FBGS - In Memoriam

Please feel free to email any pictures and words about your recently departed friend and we will put them on this page for posterity.

Clint who, as Riverside Prince, won many races in his early life and who had the endearing habit of washing his feet in every bucket of water he passed on his perambulations around his previous kennel, was kept into old age by his Trainer who hearing of Woody's death immediately offered this good natured old man as a companion for Honey.

Clint was one of those dogs who loved his kennel life, he has had dozens of ladies sharing his bed, but far from being a lothario he has treated them all with great courtesy and it was felt that at 11 he deserved to have the Fen Bank experience for his remaining time - the proof that he enjoyed it was in his face, and because he stopped shredding his duvets! Sadly Clint's time with us was all too short as he developed an aggressive mouth cancer. It was with a very heavy heart and after advice from our vet Alistair that, after a final walk by the river, we helped him across Rainbow Bridge.

Sponsor dog Woody told us on Tuesday that it was time for him to go. He hadn’t been well for some time but kept rallying and his indomitable spirit would not let this grand old gentleman give in.

Gentleman? Well perhaps not - we will all miss the astonishing row he and Honey made every day of their eight years together at dinner times. Woody was the only dog who could growl full throttle and eat simultaneously - Honey at least stopped eating to bark back at him. When he was younger he would try to eat through his kennel door so that he could get out and “get” Honey whom he adored - except when his dinner was involved!

He loved people and would snuggle up to anyone who showed the slightest inclination to step into his kennel, but to the end no small dog was safe from his attentions and he came into Fen Bank because no bird or small dog was safe from his Houdini like ability to escape, damage or maim some unsuspecting creature and then return doing the doggy equivalent of whistling nonchalantly as if nothing had happened.

So we kept him in the kennel with Honey, latterly swathed in Duvets from which two soft brown eyes peeped out and somewhere under the mountain of bedding a tail wagged and he almost spoke “Sorry I can’t get up, I’m not feeling myself today.” And for the last time, the look which said it’s time for me to go.

He was special to many people in different ways and for different reasons and we will all miss this grand old man who sleeps forever at Fen Bank. No doubt when it is time for Honey to go, and she shows no sign of it, Woody will be waiting at Rainbow Bridge, bowl in his mouth and ready for a scrap!

I first met Ginny when Stella brought her back from Fen Bank to try to fill the void left by our lovely Lady, who we’d recently lost. I saw two big brown eyes, set in a light brown head – the prettiest Greyhound I’d ever seen. Love at first sight!

She came to join Daisy, a successful racer- who’d been well looked after and gracefully retired- and Claude, who was meek and somewhat withdrawn. Whereas Daisy brought tranquillity and confidence to the house and Claude brought meekness and timidity, Ginny brought mayhem!

Anything that was small, fluffy, and moved was fair game and, although I don’t recall her actually catching anything, even jackdaws and seagulls were fair targets. Dogs and their walkers passing the front room window were subjected to a continuous stream of Ginny’s verbal abuse.

After Daisy and Claude passed on, we got Ben, one of the most laid-back Greyhounds I’d ever seen, followed by Russ, whose stay was all too short, but whose massive “in your face” personality was big enough to fill Wembley Stadium and the Albert Hall, with some left over. Ginny treated them both to her personal management style and continued to keep order.

Like a good wine, however, she mellowed a bit with age. The barking through the window was less energetic and, outside, other dogs were greeted, not with a full verbal assault, but with quiet grumble which almost sounded like “bloody kids!”

As she approached her 14^th birthday there was a change. Her kidneys were not working, her back legs struggled to get her up in the morning and she did not attack the food bowl with the energy of earlier years. The morning walk was more chore, less chase.

A couple of days ago, two boisterous dogs passed the window. To my surprise Ginny ignored them,

“What’s up, Ginny girl “, I said . The look came back that every owner dreads.

Well, not goodbye, exactly. After all, the love, devotion and bond that existed between us will be with me for the rest of my life and when it’s my turn to cross the Rainbow bridge I expect she’ll be there, with all the other dogs we’ve had lined up, in rank and file order, and a look in her eye which says “OK, got that lot sorted, now what?”

