Shortly after our marriage in 1968 Janet brought home a young black pet bitch that its owners could not keep as they were immigrating to Australia. This bitch was named “Mitzy” whom we found was so destructive in her initial weeks with us, she ripped up linoleum, chewed through our settee and completely destroyed another items of furniture.

Eventually after training and perseverance on our part she matured into the most loveable and obedient dog that lived with family for thirteen years.

Shortly after Mitzy died we were on holiday in the Lake District we saw two lovely dogs running in and out of the lake to retrieve items thrown by their owners.

We were instantly smitten. They were Golden Retrieves and we decided there and then to look for one of these dogs.

It was 1982 when we purchased “Honey” - “Kavos Eastern Promise” our first Golden Retriever. She was purchased as a pet. A couple of years later when visiting relatives we spoke to Sheila and Alison Baldwin (Bellagold). We heard for the first time that “showing” was a hobby and we thought we might like to become involved in it.

We started to attend a local ring craft in Reddish, Stockport where we lived at that time and before long met many people who have remained good friends to this day.

Sansue Washington of Rockwin sired “Honey”, but her mother side was mainly pet lines. She had a lovely temperament and although she won many classes at open level and was very good at obedience training (advanced level) she was not going to be a big winner in the Championship show ring. We were however over the moon when she won a VHC under Lucille Sawtell in a class of over 50 bitches at a Championship Show in Wolverhampton in the 80s.

We applied to the Kennel Club for our own Affix and we were granted “Whitehills” which was an area of Stockport and the name of the Fire Station that Clive served in at that time.

We next purchased “Jamie” “Shamanda Special Edition” from Marian Frazer and he was a lovely pale cream boy who qualified for Crufts and won well for us while a youngster. However he did not fulfil his potential as he was struck down with cancer at a relatively early age.

We have enjoyed moderate success over the years and keep striving to produce quality stock, which are as near to the breed standard as possible and displaying the true Golden Retriever characteristics.- the kindly and friendly temperament so endearing of the breed.

We are both involved in running clubs both being on the committee of North West Golden Retriever Club and Clive is on the committee of the Golden Retriever Club

Clive is the President of the North West Golden Retriever Club & Secretary of The Golden Retriever Club. Janet works as a committee member & Cup Steward for the North West GRC and also helps at many events involving other dog clubs.

We both judge at Open Show Level and are presently on several clubs and the Breed Council's “B” Lists and have recently both judged a breed club show.

We endeavour to comply with the Code of ethics laid down by the various Breed Clubs, to which we belong.