ABOUT US

In 1932 a group of enthusiasts formed the London Sporting Spaniel Society, but after the War a slight change of direction and of name brought the London Cocker Spaniel Society into being and enabled the Kennel Club to grant it Challenge Certificates. Long-standing Secretary, Mr W. J. Riley, remained in that position and the first championship show was held in Westminster in 1946, the judges being Mr A. B. Nicolson (Glenbervie) for dogs and Mrs V. Lucas- Lucas (Sixshot) for bitches.

 

The Society from this time grew and attracted members from all over the British Isles and from other countries where Cockers were bred and shown. The following decades saw the post of Secretary taken on by Kay Baldwin and there is no doubt that she and her husband, Stan, worked tirelessly to make the Society the success that it was. Indeed, it was said ‘Kay was London Cocker’. She established the gundog training classes so that owners from urban areas could see their dogs respond to their natural instincts in the field, and many a relaxed Sunday afternoon was spent in the Buckinghamshire countryside thanks to the hospitality of Jim and Eve Cox (Beechshaw). Kay and Stan started the Newsletters to bring information to the members and soon afterwards the first Yearbooks were published. The pattern also became established for holding two members’ limited or open shows and the championship show each year.

 

In 1960 the society set up a field section and unusually opened up the field events to all breeds of spaniels. In the mid 70’s Kay Baldwin took on the position of chairman after the death of Dr Esther Rickards who had held the position for many years. Bob Crisp a long-standing officer took on the baton of secretary from Kay and Thelma Dulley who had worked with Kay served the society in more ways than one capacity and was chairman at her retirement a few years ago. Jimmy Keizer was treasurer for many years working alongside ‘Doc’ and Kay. He had a long-standing family association with the society, his father being Max Keizer, having been a founder member of the London Sporting Spaniel Society. Betty Rice-Stringer became president after being a committee member since 1964, Dolly Leach then took over from Kay Baldwin the organisation of the gundog working tests, a task which she carried out for many years.

 

In the late 1990’s we began to formalise our position in the society and with the kennel club. We changed the field tests and assessments into the more formal ‘Gundog Working Tests’ and ran three of these a year. We then became the first society to run a ‘Working Gundog Certificate day’ and we have over the years continued to support this KC initiative throughout its evolution.

 

In the early part of this century Frank Geraghty took on the position of field secretary and at that time (2002) there was no authorisation to run any Field trials. We soon applied for and were granted  ‘Any Variety Novice Field Trial status’ by the KC. We applied for AV status so that all of our members could compete in field trials indeed in our first field trial there were 5 different spaniel breeds represented.

A few years later and after a lot of hard work on Franks part we successfully applied for ‘Novice Cocker Spaniel Field Trial status’ Fast forward a few years and in 2010 we were granted Open Cocker Field Trial status by the KC and we then settled into running four field trials a year which included a Novice Cocker, Open Cocker and two Novice AV trials. We also ran one of the only ‘All aged Cocker Spaniel Gundog Working Tests in the UK each summer. Around that time the membership comprised of appx 60% cocker spaniel, 35% English Springer spaniel and 5% other variety of sporting spaniel.

 

In December 2019 the LCSS Field section parted company with the society Frank was then chairman and Stephen Hood holding position of Field secretary. On the 22nd December the final AGM was held and the society became the London Working Spaniel Society. Frank retired as Chairman after many long-standing years having taken the field section from no field trial status to Open Cocker status with the help from committee members at that time particularly Stephen Hood and Ron Henry. The road to Open Cocker status wasn’t always easy with opposition being met along the way from the general committee. The determination and passion of Frank and the committee paid off in the end.

 

The formulation of the new society from the LCSS field section is unprecedented in the history of the Kennel Club and gundog societies. For the London Working Spaniel Society to hold onto the old LCSS field section status in terms of the Open Cocker Field trial status is a real coup for the new society and thanks to Frank Geraghty’s tireless efforts working with the Kennel Club the LWSS can start where the LCSS field section left off.

 

The first AGM of the Society was held on the 22nd December 2019 with the new committee. Rod Chapple took on the position of Chairman and John Robertson took over from Stephen Hood as secretary and so take the new society forward.

Gundog Working Tests will still feature in the society’s calendar with the Kay Baldwin Spring Test being run as normal. The new committee decided this is an important part of the LWSS history not to be forgotten due to the fact Kay was not only part of the backbone of the LCSS making it a successful club but also the founder of the society’s Gundog Working Tests.

 

We intend to carry on with the ethos of being a friendly and enthusiastic club who encourage novice handlers and dogs in our gundog society. We know it can be daunting coming into any new sport and here at London Working Spaniel you will be welcomed and supported. We have members with little or no experience right through to people who have competed in and judged the spaniel championships.

There is no experience or breed snobbery in our club. Our events are mainly run in the South East so come on join us. We look forward to meeting you at one of our field events.