First Memories
I was aware of Staffordshire Bull Terriers growing up because two of my uncles owned the breed during the 1950’s and when I visited them with my parents I looked forward to seeing their dogs, Nell, Chief, Mick and Bess. They were pure bred registered Staffords, whose pedigrees contained many of the famous names. These Staffords were my introduction to the breed and form my early memories.
I was too young to know much about them at first, but as I got older I started to take notice of these strong, playful dogs known as Staffords. They were not well known to the public back then, but highly regarded by the enthusiasts that kept them. I noticed how they had similar mannerisms and would be told that they were traits ‘typical of the breed’.
My uncle Terry was interested in the pedigrees and the Lines and Families of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier going way back before the 1930’s and 40’s. He would hand write some of the old pedigrees and it was always interesting when he spoke of some of the famous characters and their Staffords that he personally knew. He tended to like the J-Line Staffords, but was more interested in the Bitch Families and I remember it was the bitches from Family 2 he favoured.
Much of the history of the breed on this site, well before my time, has been acquired through my uncle’s interest in breeding and his familiarity of earlier Staffords. I have been fortunate to have handed down to me his old pictures, books and Stafford memorabilia, including the old ‘Stafford’ magazines and Newsletters.
These have been a great source of interest and education from the pictures of Staffords past and some of the stories associated with them and their breeders that would otherwise have been unknown to me. I suppose this is why I am interested in the history of the breed and like to compare the pictures of Staffords from the past.
Terry was a member of the Southern Counties Staffordshire Bull Terrrier Society (SCSBTS) during its early formation and would attend the shows, often taking me and my cousin Terence with him when we were old enough. He would point out the Staffords he liked, which would normally be of a sound athletic type. I was very fortunate to have my uncle as my mentor when I was a young lad and hopefully some of his knowledge has rubbed off.
At the shows it was great to see so many Staffords under one roof and I liked the atmosphere, especially at the bigger arena’s. Enthusiasts and their Staffords came from all over the British Isles and all walks of life. It was interesting to hear the different accents and get to know some of these fanciers and their opinions.
I can remember Arnold Thomas from the North West, at the request of my uncle, taking us outside to his car where he had his Champion Iron Bill of Phylmajhar. ‘Bill’ was in his twilight years, but Arnold was very proud of him. A great old J-Line Stafford I would not otherwise have seen. Bill Boylan’s Game Laddie was one of his great grand sires.
Some of the Staffords shown regularly in the SCSBTS shows from the 1960s that come to mind and I feel worthy of mention are Fred Clark’s Ch Curfews White Orchid and Ken Bailey’s Ch Benext Beau, which were both multi CC winners.
My uncle Terry was interested in the pedigrees and the Lines and Families of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier going way back before the 1930’s and 40’s. He would hand write some of the old pedigrees and it was always interesting when he spoke of some of the famous characters and their Staffords that he personally knew. He tended to like the J-Line Staffords, but was more interested in the Bitch Families and I remember it was the bitches from Family 2 he favoured.
Much of the history of the breed on this site, well before my time, has been acquired through my uncle’s interest in breeding and his familiarity of earlier Staffords. I have been fortunate to have handed down to me his old pictures, books and Stafford memorabilia, including the old ‘Stafford’ magazines and Newsletters.
These have been a great source of interest and education from the pictures of Staffords past and some of the stories associated with them and their breeders that would otherwise have been unknown to me. I suppose this is why I am interested in the history of the breed and like to compare the pictures of Staffords from the past.
Terry was a member of the Southern Counties Staffordshire Bull Terrrier Society (SCSBTS) during its early formation and would attend the shows, often taking me and my cousin Terence with him when we were old enough. He would point out the Staffords he liked, which would normally be of a sound athletic type. I was very fortunate to have my uncle as my mentor when I was a young lad and hopefully some of his knowledge has rubbed off.
At the shows it was great to see so many Staffords under one roof and I liked the atmosphere, especially at the bigger arena’s. Enthusiasts and their Staffords came from all over the British Isles and all walks of life. It was interesting to hear the different accents and get to know some of these fanciers and their opinions.
I can remember Arnold Thomas from the North West, at the request of my uncle, taking us outside to his car where he had his Champion Iron Bill of Phylmajhar. ‘Bill’ was in his twilight years, but Arnold was very proud of him. A great old J-Line Stafford I would not otherwise have seen. Bill Boylan’s Game Laddie was one of his great grand sires.
Some of the Staffords shown regularly in the SCSBTS shows from the 1960s that come to mind and I feel worthy of mention are Fred Clark’s Ch Curfews White Orchid and Ken Bailey’s Ch Benext Beau, which were both multi CC winners.