So I guess it’s not really “goodbye”, more like “Au revoir, Ginny girl. Sleep well ‘till then. We’ll miss you”.

Charlie (Badger) (2003 - 2009)

Our big, handsome, gentle boy. So not fair that we had so little time together, we had many places yet to go, so much to do and so much love to share. We are heart-breakingly privileged to have known you. In our hearts always Charlie, we miss you.

Lynn, Alan, Josh and Bess

Peggy (passed away 2009)

Peggy was with us for only 5 weeks when she was diagnosed with cancer, but in those few short weeks she brought so much happiness to our lives. She would love to play with our Border Collie Zak, before taking over the settee for 40 winks (sometimes 400 winks). Everyone who met her, fell in love with her, she was that kind of dog. Kind, gentle, and with the sweetest temperament you could possibly wish for. She may not have been with us for very long, but our memories of her will never die.

David and Pauline Blount

Harley (2002 - 2009)

Harley our Boy will be missed by us and those in which hearts he touched, Never will be forgotten and always loved. Such a shame to lose you in such a tragic manner at the prime of your life, you had so much love that you shared and gave to us be free and good bye boy.

Di (1996 - 2009)

All our sponsor dogs are special to us, as we have had them for over 6 years, so we were devastated to have to put to sleep our lovely Di. She declined very rapidly and our vet agreed the kindest thing was to let her go peacefully and with dignity. Jenny took Jack, her long term companion, to see her so that he understood she would no longer be sharing his kennel and it seems that he has, although he is very sad. Di nearly had a home once but she was seriously dangerous around small breeds, even at 10, so we decided it better she stayed with us. Di had many sponsors, some of whom were long time friends who came to visit her and they will share our sense of loss at her passing.

She will always remain at Fen Bank which she loved and where she was loved. Flowers and a commemorative tree have been planted on her burial site.

Barney (1996 - 2009)

A wonderful companion for the last six and a half years and a great ambassador for greyhounds

at many shows and fundraising events.

A big, kind and gentle soul who touched many hearts and had many friends in Sutton on Sea.

Rest in Peace my son.

Jill Kirby

Guinness (1 August 1994 - 4 April 2008)

The many friends of Guinness will be sad to hear that she died on 4^th April. She was getting very old, frail and could no longer cope with daily living. She is very much missed by all her friends and family.

Margaret and Bill Simpson

Lulu (29 May 1991 - 28 February 2007)

Our beautiful girl, our dear precious Lu, our little black fleabag

When she first came home, nothing more than a bag of old bones,

but soon becoming Bobby’s best mate

A dignified lady who never put a foot wrong –

until she took off at a rate of knots across the field at one of Mandy’s

shows and then tried to pinch some tasty treats from the stall next door!

A terrific ambassador, loving her public, showing off dreadfully when she

came with us fund raising

We loved her so much, we love her still, and miss her desperately

A special gift – for which we thank you

Our dear precious beautiful Lulu

Fergus (passed away 20th July 2006)

Dear Sandra,

I first came to Fen Bank with my father to re-home a greyhound, we decided to take Fergus, and you brought him to us at our home the next day. I would like to first of all thank you ever so much for letting me re-home him, i could not have wished for a better behaved or well mannered greyhound. Within 6 months of owning him, he tolerated all of our 5 cats they used to rub round his legs and he used to just sniff them then look at us as if to say should they be doing that to me?

He had an excellent character that used to get us all in giggles especially when he used to insist on wiping his mouth on the furniture or on your lap. and uncontrollably breaking wind when we had visitors, is was his way of saying he wanted peace and quiet he used to love his leather settee that was his bed from the first night he stayed.

It breaks my heart to inform you that we had to have Fergus put to sleep on Thursday (20th July) he had a lump on his left side, the vet last year said it was benign, it didn't seem to bother him as he used to lay on it regularly, in the last 4 months he became very weak in his hind legs, also went very thin in the last 4 weeks, i went and spoke to the vet and asked him to come to our home to look at him, as I didn't want to upset him by taking him to a strange environment, the vet came on Thursday and suggested we put him to sleep, which is what we did, we miss him all so much, he was a big part of the family, Please find attached two pictures of Fergus

Helen Brumpton

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