WINNIE’S WHEELBARROW, a feature named in honour of Winifred Burgis. This contains all the ‘odds and sods’ without a home elsewhere in LOWDOWN.

An almost instant tradition has been established by the branch - the ringing of Dusty’s Bell by Brian at the start of our committee meetings and other activities.

This was the brilliant idea of Roy Drew and is a lovely way to remember our absent and much missed friend. Many thanks, Roy.

Like all of you, I have always wondered what use are webmasters? A summer camping trip to the north Norfolk coast with Miranda and Derek provided one explanation. One can hitch the hounds to them when investigating the produce of a fish smokery. Those hounds are going nowhere!

Please send other webmaster suggestions to: editor@bassethoundowners.org.uk


On one of this summer’s camping expedition - this time into deepest Dorset - we were with ‘the boys’, sitting on the quay wall at Poole watching the boats etc. when a grandmother with her granddaughter approached us.

The woman asked the child, “Emily, do you know what type of dogs these are?” As our hounds were facing away from the girl so that she couldn’t see their heads, and she was only about six, I thought it was a bit of a hard question to ask. However, she studied them for a while and confidently answered, “Yes, they are the type of dogs with balls!”

Above is, to be honest, a quite gratuitous photo of our beautiful granddaughter, Amy, ‘handling’ Beryl and Roy’s Herbie on the Airman’s Grave walk in September.

I realise that I have compromised my editorial objectivity by including this and am prepared to offer my resignation. But hey, if I am going to be hanged for stealing one sheep, it may as well be for two: Happy Christmas, Amy, Papa loves ya!

In fact, the committee would like to thank all those young members who came on our walks in 2009 and also to our Fun Day we hope you all enjoyed yourselves and wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

See you all again next year!