Ken Bailey also bred John Rogers’ Benext Besom and Wood’s Benext Brutus, which I particularly liked. Ken was a flamboyant character, a sharply dressed Londoner, but he had no side, a good bloke. Roma Williams had Ch Christopher of Geneva, another good one, and not forgetting Linksbury Augustus and Mizzanda Courageous Dan, shown regularly in SCSBTS shows in this era. All these were excellent examples of the breed in my opinion.
Crufts Dog show was held in Earls Court and Olympia in London in the 60’s and was easy to get to for me, straight through on London’s Underground network. This was another chance to see Staffords from other parts of the British Isles. The ‘bar’ was a great meeting place, especially after a few beers! While I admit it could be a jolly atmosphere it was not without lively argument and an occasional punch-up. Stafford folk have strong views as we know and rarely see eye to eye, especially if a good dog, in their eyes, is overlooked.
At risk of being accused of name dropping, I also came to know John and Marjorie Gordon (Bandits), who lived less than a mile away in Rise Park, Romford. Marjorie came to see Bess’s pups and I was invited to visit them; I can remember they had displayed on their sideboard two magnificent antique ornaments of old-fashioned Bulldogs in polished black stone.
John Gordon was an educated man, whose opinion I respected. I consider the books he wrote on Staffords to be the best ever written on the breed. During our conversation we agreed that the Stafford can be whatever you want it to be if bred sensibly. I think this still holds true today.
My roots go back to the Stafford’s I first met owned by my uncles. They were to influence me and the way I came to admire the breed, which I still keep and believe in. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is the oldest Bull Terrier breed, whose traditional bloodlines I value. The modern Stafford is still a great breed, but in my opinion we have to keep him active and agile, free from exaggerations. They are the best of breeds if bred sensibly.
The following details are for Nell, Chief, Mick and Bess, that were the first Staffords I knew.
At risk of being accused of name dropping, I also came to know John and Marjorie Gordon (Bandits), who lived less than a mile away in Rise Park, Romford. Marjorie came to see Bess’s pups and I was invited to visit them; I can remember they had displayed on their sideboard two magnificent antique ornaments of old-fashioned Bulldogs in polished black stone.
John Gordon was an educated man, whose opinion I respected. I consider the books he wrote on Staffords to be the best ever written on the breed. During our conversation we agreed that the Stafford can be whatever you want it to be if bred sensibly. I think this still holds true today.
My roots go back to the Stafford’s I first met owned by my uncles. They were to influence me and the way I came to admire the breed, which I still keep and believe in. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is the oldest Bull Terrier breed, whose traditional bloodlines I value. The modern Stafford is still a great breed, but in my opinion we have to keep him active and agile, free from exaggerations. They are the best of breeds if bred sensibly.
The following details are for Nell, Chief, Mick and Bess, that were the first Staffords I knew.
Baker’s Girl, ‘Nell’
Baker’s Girl, Nell, 1954. Owned by Terry Knowles. Bred by Fred Clark (Curfews). By Hotspur of Summermuir out of Spiteful Girl. Nell was a fawn/red like both her sire and dam, who can be seen in the Archives page. Nell was line bred through Brigands Red Rogerson and therefore through the famous Jolly Roger.
Fred Clark was a good friend of my uncle and many years later told me how he wanted to keep Nell back for himself; she was more terrier than the others in her litter, but he had promised my uncle his pick and never went back on his word. Fred kindly gave me the picture of Spiteful Girl and her sire Hotspur of Summermuir.
The light fawn coat colour is not seen so often nowadays and note that Nell did not have a black mask. Looking at old pictures it is noticeable that most fawns and reds in the earlier days did not have black masks (muzzles), it is a feature that has become more common in the reds of today. I personally like the old fashioned fawn colour of Nell.
Fred Clark was a good friend of my uncle and many years later told me how he wanted to keep Nell back for himself; she was more terrier than the others in her litter, but he had promised my uncle his pick and never went back on his word. Fred kindly gave me the picture of Spiteful Girl and her sire Hotspur of Summermuir.
The light fawn coat colour is not seen so often nowadays and note that Nell did not have a black mask. Looking at old pictures it is noticeable that most fawns and reds in the earlier days did not have black masks (muzzles), it is a feature that has become more common in the reds of today. I personally like the old fashioned fawn colour of Nell.
Longtonion Micky Boy, ‘Mick’
Longtonion Micky Boy was born on 13 November 1957, bred by Mr David Wheat, who owned the Longtonion affix and came from Meir, Staffordshire. ‘Mick’ was by Longtonion Black Beauty x Longtonion Gem. In this litter were three KC registered males Longtonion Brindle Bomber, Longtonion Jack Tar and Longtonion Micky Boy. (See Longtonion Black Beauty in Archives).
