snooze with Ben, before Ben and his older brother Joe get
up. After the boys have had breakfast, Logan follows them upstairs and stays with Ben while he
cleans his teeth.
Ben and Logan take a taxi to school. “Logan’s totally won over the taxi driver,” Colette laughs,
“but he knows how to behave!”
The pair have practised various routes through the school, so Ben can walk around
independently. When Ben is in his classroom, however, Logan sleeps in a bed in the corner. “He’s
fitted in with school life so well,” says Colette.
After a hard day at school, Ben likes to chill out - and Logan’s quite happy to relax with him too!
There’s always time for a game in the garden though, and on Saturdays Ben goes swimming,
with Logan guiding him right to the poolside. “The biggest difference Logan’s made is that Ben
can walk independently,” says Colette. “He doesn’t need to hold my hand any more.”
Ben may be young, but he’s taking the responsibility of caring for a guide dog seriously. He feeds
Logan after school, grooms him and brushes his teeth too.
Colette says: “Ben is so proud when he goes out with Logan, and he’s given him so much
confidence and independence.”
And what does Ben say about his new best friend? “We’re both awesome!”
Included here are five photographs. Four of the photographs are of Ben and Logan in different
locations. The fifth photograph is of Ben, Logan and mum Colette.
[Back to contents]
On the campaign trail
++On the campaign trail
2014 has been a very successful year for Guide Dogs’ campaigns!
++Talking Buses
In July we hosted a Parliamentary Reception on our Talking Buses campaign, calling for audio
visual announcements to be installed on all new buses, letting passengers know the next stop and
final destination. Many of our campaigners contacted their MP’s asking them to attend and find
out why Talking Buses are so important. We’re now pulling together a report on people’s bus
experiences following a survey in which a record number of people took part.
Included here is a photograph of a campaigner and three dogs at the Parliamentary Reception.
++Dog Attacks
The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act came into force in May and any attacks on
assistance dogs can now be treated as an aggravated offence, with penalties of up to three years’
imprisonment. It also introduces new powers for police to prevent these attacks from happening
in the first place. This is a historic moment for the campaign and couldn’t have been achieved
without the support of our campaigners. We will be monitoring the impact of this new law.
++Streets Ahead
Last month we handed in a petition at 10 Downing Street asking David Cameron to take part in a
blindfolded walk so he can better understand the impact of street clutter on people with sight
loss. We are waiting for a formal response to our petition. We’re also working with MP’s to tackle
the issue of pavement parking through a bill in parliament tabled by Martin Horwood MP.
Keep up-to-date on both these issues through our website:
http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/campaigns
++Safe and Sound
Quiet electric and hybrid cars are becoming more popular, but they are dangerous to pedestrians,
who can’t hear them approaching. A new EU regulation voted through last year introduces the
installation of sound generators on these vehicles. However, we are concerned that this
regulation doesn’t go far enough as it also allows the fitting of a “pause switch”, meaning drivers
can turn the noise generator off. We will therefore be working with the Government to ensure
that all quiet vehicles can be heard at all times.
Become a Guide Dogs campaigner by signing up online: http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/campaigns
or call 0800 0284348.
[Back to contents]
Special feature
++Guide Dogs
an exciting future ahead
At Guide Dogs, we work hard to find ways of making our life-changing services even better.
Recently, we’ve done pilot studies to test a new way of working which brings all the stages of our
dog training together in one place. The results are now in, and they’re very exciting.
++Reaching the people who need us
All the work we do at Guide Dogs is about getting out and living life. We know there are still
about 180,000 blind and partially sighted people who rarely leave home alone. We’re passionate
about changing that, so we need to ensure our services continue to grow and evolve - to help us
reach more people and to make sure we meet their individual needs.
++Seamless training
For the last two years, we’ve piloted a new way of working at sites across the UK, carrying out all
the different stages of guide dog training in one location. At the moment, after puppy walking, a
dog’s early training takes place in one of our four Guide Dog Training Schools. Then they leave
the training school and go to one of our 20 mobility teams for the next stage of their training with
a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor (GDMI) who matches them with a blind or partially sighted
person. This means that staff and volunteers who are based at our Guide Dog Training Schools
are not often able to follow the dogs’ progress once they leave, and that GDMI’s don’t get to meet
the dogs during their early training.
For the pilots, we did all the training in the same place and the results show clearly that there are
major advantages to this.
++Benefits for people - and dogs
Firstly, even more of our dogs went on to become qualified guide dogs, and the time it took to
train them was reduced. We were also able to match dogs and their potential new owners at an
earlier stage, which means the dogs’ training can be closely tailored to suit the owners’ needs.
The dogs no longer live in kennels as we recruit and train local volunteer boarders to care for
them. This has enabled us to recruit more volunteers and it allows us to gain insight into how
each dog behaves when living in a home environment, which can be very important for matching
purposes.
Most importantly of all, the pilots showed that, with this way of working, we can create more
guide dog partnerships each year, increasing the number of blind and partially sighted people we
support.
++Bringing us all together
We’ve learned a lot from the pilot studies. They’ve really shown us the value of joining up all the
different elements of our services in one place. It means that everyone, staff and volunteers, can
work together even more closely. The next steps are to link in all our puppy walking schemes.
This will mean our puppy walkers can see their puppies progressing on to a local team where
guide dog trainers and GDMI’s train and match dogs to service users who live in the local area.
Ollie Barton, Regional Director, explains:
“We want to create an “end-to-end” way of working, which will link every staff member and
volunteer with their local team. With everyone under the same roof, we will all have a better
understanding of what each of us does and of how to better support our service users.
“Over the coming years, staff who currently work at our guide dog training schools will join staff
from our mobility teams. They will all work in new facilities designed to support our service users,
volunteers and other visitors, as well as catering for our dogs. The facilities will also support the
delivery of activities related to our newer services such as My Guide, our work with children and
young people and our partnership with Blind Children UK.”
Steve Vaid, Director of Mobility Services, said, “This is a very exciting time for Guide Dogs. With
the energy, creativity and skills of our staff and volunteers, I am confident our services will go
from strength to strength, opening up the world for thousands more adults and children with
sight loss.”
Included here is a photograph of a guide dog owner sitting on a bench chatting to her companion,
with her guide dog sitting beside her.
Nick Mullineux from Liverpool tells Forward how his team embraced a new way of working:
“When we embarked on the pilot project two years ago, the first thing we had to do was get the
right amount of space to accommodate more dogs and staff, so we worked with our landlord to
negotiate more room at our office.
“We also needed to recruit more volunteer boarders. Fortunately we have good links with local
schools and quite a few teachers and teaching assistants signed up. It’s the sort of role that
works well for them because of their working patterns. By the end of the first year we’d recruited
an additional 40 volunteers.
“Four Guide Dog Trainers and two Dog Care and Welfare Staff joined us on secondment from our
Atherton Training School and it was really important to integrate them into the team. They spent
time with our Guide Dog Mobility Instructors and went out with our Engagement Officers and
Fundraisers, but the really important point is that they now had a link with our service users they
wouldn’t have enjoyed if they were working at a training school.
“They told me they really felt like they understood the whole process a lot more as a result. Our
Guide Dog Trainers have now had the opportunity to take the dog all the way through to
advanced training and get involved with training service users alongside the Guide Dog Mobility
Instructor, which gives us the flexible, multi-skilled team we’re looking for.
“As a team we’ve found that our training times are reduced, fewer dogs are withdrawn from
training, and we’re able to identify a potential match earlier and train a dog more specifically to
meet our clients’ needs.
“But, crucially, the quality of the partnership is still there and you can see the end result in, for
example, the dual-trained dog, we were able to identify for a deafblind client at a very early
stage, or the 17-year-old girl who we were able to match with her first guide dog more quickly,
and tailor it to her. Our clients are really positive about what we’re doing.”
Included here is a photograph of a trainee guide dog being trained on an obstacle course.
[Back to contents]
Dogs Unite
++Caped crusaders
Thousands of hero dogs from across the UK descended on London on 14 June in support of lifechanging guide dogs.
“Dogs Unite” took Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park by storm as more than 1,000 hero pet dogs in
capes and their owners joined guide dog owners and our brilliant volunteers on a sponsored walk
around the iconic park. Dogs of all shapes and sizes became heroes for the day by raising funds
for their idols, our life-changing guide dogs. This was dogs working together - dogs united!
More than 3,000 people took part in this first major Dogs Unite event, joined by celebrity
supporters including Hollyoaks star Jorgie Porter, Britain’s Got Talent winners Ashley and Pudsey,
and GB Paralympic gold medallist Jade Etherington.
You can still sponsor the dogs that took part on the day by texting CAPE50, and the amount you’d
like to donate, to 70070.
You can be a hero too!
Why not become a hero by joining one of our Dogs Unite events near you? If you can’t find one
close by, you could gather together your friends, family or colleagues for your own sponsored dog
walk. It really is a walk in the park! Find out more at http://www.dogsunite.org.uk
Included here are ten photographs of different people at the Dogs Unite event. Comments
include: “It was great fun, will definitely do it again”, “Had a perfect day” and “Capes looked
cool!”
[Back to contents]
Breaking down barriers
++Breaking down barriers
Children from communities where dog ownership is uncommon often grow up fearful of dogs. A
partnership between Guide Dogs and the South City College, Birmingham, is helping to break
down those barriers among local students.
Anthony Baker is Head of Learning Support at the college, so his students have learning
difficulties, as well as coming from a range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. He explains: “I
wanted the students to learn to respect dogs and recognise what a useful aid they can be for
people with a disability. I thought Guide Dogs would be the perfect organisation to work with and
raise money for.”
The students have now made five visits to Leamington Guide Dog Training School, where they’ve
come into close contact with dogs for the first time, taken blindfold walks and learnt to put their
trust in a guide dog. Through their fundraising they have raised over £600 and are sponsoring
two guide dog puppies as a result.
Sue Bushell, Guide Dogs’ Community Engagement Officer said: “The work Anthony and his team
have done is fantastic. We need to try and break down the barriers as there are people who
would benefit from a guide dog but for cultural reasons don’t feel able to apply for one.”
Included here are two photographs of different students stroking a dog.
[Back to contents]
My Guide
++My Guide - growing in confidence
Our My Guide service helps people with sight loss get out and about by pairing them with trained
volunteer guides - and it’s going from strength to strength.
63-year-old Derek and sighted guide Lynda from London go on weekly outings together.
