MY HISTORY

History of Lodhainn

My name is John Wiggan; I live in Redditch, Worcestershire and have worked for the Hereford & Worcester Fire & Rescue Service since 1978 following a transfer from West Yorkshire Metropolitan Fire Service.
I was raised in Bradford, West Yorkshire and the son of newsagents and lived above and behind the shop with Mom, Dad and my older sister Sue.
We always had cats at home (to keep the mice away from the cellars, sweets, crisps etc), so I never had a dog until I had a place of my own.
I was working as a joiner in Liverpool when I rescued my first dog ‘Sheba’ (seen with my daughter Emma in my gallery).
I became am aerial appliance instructor in 84 and finally became the Senior Aerial Examiner in 1986.
I had to go to the Officers College in Morton in Marsh in 1984 and acquired my second dog “Sam” for home security. He was rescued from a working farm in Wales following an accident with a tractor injuring his leg. He was a faithful sole, however he did not know how to play, would not chase a ball, but he did love a cuddle in front of the fire!
In 1993 I rescued a brindle ‘Deerhound Lurcher’ who was almost perfect. He did not need a lead and never left my side. He would play with small children as if they were china and might break!! Yet would play rough when my adult son Christopher played with him.
We went everywhere together and in 1996 met Jenny Cooper (Chapeltower) whilst on holiday in Hay-on-Wye, which was when I was introduced to a puppy called “Chapeltower Zak”, Jenny also had a junior dog called “Zog”, from identical breeding (see gallery). Their dam was called “Ardkinglas Polka” and I met her in the study as Jenny looked for a particular book to show me a photo, she just crept up to me as I sat on the leather couch.
It was love at first sight even though they were huge compared to Lofty!
I kept in contact with Jenny & Alan her now late husband (Cooper to friends) following my visit and eventually when the time was right, decided it was time for my first deerhound.
Jenny did not have a puppy available at that time but there were some available from a bitch she had bred in “Otter Ferry”, so off to the West Cost of Scotland to meet Chris & Ian & the Anmialchu Hounds.
I did not so much choose “Buachaille” as he picked me, three times I entered the puppy run over the weekend and he was the first to respond & come to me each time.
So that was it, my first pedigree puppy and a member of the Deerhound Club as well.
I had never been to a dog show before but a work colleague who with his wife Wendy had bred & shown Afghan hounds for years talked me into giving it a try, so off to handling classes it was for “Boo”, me as well in preparation for the big day.
Then the big day arrived, the Breed Club Open Show at the Moat House Hotel, Peterborough in October 2001 judged by Mrs. E. A. Macdonald & despite the persistent rain it did not dampen the atmosphere and “Boo” was placed VHC (5th) and RES (4th) in the two classes he was entered in.
I was just pleased that we had been placed in each class, as there were some who hadn’t.
I now exhibit my hounds as often as time and finances allow and have met some real characters and made some good friends along the way. I have also been fortunate to handle other peoples animals as well’.
The Deerhound Club holds an open show each year at a nominated venue, (open to all deerhounds and their owners) and it lasts from the Friday teatime, through Saturday and into Sunday that incorporates the Clubs AGM as well. People support the show from all over the country, Europe and as far away as the US of A.
The atmosphere at these shows is electric; the exhibitors wish to win here more than anywhere, however they remain friendly throughout.
My choice of “Grant of Affix” was I think my fifth choice, as my earlier choices were rejected by the KC in 2004, however the name “LODHAINN”, meaning a “Leash” or “Pack” of dogs, was appropriate at the time as there was a Bedlington terrier at home as well as two deerhounds.
http://www.websters-dictionary-online.net

I hope to provide some Pictures of the above journey in the ‘Gallery’ section of the site, hopefully some you may find interesting, I will also be providing some ‘clean’ material you may find amusing
Enjoy xx