LOWDOWN Summer 2013 page 2

The Editor’s Bark
. . . . woof! woof!

Hi, everyone,

Welcome to this, issue number 11 of Lowdown, I do hope that you find in it something to enjoy.


Spring came and went without making too much of an impression - certainly few dry, bright, days - now, summer is almost with us. Let us hope we get a chance to enjoy some warm days in the sun with our hounds.

In April, Frankie and I had an early outing with our caravan - towing it down to the New Forest for four nights. Luckily, the weather was on our side and we managed to take some lovely walks with ‘the boys’.

Locals told us that they had never known the Forest to be so wet for the time of the year - it was quite boggy with lots of standing water. Thankfully, we had hardly any rain during our stay (just a little one night) and on one sunny evening it was even warm enough to have dinner sitting outside.

Hopefully, a taste of things to come!

While on a visit to Brockenhurst we suddenly came across seven donkeys casually lying down on the grass verge on either side of the road, only a little way off the High Street.

It was a totally unexpected and very weird sight. Seeing the New Forest ponies was familiar enough, but this was something different and, because of the location, a bit surreal.

Both Pablo and Nico, who were on their leads, seemed a bit scared and gave the donkeys as wide a berth as possible as we passed by. Each of them keeping as quiet as possible and almost walking on tiptoes, as if in a cartoon.

We were not sure whether they regarded them as enormous dogs, or what.

The donkeys, for their part, were completely unfazed by these short canines and continued basking in the Hampshire sun. It would have made a great cover photograph, but we had left the camera back in the car.

We are greatly looking forward to planning further caravan adventures throughout the summer.

Ever eager to offer novel ways that we can enjoy the company of our hounds and fellow owners the Branch is organising a Basset Hound Camp Weekend at the end of August.

Branch member, Phoebe Herridge, has kindly offered the use of a field at her smallholding in Northiam, near Rye, for use of members who would like to caravan, motorhome, or tent, on the Saturday night.

On Sunday, a Branch walk will take place on private land a little way from the camp site. Of course, non-camping members are also welcome to attend this. The walk will be followed, back at the camp, by a simple sausage-in-a-bun lunch (weather permitting), or bring along your own picnic, if you prefer.

We hope that as many of you as possible will take the opportunity to either stay overnight on the Saturday or just come over on the Sunday for the walk and lunch. Portaloo facilities will be available on the site - you will be relieved to hear.

We hope that this new walk venue might attract members from Kent who, perhaps, find the journey into East and West Sussex for the Branch walks a little too far. It promises to be a lot of fun.

I know that you will enjoy reading two articles in this issue which highlight how committed owners are to their beloved Basset Hounds.

Sian Cornthwaite writes about Dylan and the problems that arose after he snacked on a pair of tights. There is also a piece, first mentioned in the Daily Mail, about Bumblebee, a poor Basset Hound born without a foot and needing expensive ground-breaking surgery to improve her life.

Our striking cover story is about a new stage show, Major Tom. This is the brainchild of South East Branch member, Vicky Melody, and features her eponymous hound. We visit a performance at this year’s Brighton Festival.

It is good to report that the number of hounds attending our Branch walks continues to grow. For many of us these monthly ‘meets’ are greatly enjoyed. Our ‘boys’ certainly know when we are travelling to one, getting very excited. The prospect of walking under summer sun makes them even more anticipated, especially as a few of these are followed by picnics.

One date which is an absolute must for your diary is that of our Branch Fun Day 2013, which takes place on 18th August. As usual, there will be plenty of fun and games and some lovely buffet food. We are honoured to have Mrs Lana Johnson judge our fun classes. Lana normally judges at championship level, so please come along and participate in this good-natured competition.

Finally, I would like to mention my colleagues who serve on the committee of the South East Branch. All of them work so very hard to make the walks and other events such a great success, even though their endeavours are not properly recognised and appreciated by our rather remote parent Club. I know that the people who really matter - you, our loyal members - wholly support our efforts. So, thank you all for this.

Brian summed-up all our feelings at this year’s AGM when he referred to the several hounds sleeping stretched out on the hall floor, “These are what it’s all about and why we do it”.

Absolutely spot-on, Mr Chairman. Very well said!

I wish you and your wonderful hounds a really enjoyable summer.

Enjoy each other!

editor@bassethoundowners.org.uk

Hi, everyone,

Welcome to this, issue number 11 of Lowdown, I do hope that you find in it something to enjoy.