The pair teamed up when Derek’s rehab worker suggested My Guide. “I was a bit nervous to start
with,” says Derek, “but very happy to get started with my volunteer. It’s been the best three
months I’ve had. The scheme came with unexpected benefits. Being able to get out seems to
have given me a whole new confidence to face my other problems.”
Lynda gives Derek tips when they’re out, pointing out hazards and encouraging him to use his
support sticks. She says: “Derek is such a remarkable person; it’s a pleasure to go out every
week.”
Included here is a photograph of Lynda guiding Derek.
++Reaching out in Wales
Guide Dogs Cymru has forged a new link with the Muslim community in Wales by running a My
Guide course for 10 members of the Ihsaan Social Services Association (ISSA). The organisation,
which provides support, counselling, information and spiritual guidance to the Islamic community,
was keen to add sighted guiding to its members’ skills.
Feedback was very positive. One participant said: “The training will help me assist clients with
dignity and help maintain their independence, as well as educating the local community.”
Included here is a photograph of seven members of the Ihsaan Social Services Association with
their sighted guiding certificates.
++School pilot
In a pilot initiative at a Newcastle secondary school, a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor and My
Guide Ambassador have trained pupils to guide classmates with sight loss safely around the
school.
Pupils at Sir Charles Parsons School, where many students have additional needs, were so
inspired by their training, it made the front page of their school newsletter. They’re now keen to
raise the money to Name a Puppy at School and already have lots of exciting fundraising planned.
Included here is a photograph of a blindfolded pupil being guided by another pupil.
Guide Dogs’ My Guide service is available to anyone with sight loss, reducing isolation by giving
people the confidence to get out and about. For My Guide volunteers, it’s a great way to learn
new skills and make a real difference to people’s lives. To find out more, please e-mail
myguide@guidedogs.org.uk or call 0118 9838187.
[Back to contents]
Snapshot features
++Small changes, big difference
Every organisation has a responsibility to do what it does best in a way that also takes care of the
environment - and Guide Dogs is no exception.
We’ve been thinking differently about the way we work, to shrink our carbon footprint and make
better use of our resources. We’re trialling some exciting new ideas for improving energy
efficiency and reducing waste at our National Breeding Centre. These have been so successful
we’re now planning to introduce them across other sites. As well as looking after our world and
our future as a leading charity for people with sight loss, the changes have saved us more than
£42,000 - close to the lifetime cost of a guide dog.
Included here is a photograph of a guide dog puppy sitting next to a recycling bin.
Here are just some of the initiatives we’re exploring:
 A wormery that turns dog waste into compost.
 Fully-recyclable whelping beds that will last for 10 years.
 Using low energy lightbulbs.
 Drying bedding on lines instead of in the tumble drier.
 Harvesting rainwater to use for washing the dogruns.
 A biomass boiler which uses woodchips as heating fuel.
 An electric car to use as an on-site vehicle.
 Recycling - which has cut our waste management costs by £5,000.
Got a great idea? Please e-mail sustainability@guidedogs.org.uk
[Back to contents]
The Blind Drive challenge
++Children and young people with sight loss and their families enjoyed a fantastic day out at our
Blind Drive in April - despite soggy weather conditions! Held at the Heritage Motor Museum in
Warwickshire, the event was the brainchild of eager fundraisers from Lloyds TSB, and organised
by Lloyds Scholars at Warwick University.
32 children took the Blind Drive challenge, guided through a timed obstacle course by instructors.
They could also explore the museum with “buddies” from Lloyds TSB who’d been trained as
sighted guides and were supported by staff from local mobility teams and Blind Children UK.
The amount raised through sponsorship and collections is expected to reach £10,000.
Included here are four photographs of different children taking the Blind Drive challenge and
exploring the museum.
[Back to contents]
In your own words
++Claire’s story
We hear some heart-warming stories from guide dog owners about the difference their dog has
made, like this one from Claire Wallace.
I had a normal, happy life until I lost my sight 10 years ago at the age of 27. I’d had some major
headaches and after an emergency scan, a neurologist explained that a blood vessel had burst in
my brain. Over the next six years it burst twice more and eventually I was told that I needed
brain surgery.
On 3 February 2010 I had the operation. I didn’t think I was going to come out of it and, if I did,
it wouldn’t be a great outcome. But although I lost all my right hand vision in both eyes, had
major headaches, short term memory loss and tinnitus, I was alive.
After the operation my husband became my carer. I used a white cane but never felt confident
enough to go anywhere on my own. Then I rang Guide Dogs and, after a few visits and an
assessment, I was told I could have a guide dog. I was over the moon, knowing a dog could give
me my independence back.
Finally I was matched with a black labrador called Blaze. I get goosebumps and a huge smile
every time I remember that moment. My son called Blaze “Mummy’s new eyes.”
Blaze and I trained together in Norwich. One December evening, I was in the city centre flashing Christmas lights, people rushing everywhere, I was so scared. But Blaze led me along the
street and I didn’t hit a single person. I knew I could trust her completely.
Blaze has transformed my life. I take my son to school by myself, have lunch with friends, just
everyday things I couldn’t do without her.
My eyesight has got worse and I’m now registered blind. Obviously I’m devastated but it’s easier
to cope knowing that Blaze has given me the independence I need. I am so grateful to all the
supporters who make Guide Dogs’ work possible. Two out of three guide dogs are made possible
thanks to gifts in Wills, so I will never get to thank the people who gave me back my freedom,
but it’s the most wonderful gift anyone could ever make.
If you’re interested in this form of giving please call Lauren Stoney in the Gifts in Wills Team 0845
6031477.
Included here are two photographs of Claire with guide dog Blaze.
[Back to contents]
Puppy in school
++Top marks for puppy Petal
It takes a special puppy in an unusual situation to be praised in an Ofsted schools report. But
Petal is no ordinary puppy. She’s part of a ground-breaking venture by Mosslands School,
Wallasey, to bring puppy walking into school.
Back in 2011, one of the school’s Pastoral House Office Managers, Chris Kemp, suggested they
support Guide Dogs. Not only that but she would become a puppy walker and bring the puppy
into the school.
With the support of the headmaster, Chris approached Guide Dogs and got an equally positive
response. What followed was a month of paperwork, risk assessments, communications with the
council and the parents, preparing the office where Chris is based…and, finally, a 10-week-old
puppy called Petal.
Chris says: “My life changed completely, and going to work has never been the same since!”
Petal took the school day completely in her stride. Chris says: “Sometimes the office would be
quiet, then it would be inundated with boys needing their report cards signed, angry boys, sick
boys, staff bringing a range of emotions too. Petal always managed to lighten the atmosphere
and make them smile.”
The ultimate compliment appeared in the school’s Ofsted report, which noted that “the life of the
school is greatly enriched and enlivened by Petal”.
Chris made sure that Petal came across as many different sights and sounds as possible,
accompanying the boys on school trips, attending meetings inside and outside school, taking part
in assemblies and her particular favourite, fire drills. “She loved the excitement,” Chris says, “and
the boys loved seeing her in the yard.”
So successful was Petal’s time at school that since she’s moved on to her guide dog training, the
school have walked two more puppies, Morris and Barney, and are about to welcome their fourth.
The boys have loved learning about Guide Dogs and they have been equally enthusiastic about
fundraising. In the last academic year alone, they raised £1,100.
Chris says: “The boys play a huge part in the puppies’ training and I couldn’t do it without their
cooperation. I’m very grateful and very proud of them.”
Included here are two photographs. The first photograph is of a group of children with puppy
Petal. The caption reads: School trips can be a useful experience for a guide dog puppy. The
second photograph is of Barney in the school corridor.
[Back to contents]
Snapshot features
++Piper’s a popular puppy
Piper the guide dog puppy has become something of a celebrity in Jersey, where the Channel
Island retailer Sandpiper CI raised £5,000 to name him.
Piper’s puppy walker, Jacqui Richomme, says: “Piper is wonderful. I couldn’t have asked for a
better puppy. It will break our hearts when he goes, but he’ll make someone a fantastic guide
dog.”
Sandpiper staff were very excited to name a guide dog puppy. “Piper has enabled us to really
raise Guide Dogs’ profile on the island,” says Kim Noble, the company’s Operations Coordinator,
who chose Piper’s name. “They do such wonderful work; we’re very proud to be a part of it.”
Sandpiper have enjoyed their experience so much they’re now raising money to name another
puppy.
If you’d like to find out more about our Name a Puppy scheme, please call 0118 9830190 or email nameapuppy@guidedogs.org.uk
Could you be a puppy walker? Guide Dogs is looking for volunteers for this vital role in many
parts of the UK (though not in Jersey at the moment!). For more information, please call 0845
3717771.
Included here is a photograph of Piper and friends in their Piper T-shirts.
++Could you be a Guide Dogs trustee?
Guide Dogs’ 2014 AGM saw the retirement of four long serving trustees. John Hilbourne, Rowena
Lusty, Norma Johnston and Alan Park will be greatly missed, having contributed significantly to
our strategy, helping get us where we are today.
Could you help Guide Dogs achieve its vision of a world in which people who are blind or partially
sighted can enjoy the same freedom of movement as everyone else? We’re looking for new
trustees to join the board. Sound judgement and independent thought are important, along with
excellent communication skills. Trustees must be able to work at a strategic level, interact
effectively with our Executive Board, challenge constructively, and influence a wide range of
stakeholders.
For more information and details on how to apply, please visit
http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/trustee
[Back to contents]
Our supporters
++Thanks to our supporters
Some of our supporters have been with us for a very long time, like Ann and John Porter, who’ve
been fantastically dedicated fundraisers for 44 years. Others, like five-year-old Harry Clannachan
and his brother Owen, eight, are just starting out. I hope Harry and Owen, and all the other
incredible young people who give us their time and talent, will be inspired by experienced
fundraisers like Ann and John to keep in touch with Guide Dogs as they grow up. We’re here to
support people with sight loss through all stages of their lives, and it’s brilliant to have supporters
who reflect that.
Jayne George
Director of Fundraising and Marketing
++Guide dog owner Scott Cunningham is holding a year-long series of fundraising events to
mark 21 years of sight loss, culminating with an autumn ball. Scott hopes to raise £21,000 and
his challenges have included tackling some of Scotland’s gruelling munroes.
After promoting Guide Dogs tirelessly during her term of office, Sue Knight, Lady Captain of the
Bishop’s Stortford Golf Club, presented Saffron Walden branch with a cheque for £2,500.
Included here is a photograph of Sue Knight presenting the cheque.
Jumping for Joy!
