Doreen Tovey
IT WAS with much sadness that I heard the news that Doreen Tovey had died on 13 January, 2008.
Doreen had been President of the Siamese Cat Club for many years and, as we all know, was a successful writer, with her popular books to be found on library shelves.
Until recently, she wrote an article regularly for the annual newsletter, and it would always be one of her typical anecdotes about her own and other Siamese cats, always a delight to read, and left one in no doubt as to her love and appreciation of the breed, its style and elegance and many other characteristics.
Doreen attended our annual championship show regularly and only in recent years found it more difficult to do so because it involved a long return journey in a day. When she came, it gave all concerned - show management, judges, stewards and exhibitors alike - great pleasure to see and welcome her and her obvious love of our breed in evidence and make this club event an extra special one in the year.
She will be sadly missed by the Chairman, Officers and Members of the Club and we all send our deepest regret and our sympathy is extended to her family and relatives.
Elizabeth Biggie, Vice-President, Siamese Cat Club
Anne Rose
I was sad to hear of Anne Rose’s death. She had a wonderful and interesting life which she had lived to the full. I first met Anne through our window cleaner who said she had thirty cats that he’d counted himself, which were all half-rabbit. He’d seen five of them run terrified from the room as the windows were being cleaned.
Anne worked in journalism and spent several years in East Africa before returning to Southport. It was not long before Anne, her husband Tony and their Kinkajou took on the ‘Seawind’ prefix.
Due to their success, they were soon hooked on breeding and showing. She bred the first Red Abyssinian to become a Grand Champion.
When I think of Anne there is one particular incident that comes to mind. At 4.30am one Saturday morning we were stopped by the police, at a road block, on our way to the Nor’East of Scotland Cat Club Show. The police wanted to inspect the inside of the car as a murderer had escaped from the local prison. We explained that we were on our way to a cat show and the cats joined in to prove the point. We were allowed to continue without further ado. Clearly we were mad enough to be up at that hour if we had a car full of yowling cats!
Anne was a wonderful person to travel with, as not only was she a superb raconteur, but also, having once been a rally driver, excellent behind the wheel! This was rather useful in the days before the M6 extension as not all cars took to Shap summit in winter.
Between riding, judging, tennis and gardens, we found time to search out alpine nurseries in many an obscure moor land spot, bringing back some treasure that was not always an alpine. Once, we returned from Appleby Horse Fair having purchased a foal that we had to pay a local farmer to keep for his daughter!
After Anne took care of her parents and their hermaphrodite Siamese (who was safely neutered and sprayed), she met Ann Watson. They both bred under the Twoanne’s prefix, and started and ran Papyrus, the Abby newsletter, for a few years until her health deteriorated and Pam Beaumont stepped in. Pam was truly wonderful in finding a nursing home and re-homing the cats. Thank you, Pam.
With Anne, life was never dull and she has given me lots of adventures and many happy memories.
Elizabeth Brigliadori, Shwechinthe Birmans
WE WERE very saddened to hear of the recent death of Anne Ross.
Alan and I had known Anne for over 25 years as part of the Burmese world in Scotland and had used her famous studs (Monclair Pink Panther and Tamorie Tuffnut) on many occasions.
Anne had borne her protracted illness with characteristic fortitude and dignity and always maintained her smile and friendly greeting.
Our condolences to Hugh and family.
Frances & Alan Bell, Bellringer Burmese
