Dates for your Diary

The Southern Golden Retriever Society Charity Fun Day and Rescue Parade will be in May 2019 (Date to be confirmed) at Horton Kirby and South Darenth Jubilee Hall, Horton Road, South Darenth, Dartford, Kent. DA4 9AX (DA4 9AZ for SatNav)

Southern Golden Retriever Society Fun Day - May 2018

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The Southern Golden Retriever Rescue Society’s annual Fun Day at the end of May was held in a new venue - Horton Kirby and South Darenth Village Hall - and was once again a great success. The new venue gave us more room and better parking. It was a very hot day and 29 Rescue dogs took part in the Parade, and despite the heat many enjoyed entering the Fun classes and doggy games.

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The Holly Trophy for the oldest Rescue dog present on the day went to Lucy Komoneski with Toby who was 12 years old. There was actually three 12 year old dogs there so we had to draw lots for the Trophy!



Mrs Brenda Lowe

We were very sorry to learn of the death on 20th September of the founder of Rescue, Mrs Brenda Lowe.  A service of Thanksgiving was held on 14th October at Brenchley Church, which was well attended by very many of her friends from far and wide.

Although Brenda had her first golden when she was in her late teens,  Sandy stayed with her parents when she married Charles.  In 1963 they bought a puppy of their own - Sutton Rudy whom they worked and showed, eventually making him up into a Champion.  They had become hooked on showing and took out the Davern affix when they started breeding.
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Brenda became a successful and respected breeder, with many Champions to her name, and had a big influence on the breed, always happy to give advice and encouragement to newcomers.  She was keen to maintain the golden’s delightful, happy personality and also its working ability.  Brenda was a respected Judge at Championship level, both at home and abroad, including Crufts in 1990.  She also served on the Committee of the Golden Retriever Club and was the Breed Correspondent for Dog World for several years

In 1977 Brenda helped to found the Southern Golden Retriever Society and served on its Committee for many years.  She held one of the Society’s first Open Days at her home, and these later became the very successful annual Fun Days, which continue to this day.
Brenda realized in the 1970s that many goldens, for all sorts of reasons, needed to be found new homes, and in 1979 she persuaded the Southern’s Committee to form a Welfare & Rescue Scheme.  In 2003 this became the Registered Charity known as Southern Golden Retriever Rescue, although by this time Brenda had retired from active involvement.  Since it began Rescue has found new loving homes for well over 3000 of the less fortunate members of the breed, so thank you Brenda from all of them.

Brenda’s contribution to the world of Golden Retrievers has been considerable and wide-ranging.  She will certainly be missed in many ways, but most of all as our friend.