Alan Fletcher from Swindon set up his 4Joy Appeal in memory of his guide dog Joy, hoping to
raise £20,000 to name four guide dog puppies. Alan has amazing support in his local community
who ran4Joy, sang4Joy, held an openhouse4Joy - you name it, they did it - raising £30,000 in a
year. Alan says: “This has surpassed my wildest dreams. I’ve been overwhelmed by people’s
generosity.”
Included here is a photograph of Alan Fletcher and friends, with two dogs.
Nine-year-old Gabriel Dhillon-Powell is an enterprising young fundraiser. He gathered signed
photos and books from the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson to raffle to classmates and their families,
raising £266. Gabriel and fellow pupils at Langley Primary School have been working hard to raise
money for Guide Dogs. Their teacher, Ms Rai, says: “We always take this kind of opportunity to
help others.”
Included here is a photograph of Gabriel Dhillon-Powell and classmates, with Ms Rai and a guide
dog. Photograph courtesy of Express & Star.
Barbara Birch, from Ruddington, has raised £32,000 over many years. She started with a
collection box, then took in donated goods for garage sales and has had a stall at the annual
Nottingham Autokarna show for 25 years.
Included here is a photograph of Barbara Birch at a fundraising event.
Derek Beale ran Reading Half Marathon, raising £317. He delivered the cheque to Reading
fundraising group with his three-year-old grandson, who had a great time playing with two guide
dogs!
Included here is a photograph of Derek Beale and his grandson delivering the cheque.
Guide dog owners, puppy walkers and friends raised £428 at a coffee morning to support Daniel
Bishop, whose sister Andrea is a guide dog owner. He ran the London Marathon with Christofer
O’Connor and Helen Boyd, who together raised £11,000.
Included here is a photograph of people and dogs at the coffee morning.
Staff and shoppers at Friars Square, Aylesbury, raised over £10,000 to name two puppies. Local
schoolgirl Riona won a competition to name them, choosing “Charlie” and “Lola”.
Included here is a photograph of Riona with guide dog owner Elsie Hambrook and Friars Square
Manager Andy Margieson.
The new Kirkintilloch fundraising group, along with the Third and Sixth Campsie Brownies, held
an Easter fair, attended by local councillor Gemma Welsh and MSP Gregg McClymont, raising
£400.
Included here is a photograph of the Kirkintilloch fundraising group at the Easter fair.
Young brothers Harry and Owen Clannachan, five and eight respectively, have put their pocket
money pennies into our collection box at Morrisons in Dumfries since they were tiny. Their dad
Stewart reckons they’ve donated hundreds of pounds and says: “I’m really proud of them.”
Included here is a photograph of Harry and Owen Clannachan.
Customers of Waitrose, Menai Bridge, have raised £648 via the store’s Community Matters
programme. Guide dog owners Buddug Lloyd-Jones and Nigel Dunt collected the cheque.
Included here is a photograph of guide dog owners Buddug Lloyd-Jones and Nigel Dunt collecting
the cheque.
Gill Southgate, chairman of King’s Lynn and district fundraising group, presented Sheila
Roythorne, landlady of the Coach and Horses, Dersingham, with a guide dog photo to thank her
and her customers for raising over £550.
Included here is a photograph of Gill Southgate presenting the photograph to Sheila Roythorne.
Children with sight loss completed a sponsored blind climb at Newcastle Climbing Centre, raising
over £1,500. Thanks to Anna Chouler for organising the event and everyone at the centre for
donating their time.
Included here is a photograph of the children taking part in the sponsored blind climb.
Puppy walker Collette Carpenter took on the challenge of the London Marathon, involving children
from Our Lady Queen of Peace R.C. Primary School, where her son is a pupil, in her fundraising.
The children took part in blindfold sporting challenges, raising nearly £1,000 and making a big
contribution to Collette’s £2,700 total.
Included here is a photograph of the children taking part in blindfold sporting challenges.
Staff at Priory Walk branch of Sainsbury’s, Colchester, have worked tirelessly to raise over
£3,600, through collection boxes, in-house events and a “doggie day”.
Included here is a photograph of the staff presenting a cheque to guide dog owners.
Thanks to the generosity of Geoff and Sheila Smales, Rotherham fundraising group are now
proud owners of a folding caravan. Without it they wouldn’t be able to attend local shows as their
previous caravan was no longer roadworthy.
Included here is a photograph of Geoff and Sheila Smales.
Urmston Junior School has chosen Guide Dogs as its charity of the year. Pupils raised £285
wearing high vis clothing and Standing Out for Guide Dogs.
Saint Andrews University Guide Dogs Society raised £3,000 to name two guide dog puppies. They
chose the names Wills and Kate, after two rather famous royal alumni!
Included here is a photograph of two students with guide dog puppies Wills and Kate.
Jade Bell, Alice Bishop Skinner, Ellie Dark and Clara Bing organised a cake sale at Holy Trinity
School, Richmond, raising £133. Well done girls!
Included here is a photograph of Jade Bell, Alice Bishop Skinner, Ellie Dark, Clara Bing and two
friends at the cake sale.
Guide dog owner David Morton and Carlisle Rugby Club organised a sportsman’s dinner, raising
£2,500. The after-dinner speaker was former England rugby star Jeff Probyn.
Included here is a photograph of the Carlisle Rugby Club sportsman’s dinner.
Ann and John Porter are “retiring” from volunteering after 44 years with Lincoln fundraising
group. During that time, the group has held collections in all weathers, raising a staggering £1
million.
Included here is a photograph of Ann and John Porter.
Marlow the puppy visited his namesake town to meet the Rotary Clubs of Marlow and Marlow
Thames, who raised enough to name him with their annual Santa Fun Run last year.
Included here is a photograph of puppy Marlow at the Rotary Clubs of Marlow and Marlow
Thames.
After Belfast Mobility Team Manager Karen Mumford visited Stormont School with guide dog Elvis,
pupils decided to raise enough to name a puppy. After just three months of events including a
dog mask competition and a sponsored “doggy dash”, they raised a magnificent £5,800, nearly
enough to name four puppies.
Included here is a photograph of Karen Mumford and schoolchildren at the dog mask competition.
Keith Murray asked local writers to contribute to a book, “Guiding Lights”, inspired by and
featuring guide dogs. Production costs were met by local businesses through advertising and the
book was sold throughout Aberdeen, raising £2,554
[Back to contents]
In memory
++Geoffrey William Fanner
We are sad to announce the death of guide dog owner Geoffrey William Fanner MSCP ARCO,
former chairman of Cornwall Blind Association, aged 88.
Geoffrey was a talented organist and choirmaster, who became an Associate of the Royal College
of Organists and played at all four of his daughters’ weddings. He had set his heart on becoming
an organ builder but when this proved impossible, he became a chartered physiotherapist in
1950, the start of a 40-year career with the health service. He used his skills as a cabinet maker,
however, throughout his life, making, among other things, several grandfather clocks.
Geoffrey’s first guide dog, Suzy, helped him travel around London in the 1970’s; his fifth and last,
Moss, was with him when he died.
Included here is a photograph of Geoffrey William Fanner with his guide dog.
++Doreen Dunn
We are sorry to announce the death of Doreen Dunn, age 77, from Dorset. Doreen started puppy
walking in the 1970’s and quickly became involved in fundraising too. She put her life and soul
into everything she did and will be remembered by friends and family for her smile and zest for
life.
Included here is a photograph of Doreen Dunn.
[Back to contents]
Canine obituaries
++We’ll never forget
If you would like to pay tribute to a guide dog you have known, please send your tribute (up to a
maximum of 25 words) to forward@guidedogs.org.uk or to Forward at Hillfields, Burghfield
Common, Reading, RG7 3YG.
Ava 9.2.01 - 17.4.14
Guide dog Ava, died suddenly. A loving worrier. Our little one armed bandit will be sadly missed.
Karen and Steve.
Bertie 12.7.02 - 18.3.14
Our darling Bertie, second guide to Robin Evans. Lovingly put to sleep on 18 March. We’ll meet
again over the rainbow bridge precious lad.
Eamon 8.2.99 - 7.3.14
Nine years a diligent guide to Harry Murray. Walked by Mrs Payne. Latterly to Bill and Marjorie
Medford, mischievous to the end. Run free old fellow.
Ember 25.10.01 - 18.6.14
Retired guide dog Ember. Loving guide dog to the late Anne Anderson. Remembered by everyone
who knew him in Aberdeen.
Flame (Monks) 12.12.01 - 19.5.14
Third guide to Cathy Elmes. Gentle, kind, loving companion. Puppy walked by Malcolm and Tricia
Alberry. Adored by many. Run free little girl. Love Mummy and Uncle Phil. x
Gemma 20.6.97 - 6.5.14
Much loved guide to Elsie, mad with water. Retired aged four. Will be greatly missed. Enjoy your
time at the rainbow bridge. X
Holly 3.6.04 - 27.4.14
Sleep tight my beautiful Brown Dog, after a life well spent. The void you leave will never be
completely filled, you touched so many lives.
Holly 25.12.98 - 8.1.14
Worked with Jean for many years, and trained by Tim. Sadly missed and much loved by the
family and anyone who met her.
Iain 24.9.00 - 1.4.14
Third guide to Bryan Rigg, marvellous ambassador for Guide Dogs, stroked by the Queen at
Buckingham Palace. Puppy walked by Rosemary Parmenter. Thank you and God bless.
Jasmine 29.1.00 - 12.6.14
Guide to Jean Connolly, a special girl and amazing guide dog, willing to work even in retirement.
Will be missed very much and always be loved.
Jay 9.10.99 - 11.4.13
Much loved first guide dog of Betty Jappy. Missed by all who knew her. Sleep well Jay.
Kandy 29.7.98 - 19.5.14
Gave us many years of love, companionship, comfort and joy. She leaves a huge hole in our
hearts and lives. Never forgotten.
Merry 28.1.98 - 14.4.14
Much loved third guide to the late Barbara Veale. Rehomed to Sylvia Oldfield for the last three
years. Remembered always for her cheeky character.
Mitzie 31.7.02 - 28.4.14
Didn’t quite make it as a guide dog. Became a wonderful, gentle pet to her puppy walker, Sandra
Evans. Miss you Mitz.
Nathan 7.9.01 - 27.2.14
Walked by Jan Edis. Much loved guide to Sheila Karapetian. Missed by Martin. Happy retirement
with the Barber family. Funny, caring, gentle, unforgettable.
