First Published: 1996

SOFTBACK - 359 pages

Published 1996

edited by Bev Harrison (Biltcliffe)

ISBN: 0952717409

Dimensions: 21cm x 15cm x 2mm approx

Book Weight: 670g approx

Also produced as a limited edition of 200 copies in hardback.

Preface:

The history of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is rather poorly documented. Much important information about personalities and dogs alike has never found its way into print and passed on with those who stored it in their minds. Similarly much important correspondence and many invaluable photographs belonging to our forerunners in the breed have undoubtedly been thrown out by relatives, unaware of their significance, when their owners, sadly but inevitably, made their way to the show ring in the sky Nothing can be done to redeem such losses. Consequently many successful owners and breeders and their dogs are simply names in lists of champions or catalogues.

Most is probably known about those who did so much to get the breed recognised by the Kennel Club in 1935 and one or two have been given the mantle of folk heroes. But is the debt we owe to those who subsequently promoted the breed throughout the country, especially after the Second World War, not equally great? We know comparatively little about those who did much to popularise the Stafford at that time and helped to establish new clubs such as the North West in 1946, to cater for the small, but ever growing, band of new fanciers. The reasons for this unfortunate state of affairs may be many but probably the chief one is that the Stafford is not a "rich man's breed". The image of the typical Stafford owner as "cloth cap, muffler and clogs" has been carefully nurtured by some, either through misguided loyalty or romantic fantasy, to the breed's detriment. Many of those who did so much for the breed in those early days did earn their living by the sweat of their brow in now defunct heavy industry or "down the mine" but were still gentlemen who could hold their heads high in any company Some of the others were in business or one of the professions and were comparatively comfortable despite the austerity of the post-war era. Then, as now, the Stafford was a dog for "all men" and "all seasons".

The main difference between the Stafford and some other breeds is that there has never been any large S.B.T. kennels with funds for extensive advertising nor has it had any rich benefactors who may have supported the establishment of photographic archives etc. Photography was expensive by today's standards and cameras still very primitive - it was not until the 1960's that the now universal 35mm camera, with 24 or 36 exposure cassettes and hence the ability to take many photographs, came into vogue.

It is not the intention of this book to make good any such losses - this is impossible. Nor is it the intention to give a dusty historical account of the North West S.B.T.C. although it is only right and proper to recognise those who have served the club so well over the past 50 years. Rather it is hoped to give some insight into those to whom we are indebted for making the North West the club it is today — simply 'the best' — and the factors which have influenced the Stafford in this part of the United Kingdom. This does not mean a narrow parochial approach to our breed as, unlike the pre-war era, local breed type has largely died out and Stafford type should now be international and not just national. Consequently through the contributions of several doyens of international repute it is hoped that this book will give some idea of the facors which have influenced the Stafford's development on a wider scale.

But, what is the North West of England? When the club was formed in 1946, the Pennines, as now, formed a natural division between the N.W.S.B.T.C. and the older Northern Counties S.B.T.C. (founded 1943) in Yorkshire. To the South was the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club (founded 1935) itself and the N.W.'s territory stretched to the Scottish Border. Activities were focused on industrial Lancashire especially towns like Bolton and Bury. As the Stafford increased in popularity, more clubs were formed which affected the N.W.S.B.T.C.'s area of operation; firstly Potteries S.B.T.C. in the late 1960's then Merseyside S.B.T.C. in 1978 and latterly Morecambe Bay and Cumbria S.B.T.C. in 1986. The area served by the North West now comprises the Greater Manchester conurbation, Lancashire, except the northern areas, and parts of north Cheshire. Owners living in border areas between clubs have the choice of supporting either or both, but a few fanciers, although now dwelling in one of the newer clubs' areas, still resolutely think of themselves as 'North West'!

However this presents the problem of deciding who and what dogs are 'North West'!  To avoid conflict every effort has been made to stick to the areas served at any particular time but this has not been easy and if any mistakes have been made the other clubs will surely be forgiving. After all the book is not just a celebration of the North West's first 50 years - it is a celebration of THE STAFFORD!

To many, publishing a book is a daunting task but not one from which a club like the North West would flinch. We owe it to those who laid the foundations 50 years ago, to those who built on those foundations, to those who are the Club today and, by no means least, to posterity. In bringing the project to fruition we are indebted to everyone who made a contribution. We are especially grateful to the doyens of the breed who have taken time to write the many interesting and often thought provoking articles, to those who gave of their time (and hospitality) to share their experiences and reminiscences, to those who responded to questionnaires, or contributed in any other small way, and lastly, but not least, to our advertisers whose photographs give an extra dimension and interest.

All this would have been impossible without the "back-room" team -the sub-committee set up to see the project through. No one will object we are sure, if Bev Biltcliffe, the Club's Publicity Officer, is singled out for special mention. Bev breathed, ate and slept (or tossed and turned) 'the book' for many months and without her drive, enthusiasm and industry the project could easily have folded. The efforts of the other team members, Tec Norton who as Treasurer principally looked after the financial side, Liz Stanway who dealt with the advertising, Gordon, Bev's long suffering husband who became an expert on takeaway meals, Les Aspin, the Club's President (1995) and lastly the Chairman must also be recorded for it really was a team effort. An extra special 'thank you' is due to Julie Crawshaw who, although not a committee member, became one of the team and did a marvellous job on the word processor. Julie gave willingly of her time, days as well as evenings, deciphering manuscripts, transcribing taped interviews and taking notes at meetings. Without her efforts, the tasks of editing and compilation would have been much more difficult. A final thank you is due to Marki Dewar for designing the artwork for the book's cover.

This book, we hope, will be seen as something new and something different in the breed's annals. The task has not been light, sometimes it has been onerous but, fortunately, generally enjoyable. It has been a labour of love - love of THE STAFFORD.

Archie Bryden (Chairman 1995)

Contents:

• Preface

• Dog CC Winners at North West Championship Shows

• Bitch CC Winners at North West Championship Shows

• 50 Years of North West Champions

• Prolific Black/Brindles of the North West by Norman Berry (Rendorn)

• History of Red Breeding in the North West by John Could Gibson (Tenax)

• Champions of the North West by Les Aspin (Scarthwaite)

• Some Early North West Dogs.

• The North West Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club First Committee and Officers . Past North West Officers

• Prominent North West Members

• Active North West Members Past and Present.

• North West Early Years by Mary Pringle

• North West's Early Shows by A. D. Thomas

• Reminiscences

• How the North West Achieved CC's

• North West Dinner Dances.

• An Article by Nap Cairns

• North West Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club First Open Show

• Breed Standard No. 1 — 1935

• Eric Hargreaves — Reminiscences

• Our First Breed Council and the Meetings involved in forming the 1948 Breed Standard.

• Breed Standard No. 2 — 1948.

• Breed Standard No. 3 — 1987

• The Three Differing Breed Standards by Alan Mitchell (Hoplite)

• Comments on the S.B.T. Breed Standards by Vic Pounds

• Why Linebreed? by Norman Berry (Rendorn)

• Type — As I Understand It — As I Try To Breed It and Other Observations by Bill McKnight (Belnite)

• The Critique by AlecWaters

• Artificial Insemination in the Dog by George Earle (Judael)

• The Stafford in the Terrier Group by Les Aspin (Scarthwaite)

• Temperament by Claire Lee (Constones)

• Judging the Staffordshire Bull Terrier by Joyce Shorrock (Eastaff)

• Puppy To Champion

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