Pendle Group boundless.co.uk Issue Six

Beryl Smith 01200443588Edit [email protected] 4444Telephone Email

How a changed my life Wednesday 10th October 2018 we welcomed David Fishwick and Brenda Midgley with her dog Bodie. David is a puppy walker and has been for many years and at present has his thirteenth puppy to train. The puppy walkers do the basic training with the dogs to ensure they are house trained and socialised as they grow. David began by giving us the history of guide dogs for the blind. During the First World War, a doctor looking after war-wounded in Germany was called away from a blind man with whom he was walking in the grounds of the hospital. The doctor left his with the man and was subsequently so impressed by the dog's behaviour that he decided to start experiments in training dogs to act as guides for the blind. By 1923 a guide dog training centre had been established at Potsdam which trained several thousand dogs in the next ten years. This work soon came to the attention of a wealthy American, Mrs , who was breeding and training German shepherds in Switzerland for the customs service, the army and the police. After visiting the Potsdam centre, Mrs Eustis was impressed and wrote an article for the American Saturday Evening Post of October 1927. A few days after the magazine appeared a young, blind American, Morris Frank, was told about the article. Frank bought a copy of the magazine. The five cents that it cost him, he later said, 'bought an article that was worth more than a million dollars to me. It changed my whole life.' He was so excited by the article that he decided to approach Mrs Eustis in Switzerland, 'I want one of those dogs,' he wrote. 'Thousands of blind people like me abhor being dependent on others. Help me and I will help them.' As a result of this experience, Mrs Eustis set up a guide dog centre, L'Oeil qui Voit (), at Vevey in Switzerland and later established the first school for training dogs in the United States. In the ensuing years she devoted herself, and much of her wealth, to the development of the guide dog movement. She travelled widely, lecturing about her work and soon, in 1930, articles about it began to appear in the British press.

Among those who became interested in the possibility of setting up a guide dog organisation in Britain were Miss Muriel Crooke, a German shepherd enthusiast who lived in Wallasey, Cheshire, and Mrs Rosamund Bond, a breeder and exhibitor of German shepherds.

So the Guide Dogs story started in Britain in 1931 with these two amazing British pioneers. These remarkable women organised the training of the first four British guide dogs from a humble lock up garage in Wallasey, Merseyside. The association has come a very long way since those early days. Today Guide Dogs is the world's largest breeder and trainer of working dogs. And thanks to their dedicated staff and volunteers – and vital donations – they have helped over 29,000 people to achieve life-changing independence. Currently the lifetime cost of a guide dog is around £55,000

Brenda went on to tell us about the practicalities of having a guide dog and also about the training she had to undertake when she first owned a dog. She had some funny tails to tell of things that had happened over the years of owning guide dogs.

It was once again a very interesting and informative afternoon. Members and speakers then enjoyed afternoon refreshments.

David & Brenda

Destination Sturgis, the canyons and desserts of the USA

On Wednesday November 14th 2018 we were once more entertained by Norman Harris. He gave a lively and informative talk about his journey on a Harley Davidson motorcycle through the canyons and dessert of America to Sturgis in South Dakota. He and his colleagues undertook a memorable journey to attend the Sturgis Motorcycle rally.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is an American motorcycle rally held annually in Sturgis, South Dakota, for ten days usually during the first full week of August. In 2015 the city of Sturgis officially expanded the dates to have the rally start on the Friday before the first full week of August and end on the second Sunday. It was begun in 1938 by a group of Indian Motorcycle riders and was originally held for stunts and races. Attendance has historically been around 500,000 people, reaching a high of over 700,000 in 2015. The event generates around $800 million in revenue.

Sturgis

Christmas Meal at Mytton Fold Hotel

On Wednesday 12th December 2018 the group met for it’s last meeting of the year at the annual Christmas meal. Thirty one members, partners and friends enjoyed good service and an excellent meal. It was good to see several members who haven’t been able to attend for a while and have a good catch up with their news and activities.

Upcoming Events .

Annual General Meeting 20th March 2019

At 2pm at Mitton Hall Hotel, Mitton Road, Whalley, BB7 9PQ. The AGM will be followed by a light hearted quiz and refreshments. No booking necessary.

Visit to The Fusiliers Museum 10th April 2019

Visit to the Fusiliers Museum, Moss St, Bury BL9 0DF. Contact Group Secretary for information and booking.

Speaker 8th May 2019

Speaker on vexillology (flags), at 2pm at Mitton Hall Hotel, Mitton Road, Whalley, BB7 9PQ. No booking necessary.

Lunch at The Corporation Arms 12th June 2019

Lunch at the Corporation Arms, Lower Rd, Longridge, Preston PR3 2YJ. Contact Group Secretary for information and booking.

Your Committee

Chairman Stan Stuart

Secretary Beryl Smith Tel: 01200-443588

Treasurer Carolyn Stuart Email - [email protected]