Nona 21.8.06 - 10.5.14
Our beautiful Nona Noodle. Guide to Lesley Cowell, puppy walked and retired early to the Evans
family. Your life was too short but so very special.
Percy 16.1.02 - 25.4.14
Puppy walked by Jenny Turner. Guided Marion Maden for nine years in Bradford. Retired to
Pauline and Derek Barker. Has gone to the rainbow bridge.
Pilot 21.4.98 - 15.1.14
Devoted guide and companion to Steve Crewe. A gentle giant with a big personality who lived life
to the full. Loved and remembered always.
Quita 23.11.03 - 12.2.14
Beautiful and devoted first guide to Joe and best friend to Sadie and Carly. Your presence we
miss, memory we treasure, in our hearts forever.
Rachel 14.1.99 - 27.4.14
My special posh lady, who was always cuddly and sweet. Loved by all. Run free at the rainbow
bridge with Gemma. Love, Elsie. X
Remy 20.12.99 - 29.5.14
Guiding star for Mike Tucker for nine years. Reunited with her Dad; you travelled so far together,
now your journeys are complete. Missed beyond words.
Sam (Harper) 27.2.01 - 7.3.14
Failed to become a guide but everyone loved Sam, no one more than me. Broke my heart when
you left after 12 wonderful years together.
Sylvie 4.8.98 - 3.2.14
Didn’t qualify due to allergy issues but became a much-loved member of her puppy walking
family (the Thompsons) for 15 happy years. Sadly missed. Sleep tight Sylv.
Terry 24.10.99 - 25.3.13
Trusted guide dog to Ken Weinling, died on 25 March 2013. Will never be forgotten. Sleep
peacefully Terry.
Trixie 10.4.02 - 9.4.14
Second exceptional guide to Sylvia. Loved work and play. Greatly missed by all. You have left
paw prints on so many hearts. Goodnight Angel, run free.
Ulan 7.7.99 - 7.5.14
Guide to Gerald James, retired to Jane and Mike Dyer. Many loving memories of the loyalty and
joy he gave to us all. Sadly missed.
Usher 17.5.99 - 23.4.14
Puppy walked by Mr and Mrs Dalton, faithful guide to Fay Stewart, happily retired to Marjorie and
Bill Medford. A friend to one and all.
Val 3.4.01 - 5.6.14
In loving memory of Val. Our treasured golden girl. You gave us so much love and pleasure. Rest
in peace our guardian angel.
Yale 7.7.01 - 6.3.14
Second guide to Denis Ward. Yale, you were perfect in every sense. Gone from our lives but not
from our hearts. Sleep tight. X
Yeoman 24.5.99 - 22.4.14
Devoted guide dog to Maureen, beloved companion to Shirley and Geoff. Irreplaceable, much
loved and sadly missed.
Yorkie 18.3.00 - 20.5.14
Loyal guide to Terry Brewell for eight years. Thanks to Betty for giving him a happy retirement.
God bless and always in my heart.
Included here are photographs taken in various locations and in different poses of: Ava, Bertie,
Eamon, Ember, Flame, Gemma, Jay, Merry, Mitzie, Nathan, Nona, Percy, Quita, Remy, Rachel,
Sam, Sylvie, Terry, Trixie and Usher.
++Guide Dogs is working with the Blue Cross to provide a bereavement support service for
current and retired guide dog owners and volunteers who are grieving the loss of their dog or
puppy through retirement, rehoming, illness, separation, transition or death. A phone line is open
daily from 8.30am - 8.30pm and there is an e-mail service for people who prefer to write about
how they are feeling.
Guide dog owners and volunteers can call the bereavement service on 0800 0966606 or e-mail
pbssmail@bluecross.org.uk
++Make a tribute online
If you would like your dog’s name to appear in our “Paws for Thought” Online Memorial Book,
please contact the Gifts in Memory Team on 0845 6031477, e-mail
giftsinmemory@guidedogs.org.uk or visit http://www.giftsinmemory.org.uk
Our dogs may be honoured with a complimentary listing of their name to commemorate them.
[Back to contents]
What’s on?
++What’s on?
++Donington Park Race Circuit, Donington Park
13 September 10.00am-3.30pm
A fabulous experience whether you are visually impaired or sighted. This fundraiser gives you the
chance to drive blindfolded in a dual control BSM car on the Heritage Loop of Donington Park.
Places are limited and you must book in advance. Contact Guide Dogs’ Nottingham Mobility Team
on 0845 3727424 or e-mail nottingham@guidedogs.org.uk
++National Breeding Centre Open Day
11 October 11.00am-4.00pm
A great family day out at the place where every guide dog’s life begins! Puppy viewing, dog
demonstrations, Sensory Tunnel, children’s activities, refreshments, and much more.
++BBC Good Food Show, Glasgow
17 - 19 October
BBC Good Food Show, London Olympia
14 - 16 November
BBC Good Food Show, NEC Birmingham
26 - 30 November
Meet our dogs, take a walk in our Sensory Tunnel and take a blindfold challenge to test your
senses.
++QAC Sight Village, Kensington Town Hall
4 November
A major event showcasing technology and services for people who are blind or partially sighted.
Meet Guide Dogs staff and find out about Guide Dogs services and all the great opportunities for
volunteering with us.
++Perthshire Amber - The Dougie MacLean Festival
Perthshire, 24 October - 2 November
With Guide Dogs as its charity partner, the music festival is raising money to name a puppy. The
BIG KNIT is running throughout the festival, with people knitting “hats for hounds”. Visit
http://www.perthshireamber.com or call Rebecca Alexander on 01350 727657 if you’d like to
send in your knitted hats.
Included here is a photograph of a guide dog puppy surrounded by knitted items.
++Exhibition at Leamington Art Gallery and Museum
A six-month exhibition (from June) celebrating 80 years of Guide Dogs, including some wonderful
1950’s archive footage and special memorabilia.
Included here is a photograph of a 1950’s dog training session.
++Skydive for Guide Dogs
If you have a taste for adventure, why not skydive to raise money for Guide Dogs? You can
request to skydive on any date that suits you and choose from around 20 UK locations. The cost
of your skydive will then be covered by your fundraising. To find out more, please visit
http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/events or call 0845 6006787.
[Back to contents]
Over to you
++Letters
Talking shop
Thanks to Gaynor Stewart from Lytham Saint Annes, for pointing out that, in addition to the
Guide Dogs charity shop at Leamington Guide Dog Training School, another shop is open in
Congleton, organised by Geoff Holmes. To both shops - thank you and keep up the good work!
Thanks to all at Guide Dogs
28 June 2014 marked the 25th anniversary of the day I signed my name on the dotted line for
my first guide dog, Troy. To everyone who has played a role in the progress of Guide Dogs, my
deepest thanks! You have all played a part in my having such a high quality form of mobility and,
of course, wonderful friendship with four magnificent dogs - Troy, Isaac, Eddy and now my dream
dog, Max. Sincerest thanks. Jon Nixey
Included here is a photograph of Jon Nixey and guide dog Max.
Giving something back
Last year we lost German shepherd Tiffany, our beloved rehomed guide dog. We then rehomed
Kiera, equally loved by us. We wanted to give something back to Guide Dogs and have become
active fundraisers. Since joining three months ago, we’ve raised nearly £900 so far. Most
rewarding are the wonderful people you meet, and who give so generously.
Tom and Yvonne Beaumont, Church Stretton supporter group
To get involved with your local fundraising group or to set up your own, e-mail
charli.gibson@guidedogs.org.uk or call 07825 905918.
++Caption competition
Thank you to rehomer Susie Boissier for sending in this beautiful photo of retired guide dog Jess
in the bluebells. She’s certainly got a spring in her step! Please send your caption idea on a
postcard to Forward, Guide Dogs, Hillfields, Burghfield Common, Reading RG7 3YG, or e-mail
forward@guidedogs.org.uk with your name and address. There’s a £10 Marks and Spencer
voucher for the winner.
Included here is a photograph of Jess running through a field of bluebells.
The winner of the last caption competition was Mrs W Stafford from Morpeth with: “They’re going
to regret teaching me to read!” Congratulations - we hope you enjoy your voucher.
Included here is a photograph of Patch, who is sitting down and looking intently at a book called
“Dog Behaviour Explained”.
++Competition rules
The competitions are open to anyone resident in the UK, except employees of the Guide Dogs for
the Blind Association, their families and anyone connected with the competition. No purchase
necessary. Proof of posting cannot be accepted as proof of delivery. No responsibility can be
accepted for entries delayed, damaged or mislaid or wrongly delivered. Illegible entries will be
disqualified. Only one original entry is allowed per envelope. The winners will be notified by either
post or telephone and the results will be published in the next issue of the magazine. The winners
must agree to the publication of their names, photographs and any publicity, if requested. In all
matters concerning the competitions the Editor’s decision is final. No correspondence can be
entered into. Entry implies acceptance of the rules. The closing date for these competitions is 31
October 2014.
[Back to contents]
Promotions
++The following are five advertisements that are presented in different places in this issue of
Forward.
++1. Share an amazing adventure - from just £1 a week.
You can sponsor an adorable guide dog puppy as they train to change the life of a person that is
blind or partially sighted. You’ll follow their amazing journey every step of the way with regular
photos and updates. So why wait?
You can sponsor a puppy right now.
Text “GUIDE” to 63333 for more information or visit http://www.sponsorapuppy.org.uk
Here’s what you’ll receive
Pictured here are various Pupdate publications, including Pupdates, Photocards and a photo
album.
SPONSOR A PUPPY
Registered charity in England and Wales (209617) and in Scotland (SC038979) 7415
Included within this promotion is a photograph of a guide dog puppy sitting at the end of a play
tunnel.
The Guide Dogs logo is on the top right hand side of the page.
++2. Will you leave a gift that’s full of life?
Guide dog Pippa is there for her owner Lynette all day, every day. She’s given her the confidence
to start enjoying her whole life again without relying on others. “With Pippa by my side, my
friends can be my friends not my carers,” says Lynette. Please leave a gift in your Will to Guide
Dogs and help visually impaired people live every day to the full.
For a free information pack and DVD, visit http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/giftsinwills, call us on
0845 6031477 or fill in the form.
Title:
Name:
Address:
Postcode:
Phone No.:
Please return in an envelope to:
Freepost RSBC-ARYS-YATB, Gifts in Wills Team, Guide Dogs, Chippenham SN14 6NG
A14G80002
A charity registered in England and Wales (209617) and Scotland (SC038979).
Included within this promotion are various pictures of Lynette and Pippa at different times of the
day.
