“Northern Area Dwarf Club now in Being.”

A young student complains.....

Duet in a dandelion field

“I flew up to Huddersfield last Sunday and settled quietly in a corner of a room at the George Hotel, to listen to some giants of the Fancy talking about the Dwarf. Percy Ashley was there, so you can guess I never even let out a single betraying chirrup. I was much too scared! Not that I had need to worry, for other people appeared to be quite ready to take on the doughty Percy, and to suggest (as I ventured to suggest a week or so back) that he had been in rather too big a hurry about the formation of a Northern Netherland Dwarf Club. Once or twice I nearly fell off my perch with excitement because I thought Mr A. was going to be thoroughly trounced – as for example when his statement that the Northern Netherland Dwarf Club had been in existence for six years was challenged and proof produced that the club officially was little more than four years of age. Which isn’t, after all, an awful long time in the history of a national club and hardly long enough to suggest that there has been dilatoriness in not producing a regional offspring before now. Mr Ashley announced that, as a result of his recent questionnaire, a Northern Netherland – with no connection or affiliation with National Club – had been formed. It’s only officer was Mr Ashley, as yet.

The general feeling of the meeting was against the formation of any separate club and it was, therefore, proposed (and carried unanimously) that a Northern Netherland Dwarf Club should be inaugurated as an area society of the parent National Club. Mr FG Woodgate was elected President, with mine host of the Junction Inn, Pudsey, Yorkshire, was Mr Cooper as secretary, On the committee are Mrs Wainwright, Burkenshaw, Mr Buckler, Keighley, Mr Rainger, Huddersfield, Mr Helmsley, Weeton, Harrogate, Mr Shackleton, Steeton, Mr Douglas Smith, Skipton and Mr Woods, Swinton. Mr Ashley was voted on the committee in sixth position, but withdrew in favour of Mrs Wainwright. Subscription was fixed at five shillings and boundary for the club declared to be & of the southern boundaries of Lancashire and Yorkshire, including the boundary towns.& A sub-committee of four was appointed to frame rules and it was left to the Secretary and President to try to arrange an adult stock show this autumn.”