If ever there was a person who ticked so many boxes for their involvement in the world of dogs it was Pam Wadsworth who died tragically on 2nd of December (it was not COVID-19 related). We have all seen the term 'kindness personified'. Well, that was Pam. 

She knew what she wanted to do with her life when, as a young teenager, she went to work in June and Ernest Froggatt's kennels, housing the well-known Moorcliff English Springer Spaniels and Leonine Pembroke Corgis. There she learnt her trimming skills and all about the two breeds that became a lifetime interest. At this time, she also added Salukis to her list and this involvement was with her to the end. 

We were friendly with June and Ernest and when we stayed with them, our English Setters and Golden Retrievers went into the show kennels and Pam looked after them. Everything she did with dogs was to a very high standard. She was a consummate conditioner of a dog, a superb trimmer and a trainer who got into a dog's mind. 

A friend went to Australia and told Pam how the weather was so good. Pam always felt the cold so this was the country for her. She was a great holiday traveller in later years and took some marvellous train holidays, the last being the Trans-Siberian Express stopping in Mongolia. She loved it. So, arranging a job in Sydney with the Begg family with their kennel of Bichons, Salukis and American Cockers, off she went to Australia. She was there from 1972-1977 and made so many friends, May and John Peters, Stephanie Rickards Erin (Salukis) are just a few to mention. My apologies if I have missed you out. Pam was involved with so many people and such a success with the Beggs' stunning dogs, amongst them UK title holders.

Back in this country and into her 'Dog Shop' stage. Through friends she met Chris Wadsworth, breeder and trainer of Working Spaniels, and they married. Judith Hancock gave Pam the English Springer Hawkhill Blakeney, an important sire. Pam worked him and he won one CC.

My husband had died and I had moved to Bramhall nearer to June and Ernest. Pam, helping as always, started to trim the English Setters and came into partnership with the former breed record holder, Sh Ch Elswood Vagabond King. Pam knew American Cockers in all aspects. She was one of the best judges of the breed. She and Chris bred the famous litter containing Sh Ch Doganodogs Desperate Dan, who made up then went to a friend in Australia. Sh Ch Doganodogs Dizzie Dame who she made up and then gave to her great friend Frank Kane who continued to win CCs into double figures with her. Later she was pleased to qualify in the field for her full title, Yvonne Knapper Weijland's Ch Sundust Me Too.

The next breed she made her own was the Bouvier des Flandre. She was the first breeder to try AI, imported from the famous Dutch kennel Vanenblikhoeve, a bitch, Beryl, who she made up. In all she made up four Champions, including probably her favourite dog Ch Nikolaev Wesley with Doganodogs, Denzil, who made breed history by qualifying in Working Trials CDex UDex WDex. She was a brilliant trainer and a marvellous worker on a committee or as a club officer. 

Secretary of the North West Working Trials Society, she believed the world of dogs is made up of different disciplines - not only showing dogs. A Member of the Kennel Club she faithfully attended the AGMs where she made her feelings known. She was always very interested in the Kennel Club Art collection and how it was displayed. She was a lover of classical music and with a group of friends visited National Trust Houses. She put so much into living - I cannot believe I am writing this because she is dead. 

I am finishing this with some sentences that her American friend Francie Nelson put on Facebook; 'One of the finest persons I will ever know and someone whom no one will ever forget'. I will just add 'Good bye my dear friend, I will never know your like again.'

Funeral Private, no flowers Donations to Saluki Welfare davidcrane@salukiwelfare.org.uk 

Valerie Foss 

The Brightest Star

With no dark clouds surrounding me, I can only see sunshine ahead

Although I will miss you all so terribly, I do regret what has been left unsaid

If I could have said goodbye to you all, especially those I loved so much

I would have but I felt I had to leave without a loved one's touch

 

You may never understand my reasons, but for me I really had to go

What breaks my heart is that I may have hurt you, I beg that this isn't so

I loved you all beyond limits, there aren't enough words to say

But I get that I'm not there so it doesn't matter at the end of the day

 

Yet the words that I leave you now with, are ones that mean the most you see

I ask you to please forgive what I've done, this is really important to me

Live your lives to the full, look after my family I beg you from afar

Then look to the night sky, I'll be there shining brightly from a star

 

I'll be the biggest and brightest thing in the sky, I'll shine you'll see me for sure

So when the heartache comes, just go for a walk, I'll be right outside your door

My light and my love will never dim, on this you can always rely

No matter where in the world you are, you'll see me as the brightest star in the sky.

Copyright Robyn O Connell

Chris Wadsworth

The sudden death of Pam Wadsworth will be felt widely in the dog world and especially in gundog and Bouvier, Corgi and Saluki circles, where she was very well known and respected.

• Sh Ch Doganodogs Dizzy Dame, Top winning American Cocker 1986
 and a present from Pam to Frank

My friendship with Pam goes back to the 1970s when she was a central figure in English Springer circles, working at the Moorcliff kennels and very close to Judith Hancock, Jimmy Cudworth and Michael Boothroyd. When she went to Australia to work for Harry Mackenzie Begg, she handled Sh Ch   Hirontower Elvira Madigan to her Australian title and group success.

When Pam returned to the UK and started up again with a very good bitch, Fennymore Glitterbug, our friendship was rekindled and when Glitterbug had her litter by the new import Kaplars Kwik Step To Sundust, she and her husband Chris invited me to see the litter. There were two outstanding puppies amongst them and my choice was a black bitch and there was also a lovely black dog puppy. Pam would keep them both and I suggested that if she ever wanted to part with the bitch then I would love to have her. Well, both pups had a great puppy career so it was a great surprise when Pam phoned me and asked if I was serious about wanting Dizzy, the bitch puppy. She was finding that looking after two American Cockers in full coat and running a busy and successful business was proving too much. She would keep the dog Desperate Dan. I said of course I was! Name your price! The response; 'Nothing - she is a gift for you. Show her and do well with her. You can collect her at the club show.' A few weeks later at the parent club championship show, Pam handled Dizzy to win the Junior class, and in the challenge, the judged handed Pam the challenge certificate. I was delighted for Pam and when congratulating her added that I quite understood if she no longer want to part with Dizzy. She wouldn't hear of it and said 'Nothing has changed. I promised her to you and you can take her home today'. 

At her first championship show with me, Crufts, Dizzy won the reserve CC and at the next, SKC under American breed specialist Rick Beauchamp she took the CC and BOB and the following week she finished her title and won her first Gundog group, and Pam was there to see her competing for Best in Show. For the next two years Doganodogs Dizzy Dame was the top winner in the breed. How generous a gift was that?

I feel quite choked when I remember that day when Pam handed Dizzy over to me and I tell the story because it illustrates two of Pam's great qualities; her generosity and her integrity. She was true to her word and true to her opinion. Ask Pam for her opinion and she would give it, undiluted.

As a judge Pam judged dogs as she saw them and not according to their past successes. Her critiques were colourful and her use of language sometimes quirky. I remember her critique on her BOB in English Springers at one show, when she described the bitch as 'heaven on woolly wheels' and in American Cockers she prefaced one class that she had found disappointing with the remark 'Least said, soonest mended and left it at that. 

Pam's idiosyncrasies and sense of humour were seen annually in her home designed Christmas cards, offbeat, often satiric about current trends and the ways of the world, and always amusing and so typical of Pam. It is a card that her many friends will miss this year.

Other friends will be writing fuller tributes to Pam highlighting her experience and talents and her versatility - including winning a qualifier for the last full champion in American Cockers, but I wanted to tell this story about a very special person who will be greatly missed.

Rest in peace, Pam.

Frank Kane