The Guide Dogs logo is on the right hand side of the page.
++3. Dogalogue (Registered) gifts from Guide Dogs
100% of the profits go to Guide Dogs.
Get outside whatever the weather
To order please visit http://www.dogalogue.com or call 0845 3711371.
Labrador umbrella
BEST SELLER!
Keep dry with our popular brolly.
Code: 14341
£11.99
Included here is a photograph of the labrador umbrella, which has eight clear panels and a
picture of a yellow labrador puppy on four of the panels.
Dog planter
Great for indoors or out. (Plant not included).
Code: 14660
£21.99
Included here is a photograph of the dog planter, which is a dog-shaped, wicker plant pot.
Guide Dogs travel mug
450ml insulated travel mug
Code: 14673
£5.99
Included here is a photograph of the travel mug, which has “Guide Dogs” written on the side.
New Christmas catalogue out now! Call 0845 3711371 for your copy.
Included here is a photograph of the Christmas 2014 edition of Dogalogue.
Check out our full range of gifts, stationery and pet products at http://www.dogalogue.com
Please quote D14G28001 or indicate you read this advert in Forward when ordering.
++4. Dogmatic (Registered)
Automatically leading the way
Revolutionary headcollar that stops dogs pulling on the lead
NEW
New Clasp fastening fully adjustable, easy to fit, safe & secure
No more pulling
No more riding up
No more rubbing
No more coming off
No more discomfort
WORKS FOR ALL BREEDS & SIZES
your dog magazine
2011/12
PRODUCT AWARDS
HIGHLY COMMENDED
voted 1st “Your Dog Choice” headcollars
TESTER’S CHOICE
Life-changing products for you and your dog!
Endorsed by top Behaviourists, Trainers, Vets, Police, Dog Breeders and Rescue Centres
I have no hesitation in recommending DOGMATIC to all dog owners who wish to have complete
but gentle control of their dogs in public. Who could imagine a horse without a halter? I cannot
now imagine a dog being walked without a Dogmatic headcollar. Dr David Sands BSC Phd CFBA
01652 657922 http://www.dogmatic.org.uk
Included within this promotion are photographs of the headcollar and various dogs wearing the
headcollar.
++5. Event Tyres
We fit at your home or work. ...Ideal for busy mums!
 Time-saving
- Fitting at your home or work means you don’t waste your valuable time waiting around at a tyre
centre
 Convenient
- Get an instant, no obligations quote
- Book the fitting online at a time to suit you
 Competitive
- Up to 40% cheaper than the high street
- Professional and reliable service
Call Now To Order: 0800 8100983
Expert Advice
If you’re not sure what tyres you need or want to know which tyres are best value for money
then give us a call on: 0800 8100983 to speak to our experienced team or log on to:
http://www.event-tyres.co.uk
Auto EXPRESS
“If you want a fitter to come to you, we’d use Event Tyres” - Jamie Fretwell (Products Editor),
Auto Express, 2013.
Included within this promotion is a photograph of a tyre being fitted by Event Tyres.
[Back to contents]
Contact details
++This is a list of phone numbers and contact details arising from the articles in this edition of
Forward Magazine.
Sponsor a puppy
Text: “GUIDE” to 63333
Visit: http://www.sponsorapuppy.org.uk
Gifts in Wills free information pack and DVD
Visit: http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/giftsinwills
Call: 0845 6031477
Write: Freepost RSBC-ARYS-YATB, Gifts in Wills Team, Guide Dogs, Chippenham SN14 6NG
Text Santa
Visit: http://www.textsanta.co.uk
National Breeding Centre - new Patrons
Call: 0118 9838350
E-mail: karen.barns@guidedogs.org.uk
Have you heard of Volunteer Voices?
Visit: http://www.guidedogs.org.uk
International travel guide
Visit: http://www.assistancedogtravel.org.uk
Verity on the road to Rio
Visit: http://www.verity-smith.com
Talking cash machines
Visit: http://www.LINK.co.uk
Guide Dogs Annual Awards - Sponsorship
Call: 0118 9838392
Wedding favours
Call: 0845 3727402
E-mail: weddings@guidedogs.org.uk
Make your own bus!
Visit: http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/GDW2014
E-mail: campaigns@guidedogs.org.uk
Facebook or Twitter: #littlebigbus
Donate an hour
Text: “volunteer” to 84555
Guide Dogs Week
Visit: http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/GDW2014
Blue Peter - CBBC website
Visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc
Dog Attacks/Streets Ahead
Visit: http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/campaigns
Become a Guide Dogs campaigner
Visit: http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/campaigns
Call: 0800 0284348
Dogs Unite sponsorship
Text: “CAPE50” to 70070
Dogs Unite events
Visit: http://www.dogsunite.org.uk
My Guide
E-mail: myguide@guidedogs.org.uk
Call: 0118 9838187
Small changes, big difference
E-mail: sustainability@guidedogs.org.uk
Gifts in Wills Team
Call: Lauren Stoney 0845 6031477
Name a Puppy
Call: 0118 9830190
E-mail: nameapuppy@guidedogs.org.uk
Could you be a puppy walker?
Call: 0845 3717771
Could you be a Guide Dogs trustee?
Visit: http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/trustee
Canine obituaries
E-mail: forward@guidedogs.org.uk
Write: Forward at Hillfields, Burghfield Common, Reading, RG7 3YG
Bereavement Service
Call: 0800 0966606
E-mail: pbssmail@bluecross.org.uk
Make a tribute online
Call: 0845 6031477
E-mail: giftsinmemory@guidedogs.org.uk
Visit: http://www.giftsinmemory.org.uk
Donington Park Race Circuit
Call: 0845 3727424
E-mail: nottingham@guidedogs.org.uk
Perthshire Amber - The Dougie MacLean Festival
Visit: http://www.perthshireamber.com
Call: Rebecca Alexander 01350 727657
Skydive for Guide Dogs
Visit: http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/events
Call: 0845 6006787
Could you be a brood bitch holder?
Call: 0845 3727432
E-mail: bshenquiries@guidedogs.org.uk
Local fundraising groups
E-mail: charli.gibson@guidedogs.org.uk
Call: 07825 905918
Caption competition
Write: Forward, Guide Dogs, Hillfields, Burghfield Common, Reading RG7 3YG
E-mail: forward@guidedogs.org.uk
Dogalogue
Visit: http://www.dogalogue.com
Call: 0845 3711371
Dogmatic
Call: 01652 657922
Visit: http://www.dogmatic.org.uk
Event Tyres
Call: 0800 8100983
Visit: http://www.event-tyres.co.uk
[Back to contents]
New partnerships
++Congratulations to our new partnerships
Key:
x – Crossbreed
CCR – Curly Coat Retriever
COL – Collie
FCR – Flat Coat Retriever
GR – Golden Retriever
GSD – German Shepherd Dog
IWS – Irish Water Spaniel
L – Labrador
SPIN – Spinone
STP – Standard Poodle
New partnerships are listed by mobility team. Each listing details owner, guide dog, town, breed,
puppy walker and brood bitch holder. Warm congratulations to all our new qualifiers.
++Belfast
Irene Agnew & Rudolf from Belfast L, Ian Lister from Hartlepool, April Williamson from StratfordUpon-Avon
Vida Dalziell & Korky from Dunfermline GRxL, Gemma McKeown from Bangor, Roger Morgan from
West Malvern
Lesley Downing & Imogen from Armagh LxGR, Doreen Imrie from Glenrothes, Linda Langman
from Milton Keynes
Gloria Fisher & Fliss from Belfast GRxGSD, Patricia Flockhart from Glasgow, Morag Thomson from
Aberlour, Philip Plant from Leamington Spa
Leo Murphy & Mike from Belfast L, David Wright from Manchester, Helen Bonnett from Gloucester
Ian Ross & Gina from Omagh GRxGSD, Diane McRoberts from Dunfermline, Anne Cadwallader
from Southam
Eric Williams & Eric from Buxton L, Lynda Kingham from Oldmeldrum, Helen Jordan from
Glasgow, Tracey Wilkinson from Telford
Barbara Wilson & Jimmy from Dungannon GRxL, Alana Westcott from Rosyth, Sian Simmons from
Kenilworth
++Birmingham
Linda Bills & Dee from Bromsgrove GRxGSD, Karen Lavis from Bristol, Trudy Evans from Coventry
Jaqueline Clark & Dream from Birmingham GRxGSD, Fionne Jones from Milton Keynes, Trudy
Evans from Coventry
Hilary Jackson & Cindy from Hereford GRxL, Margaret Balderson from Keighley, Roger Morgan
from West Malvern
Miles Northwood & Benson from Bedford LxGR, Stuart Donaldson from Cupar, Nancy Hutchison
from Kirkcaldy, Elizabeth Sagar from Warwick
Lynn Sparrow & Penny from Wellingborough L, Joy Hutchison from Solihull, Jill Overton from
Birmingham
Elaine Usher & Rusty from Birmingham GRxL, Susan Rhodes from Coventry, Caroline Dempster
from Leamington Spa
++Cardiff
Nigel Cronin & Mik from Newport L, Julie Pocknell from Merthyr Tydfil, Annette Smith from
Swadlincote
June Goulding & Violet from Caldicot GRxL, John and Claire Brothers and Dannatt from
Stourbridge, Robert Jones from Rushden
Mansell Griffiths & Rena from Bridgend GRxL, Sheila Morris from Bromsgrove, Ruth Wood from
Coventry
