A FEW WORDS....
Written after the passing away of Mrs Gladys Jenkins,
founder of
The English Setter Rescue Association.
It was with great sadness that I heard of Mrs
Gladys Jenkins passing away on Sunday 2nd February 2003. I
knew she had been in hospital for several days. Always so strong within
herself, I thought she would soon be back in the 'chair'. Sadly,
this was not to be.
In this tribute I would like to write a few lines to
say 'thank you' for all her love and commitment to our lovely breed.
English Setter Rescue was Gladys's baby. It was
formed back in the mid-seventies. A sum of £9 was needed for veterinary
treatment for a dog that needed help. (Doesn't sound much now, does it?)
The Rescue has since gone from strength to strength and in 1986 it
became UK Registered Charity No. 293708.
Over the years it has helped many dogs and, apart
from the time when a stroke forced her to step down for a while, Gladys
was always the Rescue's co-ordinator. She fought back from her stroke
and, although wheelchair bound, she was once again in full charge. And,
if anyone thought they might be able to pull the wool over her eyes,
they were sadly mistaken. Every dog and every person was remembered
right down to the last detail. One call recently was from someone who
wanted a dog "just like the one you placed with me 12 years
ago". Name, colour and full details were all recalled. The caller
went away with a "I will see what I can do."
In running the Rescue she was never one to enforce
her way on any of the Rescue's regional helpers. She always maintained
that as we had the dogs - any decisions over homing etc was left to us.
But she was always at the end of the phone if we ever needed any help or
advice. I think that this was the Rescue's strength. "Why fix
something that is not broken", she would say. "You all do the
work - I just take the calls." She always had a way of underplaying
her role.
She also had a lively sense of humour and loved to
share a joke. Jenny Penna and I knew that a wedding anniversary was
looming. Bert had let something slip in a conversation. Which one though
was the question? Rather then ask - we guessed. We were ten years out.
When she rang to thank us for the flowers (all chosen in the colours of
the anniversary we thought it was) she told us, laughingly - that she
would have been a very young 'child bride' according to our maths and
both she and Bert would probably have been arrested!
It is sad to know that Gladys is no longer at the end
of the phone. My thoughts and my condolences go out to Bert; they were a
team both in marriage, their dogs and the Rescue.
The greatest tribute that I or anyone else could
write, say or do - is simply for the English Setter Rescue to continue
helping those dogs that need it. I know that this is what Gladys would
have wished.
THE GLADYS ROSE
Some of us felt we wanted to do something to mark the
sadness of loosing our co-ordinator. Something that would
hopefully bring some pleasure also to Bert her husband.
It was finally decided that a 'Rose' specially named
'Gladys' would be, we hoped, a lasting gesture sent with love.
The rose chosen was Orange in Colour, (they really
must grow a Tri or a true Blue colour!)
I would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to the
people who contributed financially, and without hesitation said,
"Yes, what a lovely idea."
Mrs Jenny Penna, Mrs Fran Grimsdell, Mrs Diane Dudley,
Mrs Elaine Wadsworth (now living in New Zealand), Mrs Heather Lenzi, Mrs
Jean Warburton. Mr and Mrs Bowen, Ms Lyn Davis. (the surplus was donated
to the Rescue)
A few weeks ago Bert, rang to say the Rose had buds
on....
|