Spring came and went without making too much of an impression - certainly few dry, bright, days - now, summer is almost with us. Let us hope we get a chance to enjoy some warm days in the sun with our hounds.

In April, Frankie and I had an early outing with our caravan - towing it down to the New Forest for four nights. Luckily, the weather was on our side and we managed to take some lovely walks with ‘the boys’.

Locals told us that they had never known the Forest to be so wet for the time of the year - it was quite boggy with lots of standing water. Thankfully, we had hardly any rain during our stay (just a little one night) and on one sunny evening it was even warm enough to have dinner sitting outside.

Hopefully, a taste of things to come!

While on a visit to Brockenhurst we suddenly came across seven donkeys casually lying down on the grass verge on either side of the road, only a little way off the High Street.

It was a totally unexpected and very weird sight. Seeing the New Forest ponies was familiar enough, but this was something different and, because of the location, a bit surreal.

Both Pablo and Nico, who were on their leads, seemed a bit scared and gave the donkeys as wide a berth as possible as we passed by. Each of them keeping as quiet as possible and almost walking on tiptoes, as if in a cartoon.

We were not sure whether they regarded them as enormous dogs, or what.

The donkeys, for their part, were completely unfazed by these short canines and continued basking in the Hampshire sun. It would have made a great cover photograph, but we had left the camera back in the car.

We are greatly looking forward to planning further caravan adventures throughout the summer.

Ever eager to offer novel ways that we can enjoy the company of our hounds and fellow owners the Branch is organising a Basset Hound Camp Weekend at the end of August.

Basset Hounds camping
Basset Hounds caravanning

Drawings courtesy of Sheila Williams©2013

Branch member, Phoebe Herridge, has kindly offered the use of a field at her smallholding in Northiam, near Rye, for use of members who would like to caravan, motorhome, or tent, on the Saturday night.

On Sunday, a Branch walk will take place on private land a little way from the camp site. Of course, non-camping members are also welcome to attend this. The walk will be followed, back at the camp, by a simple sausage-in-a-bun lunch (weather permitting), or bring along your own picnic, if you prefer.

We hope that as many of you as possible will take the opportunity to either stay overnight on the Saturday or just come over on the Sunday for the walk and lunch. Portaloo facilities will be available on the site - you will be relieved to hear.

We hope that this new walk venue might attract members from Kent who, perhaps, find the journey into East and West Sussex for the Branch walks a little too far. It promises to be a lot of fun.

I know that you will enjoy reading two articles in this issue which highlight how committed owners are to their beloved Basset Hounds.

Sian Cornthwaite writes about Dylan and the problems that arose after he snacked on a pair of tights. There is also a piece, first mentioned in the Daily Mail, about Bumblebee, a poor Basset Hound born without a foot and needing expensive ground-breaking surgery to improve her life.

Our striking cover story is about a new stage show, Major Tom. This is the brainchild of South East Branch member, Vicky Melody, and features her eponymous hound. We visit a performance at this year’s Brighton Festival.

It is good to report that the number of hounds attending our Branch walks continues to grow. For many of us these monthly ‘meets’ are greatly enjoyed. Our ‘boys’ certainly know when we are travelling to one, getting very excited. The prospect of walking under summer sun makes them even more anticipated, especially as a few of these are followed by picnics.

One date which is an absolute must for your diary is that of our Branch Fun Day 2013, which takes place on 18th August. As usual, there will be plenty of fun and games and some lovely buffet food. We are honoured to have Mrs Lana Johnson judge our fun classes. Lana normally judges at championship level, so please come along and participate in this good-natured competition.

Finally, I would like to mention my colleagues who serve on the committee of the South East Branch. All of them work so very hard to make the walks and other events such a great success, even though their endeavours are not properly recognised and appreciated by our rather remote parent Club. I know that the people who really matter - you, our loyal members - wholly support our efforts. So, thank you all for this.

Brian summed-up all our feelings at this year’s AGM when he referred to the several hounds sleeping stretched out on the hall floor, “These are what it’s all about and why we do it”.

Absolutely spot-on, Mr Chairman. Very well said!

I wish you and your wonderful hounds a really enjoyable summer.

Enjoy each other!

editor@bassethoundowners.org.uk

Cover of the Basset Hound Owners Club newsletter Lowdown

first published in LOWDOWN

editor Tony Roberts