Mark Lewis & Sprint from Chepstow GRxGSD, Valerie Jordan from Kidlington, Cora Blaver from
Northampton
Idelfonso Fuentes Ojeda & Dudley from Holyhead GRxL, David Lindsley from Northampton, Sarah
Brettell from Stratford-Upon-Avon
Ricky Owen & Barney from Colwyn Bay GRxL, Lesley Wise from Coventry, Cherry Gillbard from
Aldingbourne
Elizabeth Oytaben & Ava from Cardiff L, Nan Phillips from Usk
Patrick Peters & Portia from Wrexham GSD, Sheena Kemp from Atherstone, Kathleen Brooks from
Wellesbourne
Janice Powers & Lucas from Carmarthen L, Wendy Lilley from Monmouth, Ann-Marie & Kevin
Meredith from Kidderminster
Michael Price & Danny from Cwmbran GRxGSD, Yeda Line from Nuneaton, Trudy Evans from
Coventry
Michael Williams & Winnie from Pontypridd L, Pamela Moody from Leicester, Janet Burr from
Wellingborough, Veronica Barr from Rushden, Dawn Collins from Telford
++Coventry
Lynn Pacey & Penny from Hinckley GRxL, Janet Clifford from Wellingborough, Jackie
Elliott from Warwick
Aidan Reilly & Ramble from Leamington Spa GR, Joan Bowering from Bristol, Gill Moss from
Banbury
Rashmikant Shah & Nixon from Northampton GRxL, Pauline Ellis from Kineton, Mary Cheesman
from Southam
Dr Mike Townsend & Oxford from Leicester GRxL, Chryzelda Cosgrove from South Brent, Natasha
Brady from Northampton
++Edinburgh
Michael Thomas Banks & Tess from Eyemouth L, Gordon Glen from Kirriemuir, Mrs Wood from
Leicester
Sandy Bruce & Bryson from Dundee GRxGSD, Lesley Newberry from Bangor, Trudy Evans from
Coventry
Roderick Burnett & Indy from Aboyne GSD, Karen Johnston from Greenock, Renfrewshire, Alan
Moores from Dumfries, Donna Morris from Telford
Shirley Cant & Pat from Dundee GRxL, Mo O’Brien from Ellon, Marion McComb from Arbroath,
Laura Knowles from Solihull
Maureen Anne Harris & Fifi from Arbroath GRxGSD, Carol Ray from Westhill, Philip Plant from
Leamington Spa
Barbara Brown McDermid & Bracken from Edinburgh GSD, Julia Yarker from Edinburgh, Mrs
Tindall from Coventry
Garry Martin Pitts & Bentley from Dunfermline GSD, Jess Black from Dunfermline, Mrs Tindall
from Coventry
Amanda Priestman & Elmo from Ayton LxGR, John & Margaret Ure from Carnoustie, Elizabeth
Sagar from Warwick
Jodie Renton & Jenny from Dunbar GRxL, Elizabeth Tierney from Strathaven, Anita Metcalfe from
Warwick
Dawn Watson & Tilly from Forres L, Diane & Mark Turberfield from Montrose
Robert Ritchie & Inca from Musselburgh GRxL, David Brown from Lanark, Janet Ball from
Stourbridge
Keith Ross & Arnold from Glasgow GR, Anne Crawford from Fraserburgh
Lorraine Stewart & Isla from Dunbar LxGR, Carol & Alan Biggins from Kingskettle, Linda Langman
from Milton Keynes
Binnie Taylor & Blue from Laurencekirk GRxL, Lisa Hilditch from Blairgowrie, Anita Metcalfe from
Warwick
Douglas James Wallace & Stanley from Strichen GRxL, Margaret Gibson from Ballater, Sarah
Stanley from Rugby
Dennis Wilson & Todd from Edinburgh GR, Ruth & Iain Coker from North Berwick
++Exeter
Amy Bagley & Eric from Newquay GR, Tanya Cole from Cardiff, Lee Blanning from Pontypool,
Barbara Walker from Sutton Coldfield
Bridget Bickford & Kizzy from Saltash L, Adam Lock from Torpoint, Annette Smith from
Swadlincote
Christine Blandford & Zuki from Tavistock GRxGSD, Mervyn Baldwin from Paignton, Peter
Meadows from Lutterworth
Elaine Brophy & Lexie from Saint Austell GRxL, Ruth Oliver from Worcester, Ruth Mercer from
Warwick
Bob Brown & Ursula from Tiverton L, Allison Callon from Exeter, Jeanette Hannon from Oldbury
Denene Burton & Ralph from Bristol LxGR, Iain Lonsdale from Corsham, Sally Elliott from Olney
Peter Charis Erickson-Hull & Heath from Okehampton GRxL, Eilidh Rattray from Crossgates,
Robert Walpole from Cirencester
Andrew George & Briar from Newquay GSD, Anne Breach from Chelmsford, Mrs Tindall from
Coventry
Deborah Jones & Sandy from Plymouth GRxL, Elaine Horne from Northampton, D Ward from
Rugby
Michaela Kitto & Jackie from Penryn GRxL, Mary Elizabeth Roddie from Somerton, Natasha Brady
from Northampton
Matthew Lewis & Rishka from Crediton GRxL, Carole Prior from Rugby, Carla Alves Da Silva from
Solihull
Ronald Miller & Ludo from Exeter LxGR, Kathleen Fennemore from Derby, Jane Plant from Solihull
Heather Muncey & George from Bristol LxGR, Sylvia Waite from Exeter, Paul Dodd from Westbury
On Severn
Ian Rice & Elcie from Tavistock LxGR, Gillian Callicott from Plymouth, Paul Dodd from Westbury
On Severn
Anthony Roberts & Rusty from Milbrook GRxL, Julie Kalupa from Swindon, Julie Arnull from
Stourbridge
George Sharpe & Gromet from Brixham LxGR, Christine Sherriff from Torquay, Anna Adams from
Daventry
Geoffrey Wherry & Merry from Saint Austell GR, Rachel Discombe from Aberdeen, Pam Kimmins
from Birmingham
Muriel Wilkes & Indy from Saint Ives LxGR, Abigail Hunkin from Dartmouth, Linda Langman from
Milton Keynes
Gary Winfield & Natt from Torpoint GRxL, Frances West from Colyton, Mary Cheesman from
Southam
++Glasgow
William Allinson & Jack from Galashiels GRxL, Amanda Royall from Longniddry, Tina Williams from
Southampton
Morven Archbold & Toby from Isle Of Mull L, Clare Edgar from Kelso, Trudy Bond from
Wellesbourne
Terry Brown & Wizard from Shotts L, Edith McEwan from Glasgow, Dawn Alejandre-Grau from
Leicester
James Gallagher & Yoric from Glasgow GRxL, Paula Garden from Bridge Of Don, Giovanni
Mantella from Moreton-in-Marsh
John Garvie & Bronte from Glasgow GSD, June Docherty from Dundee, Mrs Tindall from Coventry
Allana Grant & Felix from Airdrie GRxGSD, Paula Ruxton from Arbroath, Philip Plant from
Leamington Spa
Phyllis Henderson & Benny from Inverness L, Lesley Murray from Kirkcaldy, Dee Moloney from
Radford Semele
Colin Hetherington & Jason from Annan L, Edith Gordon from Clydebank, Anne Baulch from Rugby
Howard Hunter & Vince from Cromarty GRxFCR, Gillian Stanage from Innerleithen, Alison Jordan
from Stafford
Valerie Hydes & Whispa from Stockton-on-Tees L, Donald Cunningham from Glasgow, Lesley
Stewart from South Queensferry, Claire McCleary from Lisburn, Jacqui Gormley from Ballyclare,
Dawn Alejandre-Grau from Leicester
Dr Alison Mackenzie & Tony from Glasgow GRxL, Helen Kilpatrick from Belfast, Glennis Snape
from Birmingham
Gloria Murdoch & Gillan from Glasgow GRxL, Julie and Steven Wilson from Glasgow, Lynda
McClune from Glasgow, Giovanni Mantella from Moreton-in-Marsh
Charles Nicol & Verney from Glasgow L, S Lang from Saint Andrews, Daniel Rooney from Saint
Andrews, Rebecca Leat from Towcester
Brian Slark & Chester from Glasgow GRxL, Marjorie Kelman from Aberdeen, Samantha Hanley
from Telford
David Thomas & Peter from Irvine GSD, Alan Smith from Longniddry, Mrs Reid from Edinburgh,
Kathleen Brooks from Wellesbourne
++Hull
Robert Awty & Jay from Hull L, Pat Kane from Newcastle Upon Tyne, Anne Baulch from Rugby
Ken Barrett MBE & Wayne from Sleaford L, Sue Thornhill from Nottingham, Kelly Withers from
Walsall
Mary Clark & Usher from Boston GRxFCR, Ruth & Iain Coker from North Berwick, John Rogers
from Bromsgrove
Sally Anne Cousins & Carter from Driffield GRxL, Ann Wackett from York, Samantha Hanley from
Telford
Martin Howson & Bella from Scunthorpe L, David Ryder from Warrington, Mrs Hicks from Lytham
Saint Annes, Elaine Roberts from Stourbridge
Barry Latham & Bailey from Grantham LxGR, Sandra Allison from Ilkley, Janie Macqueen from
Fenny Compton
David Morton & Ulric from York L, Sandra Reid from Wythenshawe, Deborah Kelsey from
Coventry
Andrew Walker & Brodie from Scunthorpe GSD, Julie Peel from Durham, Mrs Tindall from
Coventry
George Wiles & Tj from Bridlington GR, Mrs Hopcroft from Thornton-Cleveleys
++Leeds
Linda Britton & Denby from Leeds LxGR, Michael Grayson from Sheffield, Janie Macqueen from
Fenny Compton
Geoffrey Cope & Queenie from Leeds GRxL, Claire Domville from Timperley, Anita Metcalfe from
Warwick
John Greenwood & Austin from Knottingley L, Louise Lancaster from Shipley, David Windhaber
from Northampton
Kath Harrison & Betty from Leeds GSD, Peter Emmerson from Durham, Andrew London from
Hereford
Mark Harrison & Simba from Huddersfield GRxL, M Desborough from South Shields, Sarah
Stanley from Rugby
Hilary Heane & Chandler from Leeds GRxL, Carolyne McBride from Sale, Samantha Hanley from
Telford
Rachel Looby & Joy from Harrogate GRxL, Graeme Collin from Leeds, Tina Williams from
Southampton
Lindsey Moore & Charlotte from Cleckheaton GR, Julie Bateman from Billingham
Albert Ruffles & Kendal from York GRxGSD, Mrs Mitchell from Inverurie, Mandy Matkin from
Burntwood
Eric Smith & Charlie from Wakefield GRxL, Sarah Ibbotson from Wigan, Samantha Hanley from