My uncle, Harry Medhurst owned two Staffords bred by David Wheat, the first called ‘Chief’ was a lively brindle, who unfortunately died young, which was very upsetting for the family. However, some good fortune would come from this sad event.
After making enquiries David Wheat helped Harry acquire Longtonion Micky Boy, who was a young Stafford under a year old from a Mrs Shandley, who held his registration from a puppy. My uncle was very fortunate that ‘Mick’ became available and re-registered the transfer of ownership with the KC, which is verified in the KC breed supplement archives.
Mick was line-bred through the famous Jolly Roger, and was about 17 inches at the shoulder and approximately 38-40lb in weight. His pedigree included some famous Staffords, Ch. Quiz of Wyncroft, Ch. Chestonion Annoyance, Honest Joe, Tenacious Pete, Ch. Widneyland Kim and Clarkstead Pete.
My uncle, Harry Medhurst owned two Staffords bred by David Wheat, the first called ‘Chief’ was a lively brindle, who unfortunately died young, which was very upsetting for the family. However, some good fortune would come from this sad event.
After making enquiries David Wheat helped Harry acquire Longtonion Micky Boy, who was a young Stafford under a year old from a Mrs Shandley, who held his registration from a puppy. My uncle was very fortunate that ‘Mick’ became available and re-registered the transfer of ownership with the KC, which is verified in the KC breed supplement archives.
Mick was line-bred through the famous Jolly Roger, and was about 17 inches at the shoulder and approximately 38-40lb in weight. His pedigree included some famous Staffords, Ch. Quiz of Wyncroft, Ch. Chestonion Annoyance, Honest Joe, Tenacious Pete, Ch. Widneyland Kim and Clarkstead Pete.
Edgeworth Bess, ‘Bess’
Edgeworth Bess, Bess, 1962. Owned by Terry Knowles. Bred by Len Dilks. By Dyrex Crusader out of Sweet Amanda. She was a black brindle and weighed less than 30lb. Her breeding came through the J-Line, on her sire’s side, which included Ch Major in Command of Wychbury and Ch Wychbury Diamond King, popular in the Black Country area of England at that time. I would eventually take ‘Edgeworth’ as my Affix name.
This picture shows Edgeworth Bess displaying the Stafford ‘smile’ and an expression that says it all - note her pronounced cheek muscles, a breed trait, developed no doubt by her love of working the spring pole and tug of war games.
The two likely lads are me and cousin Terence.
This picture shows Edgeworth Bess displaying the Stafford ‘smile’ and an expression that says it all - note her pronounced cheek muscles, a breed trait, developed no doubt by her love of working the spring pole and tug of war games.
The two likely lads are me and cousin Terence.
Bess’s Spitfire and Game Bess
Bess’s Spitfire and Game Bess, 1967. Bred by my uncle Terry Knowles. By Ch Rapparee Renegade out of his Edgeworth Bess.
Both of these puppies were black brindle and white. Bess’s Spitfire was more like her dam Edgeworth Bess and Game Bess was more like her sire Rapparee Renegade. Terry kept Bess’s Spitfire and gave me Game Bess, my first Stafford, an exciting time. This was the year I also became a member of the SCSBTS.
Bess’s Spitfire was bred to Ch Rapparee Rothersyke Vow, in 1970, producing a litter of 5 black brindle puppies. Rothersyke Vow was sired by Ch Rapparee Threapwood Handyman, who was sired by Ch. Rapparee Renegade.
In 1970 I bred Game Bess to Print of Wyncole, which produced seven bitch puppies. Print of Wyncole was owned by Alf Pyne a Black Country enthusiast. ‘Print’ was a top sized brindle Stafford that sired some good stock. He was by Fulfin Merry Monarch x Chip of Wyncole.
See the Edgeworth Staffords page for a selection of Staffordshire Bull Terriers my family and I have owned or bred.
Both of these puppies were black brindle and white. Bess’s Spitfire was more like her dam Edgeworth Bess and Game Bess was more like her sire Rapparee Renegade. Terry kept Bess’s Spitfire and gave me Game Bess, my first Stafford, an exciting time. This was the year I also became a member of the SCSBTS.
Bess’s Spitfire was bred to Ch Rapparee Rothersyke Vow, in 1970, producing a litter of 5 black brindle puppies. Rothersyke Vow was sired by Ch Rapparee Threapwood Handyman, who was sired by Ch. Rapparee Renegade.
In 1970 I bred Game Bess to Print of Wyncole, which produced seven bitch puppies. Print of Wyncole was owned by Alf Pyne a Black Country enthusiast. ‘Print’ was a top sized brindle Stafford that sired some good stock. He was by Fulfin Merry Monarch x Chip of Wyncole.
See the Edgeworth Staffords page for a selection of Staffordshire Bull Terriers my family and I have owned or bred.