Westie Rescue Scheme News.

OBITUARY - BARBARA GRAHAM


Barbara Graham

It is with great sadness that I have to report the death of our Founder Member, Life Member and past President Mrs Barbara Graham.

In the late 1970’s, early 80’s, Barbara felt there was a need for a Rescue service and suggested to the breed club that such an organisation should be established.  The powers that be at that time did not agree, but Barbara felt that there was a need and so, along with Frank Lees, Sue Smith and Bob Clay set about creating Westie Rescue.  Together they made all the necessary arrangements including making sure the organisation was a Registered Charity and independent of any breed club.  Under Barbara’s guidance they laid the initial ground rules by which we still operate today.  Without Barbara the Westie Rescue Scheme would not exist.  Through the years there are literally thousands of Westies who have found loving and caring homes, thanks to her foresight and love of the breed.  I’m sure all Westies, past and present who have been through the Scheme would offer very grateful thanks to her.

In her time, Barbara had been Secretary, Treasurer (at one point, both at the same time!) and Chairman and when she was asked to become President she was reluctant to accept.  She felt this would merely make her a figurehead and it took a great deal of persuasion from the committee at the time to assure her that her continued input would be essential.  In recent years, her health had not been good and in March 2004 she felt that she could not contribute as fully as she would like and consequently resigned as President.

Those of you who have been ‘Friends’ for some time will know that as well as contributing to committee meetings, she also wrote interesting and informative pieces for our newsletter.

Her love of the breed was such that her great pleasure was going to dog shows and whilst she was a successful and much respected breeder and exhibitor, for Barbara, they were social events where she could meet and interact with people in discussions on many topics, very definitely not just dogs!  She was greatly saddened when her health prevented her from attending shows.

Barbara was taken into intensive care in hospital in early March and died in her sleep at 3 a.m. on Saturday 26th March 2005.

She will be sadly missed

Mags
 (Secretary)