Telford
Brittany Stead & Honey from Cleckheaton GR, Doris Milligan from Clitheroe, Christine Fowler from
Southam
++Liverpool
George Eastwood & Nugget from Bootle L, Glynis Telford from Northwich, Caroline Lyons from
Nuneaton
Tracey Finn & Freda from Liverpool L, John Davis from Bolton, Ann Burley from Manchester,
Kathleen Shepherd from Bolton, Jude Jennison from Warwick
Carol Godman & George from Liverpool LxGR, Sharron Marie Burns from Wallasey, Linda
Langman from Milton Keynes
David Gwilliam & Kenton from Warrington GRxL, Wendy Cunningham from Dundee, Caroline &
Michael Evason from Warwick
Stephen Joiner & Jodie from Woodchurch GRxL, Lesley Ashworth from Cheadle, Tina Williams
from Southampton
Susan Jones & Joan from Warrington L, Anne Pollitt from Nelson, Rebecca Leat from Towcester
Alan McComb & Hugo from Liverpool GRxL, Anne Maddox from Stoke-on-Trent, David Yarwood
from Birmingham
Ken McDonnell & Arthur from Southport GRxL, Leslie Leach from Saint Helens, Barbara Swain
from Leamington Spa
Beryl Moss & Hobbs from Malpas GRxL, Barbara Burston from Northwich, Sian Simmons from
Kenilworth
Colette Ormond & Urwin from Birkenhead L, Jenness Turner from Preston, Deborah Kelsey from
Coventry
Ann Osborne & Ally from Birkenhead L, Norman Feely from Wirral, Deborah Kelsey from Coventry
Darren Powell & Milo from Liverpool GRxL, Allison Dickinson from Chester, Ann Hubble from
Birmingham
Graham Ross & Des from Liverpool GRxL, Catherine Corby from Wirral, Lorraine Harrison from
Kidderminster
Alice Sealeaf & Rona from Wirral GR, Ellen Marshall from Bootle, Pam Kimmins from Birmingham
Michelle Sherrington & Betsy from Bootle GRxL, Henrietta Perkins from Southport, Sian Simmons
from Kenilworth
Lesley Simpson & Pippa from Liverpool GRxL, Doctor Lesley Batchelor from Macclesfield, Laura
Knowles from Solihull
Lisa Speed & Obie from Wirral GRxL, Lynda Hamblet from Bolton, Beth Julian from Leicester
Kirsty Stirland-Smith & Yuri from Congleton GRxL, Angela Wilcock from Sowerby Bridge, Giovanni
Mantella from Moreton-in-Marsh
Julie Tree & Quip from Southport LxGR, Robert Sampson from Liverpool, Denise Bright from
Kidlington
John Watson & Jake from Liverpool GRxL, Andrew Jamieson from Wirral, Anita Metcalfe from
Warwick
Jill Whitmore & Foxy from Chester GRxGSD, Janet Franklin from Saint Helens, Philip Plant from
Leamington Spa
++London
Steven Burge & Rufus from London GRxL, Heather Short from West Molesey, Carla Alves Da Silva
from Solihull
Femida Banu Dadabhai & Eddie from Ilford GRxGSD, Andrea Weddle from Enfield, Rosemary
Jackson from Leamington Spa
Philip Dennis & Scooby from Merton LxGR, Megan White from London, Paul Dodd from Westbury
On Severn
Gill Fox & Cannon from Croydon GRxL, Lynn Bament from Rochester, Rowena Styles from
Worcester
Tim Gebbels & Arthur from London L, Jane Mills from Maidstone, Karen Robbens from Leamington
Spa
Ismael Ibrahim & Huxley from London LxGR, Jackie Meyer from London, Tracy Twomey from
Leamington Spa
Paul Kelley & Olive from Chelmsford GRxL, Karen and Grace Thompson from Rayleigh, Julie Arnull
from Stourbridge
Donald Knight & Isaac from Romford GRxL, Lynne Knapp from Huntingdon, Julia Maxwell from
Kenilworth
Ropafadzo Matibenga & Ernie from London GR, Tony Jose from Woodall Spa, Barbara Walker from
Sutton Coldfield
Nilesh Mistry & Honey from London GRxL, James Cooke from Cambridge, Ruth Philpott from
Malvern
Karen Robinson & Daphne from London GRxL, Judy Entwistle from Luton, Peter Ratcliffe from
Kings Langley, Mrs Coughlan from Lutterworth
Deborah Steiner & Wag from London L, Michele Green from Billericay, Sandra Hoffman from
Coventry
Diane Stephen & Goldie from Uxbridge LxGR, Sue Gibson from Barnet, Paul Dodd from Westbury
On Severn
Ivy Temple & Lionel from London GRxL, Lynn Lumsden from Rochester, Ruth Mercer from
Warwick
++Maidstone
Mark Bailey & Rolo from Gravesend GRxL, Stacey Moar from Cambridge, Carla Alves Da Silva
from Solihull
Irene Balcombe & Kalie from Folkestone L, Brenda Martin from Bexleyheath, Terri Chambers from
Redditch
Barry Beeson & Bracken from Lancing GRxL, Kathryn Wroe-Brown from Colchester, Ruth Wood
from Coventry
Ellen Bratby & Inca from Sevenoaks L, George Wall from Thatcham, Janie Macqueen from Fenny
Compton
Ivor Jones & Badger from Sittingbourne GRxL, Roy Brown from Hemel Hempstead, Anita Metcalfe
from Warwick
Paul Lemm & Alex from Bognor Regis GR, Anthony Oram from Chippenham, J Roberts from
Brackley
Mark Mansworth & Sage from Worthing GRxFCR, Jean Beniston from Bognor Regis, John Rogers
from Bromsgrove
Laura Ridley & Kit from Burgess Hill LxGSD, Suzanne Patrick from Rochester, Beryl Wyrko from
Leicester
Christo Thiardt & Milo from Canterbury GSD, Paula Guy from Sittingbourne, Carla Nieuwenhuizen
from Banbury
++Manchester
Lisa Daley & Nellie from Blackpool GRxL, Tom Innes from Dalgety Bay, Sian Simmons from
Kenilworth
Dennis Freedman & Barney from Bury GRxL, Anne Palphramand from York, Julie Jones from York,
Anita Metcalfe from Warwick
Carole Holmes & Inca from Blackpool LxGR, Heather Lowe from Bolton, Jane Innes from
Stourbridge
Marie Howarth & Bertie from Oldham L, Leonora Tromans from Kidderminster, Jill Overton from
Birmingham
Deirdre Lee & Topper from Wigan L, Stan Millward from Darlington, Mrs Wood from Leicester
Alan McLoughlin & Gelert from Manchester GRxL, Pamela Reeve from Nantwich, Rowena Styles
from Worcester
Andrew Nattrass & Felix from Heywood L, Roger Steele MBE from Sheffield, Jude Jennison from
Warwick
Janet Pilling & Tigger from Accrington L, Peter McGuinness from Sheffield, Trudy Bond from
Wellesbourne
++Newcastle
Jessica Atkinson & Lola from Wallsend LxGR, Anne Roberts from Edinburgh, Jane Plant from
Solihull
Harry Ellis & Urma from Washington L, Maggie Taylor from Currie, Deborah Kelsey from Coventry
Chelsea Greeley & Locky from Newcastle GRxL, Jennifer Waddell from Letham, Catherine Parker
from Telford
Liam Hackett & Carlton from Hebburn GRxL, Michael & Jean Bird from Dumfries, Samantha
Hanley from Telford
Stewart Ingham & Conway from Saltburn GRxL, Valerie Will from Ayr, Jill Overton from
Birmingham
William Jackson & Hamish from Whitehaven GRxL, Denise Dudds from Biggar, Lesley Stewart
from South Queensferry, Sian Simmons from Kenilworth
Gill Jenkins & Bonnie from Darlington L, Clare Murray from Carluke, Deborah Kelsey from
Coventry
Angela Jolly & Krystal from Cleator Moor GRxGSD, Robert & Vera Gordon from Aberdeen, Mandy
Matkin from Burntwood
Paul Laing & June from Barrow-in-Furness L, John Potter from Dunfermline, Anne Baulch from
Rugby
Helen Moffatt & Max from Choppington GRxL, Pam Cruickshank from Aberdeen, Maria Leggett
from Oxford
Helen Robinson & Daisy from Newcastle Upon Tyne LxGR, Ruth Thompson from Ayr, Janie
Macqueen from Fenny Compton
James Robert Sales & Kasper from Morpeth GRxL, Doctor G Filser from Truro, Roger Morgan from
West Malvern
Rachel Simpson & Kara from Newcastle Upon Tyne GRxL, Helen Baird from Belfast, Roger Morgan
from West Malvern
Ben Siney & Logan from Morpeth LxGR, Carol & David Greer from Kirkcaldy, Erica Dowse from
Coventry
Brian Usher & Monty from South Shields GSD, A Adams from Banchory, Carla Nieuwenhuizen
from Banbury
++Nottingham
Peter Blueitt & Kyso from Rotherham L, Doctor Claire Doidge from Sheffield, Dennis Marsden from
Sheffield, Anne Baulch from Rugby
Thomas Briggs & Winnie from Ripley L, Lorraine Meehan from Wetherby, Dawn Collins from
Telford
Irene Cooper & Ziggy from Chesterfield GRxL, James Hynd from Glenrothes, Claire Green from
Southam
Nathan Cooper & Austin from Doncaster GRxL, Kathleen Sluggett from Exmouth, D Ward from
Rugby
Chelsee Dickinson & Kaisha from Doncaster GRxGSD, Mrs Sherred from Shipley, Mandy Matkin
from Burntwood
Samantha Lacey & Liz from Doncaster GRxL, Iris Cargill from Arbroath, Claire Green from
Southam
Fred Marklew & Honey from Mexborough GRxL, Kath Kelly from Tamworth, Elbert Loubser from
Bicester
Melanie Myers & Drummond from Sheffield GRxL, Derek Mattocks from Doncaster, Mrs Bedding
from Southam
Lyndsey Rushton & Sandy from Doncaster LxGR, Angela Woodhead from Clitheroe, Jane Plant
from Solihull
Anne Sutherland & Ice from Newark GRxL, Sandra Taggart from Lisburn, Janet Ball from
Stourbridge
Lynne Thorpe & Polly from High Peak GRxL, Patricia Davis from York, Mrs Dawson from
Kenilworth
John Townley & Amy from Doncaster GR, Mrs D Miller from Plymouth, J Roberts from Brackley
Keith Williamson & Heidi from Rotherham GRxL, Angela Baker from Taunton, Ruth Philpott from
Malvern
++Peterborough
