Devon,
Cornwall & South West Beagle Society
History
The inspiration
for the formation of the Devon, Cornwall & South West Beagle
Society is down to one lady, Mrs M M Stevenson (Stevee). The
first meeting took place in her sitting room at Bude in Cornwall
in 1969. The meeting was attended by half a dozen Beagle
enthusiasts in the West Country, namely Salter, Baskerville,
Eslick, Ninnis and of course 'Stevee'.
The inaugral
meeting followed on February 15th 1970 at the Moorland Hotel,
Shough, Plymouth attended by 28 founder Members, and the KC gave
approval to the formation of the Devon & Cornwall Beagle
Society in April 1970.
The first elected
officers were: president Mrs Maisie Salter, Chairman Mr Mel Ninnis,
Vice-chairman Mrs Una Baskerville, Secretary Mrs M M
Stevenson, Treasurer Mrs H Halliwell, and a Committee of eight.
Their first Open
Show was held in the same year with the Royal Cornwall
Agricultural Society, followed by a Members' Limited show in
Exeter the following year.
In those early
days membership of the Executive Committee was reserved to
residents of Devon and Cornwall. In 1977 the KC approved an
amendment to the residential clause and it was widened to
include Dorset and Somerset. Also in that year two new Committee
Members were elected, one from each County, Teleri Sincock and
Mick Carpenter.
In 1977 the KC
granted the Society Championship status in 1978, and in that
year Stevee indicated that she wished to retire as Secretary but
agreed to stay on as Show Manager for the first Championship show.
The present
Secretary, Mick Carpenter, was elected to this position. The
judge for the first Championship Show was Marion Spavin.
In 1990, under KC
instructions, the name was changed to how it is today as they
felt it better reflected the area of its operations.
In 1995 the
Society celebrated its Silver Jubilee show with an entry of
201/272, judged by Ferelith Somerfield.
In 2012 The Devon,
Cornwall & South West Beagle Society suffered the double loss of
its President and Hon Secretary - Mrs Gwen and Mr Mick
Carpenter. A huge loss to not only the DC&SW BS but most dog
clubs in the South West. In memory of all the hard work and
dedication Mick and Gwen put into keeping this club such a huge
success a piece of crystal will be offered at each Championship
show in their honour.