Rebecca Atkinson & Flora from Norwich GR, Carolyn Lantaff from Rayleigh, Regina Cardo from
Kingswinford
Mark Banham & Zante from Norwich GRxGSD, Myriam Steadman from Welling, Peter Meadows
from Lutterworth
Thomas Clark & Russell from Cromer GRxL, Janice McCauley from Sittingbourne, Ruth Wood from
Coventry
Margaret Green & Pebbles from Norwich LxGR, Patricia Canning from Southampton, Sally Elliott
from Olney
Sheila Husband & Verity from King’s Lynn GRxL, Angela and Paul James from Chelmsford, Jackie
Ellison from Coventry
Carol Lyne & Annie from Lowestoft GR, Elizabeth Vickers from High Wycombe, J Roberts from
Brackley
Sandra Robinson & Rose from Dereham GR, Myra Pritchard from Southampton, Gill Moss from
Banbury
Reverend Simon Stokes & Hope from Norwich L, Rosemary Thompson from Witham, Karen
Robbens from Leamington Spa
Phillip Taylor & Ben from Norwich GSD, Rebecca Forrest from Southampton, Mrs Tindall from
Coventry
Sarah Wilby & Sassy from Beccles L, Diane Page from Clacton-on-Sea
Hannah Young & Diane from Felixstowe LxGR, Joanne Hudson from Chelmsford, Tracy Twomey
from Leamington Spa
++Reading
Richard Barrett & DJ from Woburn Sands GRxGSD, Judy Cockburn from Chelmsford, Trudy Evans
from Coventry
Janet Bennett & Billy from Witney GR, Fran Taylor from Westerham, Jacquie Williams from
Moreton-in-Marsh
Bill Douglas & Zorba from Crawley GRxGSD, Marjorie Culham from Manningtree, Peter Meadows
from Lutterworth
Vicki Edwards & Queenie from Oxford L, Verity Smith from Ipswich, Mrs Phipps from Lechlade
Philip Fearon & Maxwell from Ascot GR, Christine Burton from Hoddesdon, Gill Moss from Banbury
Kate Giannetto & Paula from Milton Keynes L, Rachel Spillane from Newbury, Mrs Phipps from
Lechlade
Jason Hallett & Tiny from Sunbury On Thames GRxL, Yvonne Neary from Ashford, Julia Maxwell
from Kenilworth
Trevor Johns & Kelti from Swindon L, Nicola Andrews from Wokingham, Annette Smith from
Swadlincote
Geoff Lloyd & Arleigh from Lancing L, Lois Jane Waite from London, Karen Robbens from
Leamington Spa
Susan Manterfield & Ron from High Wycombe GRxL, Lesley Warren from Basildon, Elizabeth
Greenaway from Wickford, Jackie Ellison from Coventry
Daphne Quinton & Gloria from Chichester LxGR, Jackie Youell from Rickmansworth, Su Brooker
from Harpenden, Meredith Mistry from Harrow, Anna Adams from Daventry
Carl Williams & Dancer from High Wycombe GRxGSD, Karen Bateman from Huntingdon, Trudy
Evans from Coventry
++Shrewsbury
Bradlee Atcheson & Dusty from Tamworth GRxL, Brenda Abson from Rotherham, Carol Mannion
from Coventry
Michael Collier & Stevie from Leek LxGR, Dorianne Butler from Malton, Sandra Bradburn-Vazquez
from Lichfield
Ann Gower & Franklin from Walsall L, Jennifer Emmerson from South Shields, Rebecca Leat from
Towcester
Elizabeth Hawkins & Buckle from Telford L, Bosiljka Despinic-Jovetic from Solihull, Mrs Phipps
from Lechlade
Shannon Hemming & Dennis from Halesowen L, Wendy D’Arcy from Northwich, Christina Bloxham
from Worcester
Ben Jesson & Uska from Kingswinford L, Patricia Joyce from Abingdon, Jeanette Hannon from
Oldbury
Kelly Keen & Allie from Newcastle Under Lyme L, Gill Gardiner from Kingswinford, Karen Robbens
from Leamington Spa
Karen Lamond & Vicky from Stoke-on-Trent GRxL, Janet Peters from Kingsteignton, Geoff and
Rowena Myers from Exeter, Jackie Ellison from Coventry
Jason Lane & Crispin from Oldbury L, Ann Smith from Ilkeston, Mrs Chester from Stratford-UponAvon
Brian Moores & Merlin from Halesowen GRxGSD, Stacey Dawn Roberts from Mansfield, Sue
Herman from Warwick
William Pickford & Kruger from Stoke-on-Trent GRxL, Mark Wilson from Southport, Mrs Bedding
from Southam
John Rowlands & Duke from Stoke-on-Trent L, June Buffry from Ashby De La Zouch, Olwyn
Stevenson from Wolverhampton
Carol Sadler & Marnie from Stone GRxL, Lynn Airey from Chesterfield, Julia Duncan from
Daventry
Julie Southcombe & India from Bridgnorth GRxL, Josephine Daykin from Nottingham, Claire Green
from Southam
Russell Stephenson & Sparks from Brierley Hill GRxL, Donna Lee from Preston, Sian Simmons
from Kenilworth
Jonathon Watkiss & JJ from Stafford GRxFCR, Carol Bruce from Prestwick, Alison Jordan from
Stafford
Bill Wood & Wyn from Halesowen L, Christine Neeson from Nottingham, Jenny Ashley-Smith from
Coventry
++Southampton
Basil Chappell & Amos from Fareham L, Jean Batchelor from Solihull, Karen Robbens from
Leamington Spa
Angela Emerson & Lynton from Salisbury GR, Mrs Scott from Newton Abbot, Elizabeth Morris from
Tamworth
Thelma Evans & Zebedee from Ferndown GRxL, Susan Burge from Weston-Super-Mare, Ruth
Philpott from Malvern
Aaron Fowler & Banwell from Yateley L, Sheelagh Sale from Winscombe, Joan Perry from
Southam
Kenneth Hampton-Harrison & Ike from Cerne Abbas L, Joanne Hateley from Sutton Coldfield,
Janie Macqueen from Fenny Compton
Laura Potter & Liam from Hayling Island LxGR, Steve Haberfield from Derby, Joyce Bartlett from
Rugby
Stephen Radmore & Usef from Southampton L, David Miller from Fenny Compton, Jeanette
Hannon from Oldbury
Heather Sandra Tucker & Otto from Melksham LxGR, Anna Green from Chelmsford, Sally Elliott
from Olney
Eric Tuckwell & Zola from Newport GRxGSD, Yvonne Strawson from Cwmbran, Peter Meadows
from Lutterworth
Nicola West & Hilly from Romsey LxGR, S De Gruchy from Jersey, Tracy Twomey from
Leamington Spa
Welwyn Garden City
Elliott Belford & Charlie from Chelmsford L, Catherine Beisley from Godalming, Mr & Mrs Poulter
from Stratford-Upon-Avon
Ann Fairweather & Autumn from Brentwood GRxL, Colin Comley from Swindon, Carol Laycock
from Wantage, D Ward from Rugby
Phil Jarvis & Zeeta from High Wycombe GRxGSD, Sue Langdon from Longfield, Peter Meadows
from Lutterworth
Donna Plaice & Sidney from Banbury L, Pat Walsh from Colchester, Mrs Phipps from Lechlade
Jennifer Revel & Andy from Tring GR, Pat Tuffs from Dartford, J Roberts from Brackley
Helen Tanner & Jessie from Ipswich GRxL, Pamela Lancaster-Smith from Worcester Park, D Ward
from Rugby
Valerie Taylor & Elton from Broxbourne GR, Patricia Harlow from Dereham, Barbara Walker from
Sutton Coldfield
Christopher Watt & William from Hemel Hempstead L, Michele Green from Billericay, Christina
Bloxham from Worcester
++Breeding Stock
Bella, 27.05.14, L, Bitch, Mrs JM Perry from Southam, Ms L Burnett from Derby
Chrissie, 21.02.14, L, Bitch, Mr & Mrs Cope from Birmingham, Ms E Carr from Maidstone
Darcy, 13.03.14, L, Bitch, Outside Bred, Mrs K Holt from Abingdon
Echo, 18.02.14, GSD, Bitch, Mrs SE Wilkins from Rugby, Mr I Boyde from Bangor
Firth, 01.04.14, L, Stud, Outside Bred, Mrs F Taylor from Westerham
Gabby, 01.04.14, L, Bitch, Mrs A Ashley from Daventry, Mrs S Taylor from Farnham
Gael, 21.02.14, L, Bitch, Mrs A Ashley from Daventry, Miss K Bennett from Mountain Ash, Miss E
Bullimore from Pontypool
Greg, 18.02.14, L, Stud, Mrs A Ashley from Daventry, Mrs M Jefferies from Nuneaton
Hazel, 12.03.14, L, Bitch, Mrs J Overton from Birmingham, Mrs J Overton from Birmingham
Heidi, 12.03.14, L, Bitch, Mrs J Overton from Birmingham, Mrs J Taylor from Canvey Island
Honey, 06.05.14, GRxL, Bitch, Mr P Rackham from Rugby, Mrs M Luxton from Gillingham
Hope, 06.05.14, GRxL, Bitch, Mr P Rackham from Rugby, Mr J Harding from Leamington Spa
Ivy, 14.05.14, GRxL, Bitch, Mrs J Brinkworth from Nuneaton, Mrs A Arnold from Swindon
Jadie, 21.02.14, L, Bitch, Mr & Mrs Dawson from Kenilworth, Mrs S Baxter from Yeovil
Jasmin, 23.05.14, L, Bitch, Outside Bred, Mrs J Parker from Warwick
Jasmine, 18.02.14, GRxGR, Bitch, Mrs M Cheesman from Southam, Mrs SJ Curry from
Birmingham
Jeffrey, 14.05.14, GR, Stud, Outside Bred, Mrs P Revell from Solihull
Jethro, 06.05.14, L, Stud, Outside Bred, Mrs P Belton from Didcot
Maria, 12.03.14, L, Bitch, Mrs A Ashley from Daventry, Mrs S Hawkins from Stafford
Paris, 27.05.14, L, Bitch, Mrs JM Perry from Southam, Mrs K Wilson from Livingston
Penny, 01.04.14, L, Bitch, Outside Bred, Mrs J Cairns from Wirral
Perry, 06.05.14, L, Stud, Mrs JM Perry from Southam, Mr DA Smith from Bridge Of Don
Unis, 18.02.14, GRXL, Bitch, Mrs S Heaps from Bedford, Mrs J Wilson from Glasgow
Could you be a brood bitch holder?
We are always looking for more volunteer brood bitch holders, who look after our guide dog
“mums” in their own homes. You need to live within an hour’s drive of our National Breeding
Centre, near Leamington, not work more than four hours per day, have a secure garden, and be
able to transport the guide dog mum to and from the centre. For more information, please call
0845 3727432 or e-mail bshenquiries@guidedogs.org.uk
[Back to contents]
End.