We registered our affix with the Kennel Club in September 1977, and over the years, it has figured in the names of a number of lovely dogs.

The Sevray Whippets

The first whippet I fell in love with was a little blue bitch who belonged to one of the farmhands at the stables where I rode at weekends, when I was 12 or 13 years old. I vowed I'd have a whippet of my own one day, but as the rest of the family were "terrier folks" through and through, I had to wait until Edd and I moved to Norfolk in the early 1970s before I could fulfil my wishes.

The first Whippet to arrive was a gentle, sweet natured white lady, Starita Christmas Cracker, born in 1975, who taught me so much about this lovely breed.

She was followed in 1976 by my precious "china model" Tia (aka Puddledock Graffiti - pictured right) - as they say, small but beautifully formed - who charmed everyone who met her and who, along with Cracker and our old black mongrel Suki, was to become part of the child-minding team for Sy.



Our first real forays into the show-ring centred on Worthmere Crackling Rosie (1977 pictured left) who won 6 BIS awards along with RBIS and BP wins, until she injured her back in an accident and took early retirement.



My very special best friend, soul-mate and confidante, Skybright of Sevray arrived in 1982, and remained by companion for the next 15 years. "Lucy" hated the show scene, and became my artist's model on many occasions.

A number of other whippets have been in our lives over the years: Missie, Herbie, Lily (Cracker's daughter), Boz (Lucy's son), Fly and Bee to name but some, and the beautiful Millie (Malbon Hoopla) who also figured in many paintings, and who was sadly lost last September, at 13 years of age.

The latest addition is Weasel, who has brought delight and despair in equal measure, with her antics in the few short weeks she's been her so far - long may she reign!

When the Bedlingtons joined the family, in 1979, Edd and I took the decision not to show the whippets seriously at Championship level (although several have been Crufts qualifiers over the years), and we now only make the occasional venture at Open Show level. We do, though, intend to show Weasel whenever we can (she should live long enough …… depends how much more of my stuff she pinches!)

The Sevray Bedlingtons

My earliest memory of a dog at home was a small, grey, hairy little creature called Flossie. My Mum had been a Bedlington fan for many years, so it was probably only natural that, at some point, the breed would reappear into my life. An advert in the local paper, early in 1979, for Bedlington puppies, resulted in Moonstep Lace joining the gang. She was from the first litter sired by the late Ida Sills' Argentinian import (brought here for Ida by Carlos Saevich) Arg Ch Vistablu Ben Franklin of Blue Happening. "Daisy" as she was called at home won 2 RCCs (as well as a couple of Open Show BIS wins) and produced our first Champion, Sevray Singing Sailor, in her only litter. Sadly, Daisy was lost at only five years of age, due to Copper Toxicosis.


Singing Sailor ("Billy" pictured right) did us proud - 4CCs, 4RCCs, Junior Warrant, and 17 BIS, 11 RBIS and innumerable Group wins. He won his last BIS from the Veteran class at Suffolk Agricultural Show at ten years of age. Tragically, though, he too was CT affected, and was never used at stud.


After losing Billy, we retired for about five years from the show scene, but when Ian and Margaret Phillips were generous enough to let us have Rathsrigg Renoir, we returned, in 1985. Ren was to prove the most fantastic little dog, as a constant companion, bodyguard and keeper of my secrets as well as show winner, and it was a privilege to have had him - his crowning moment came at the National Bedlington Terrier Club's Centenary Championship Show, when he won his 3rd CC and BIS (beating his Mum, Ch Rathsrigg Ricci, to the top honour) under breed specialist Alice Emsley. Ren also sired our own Sevray Rembrandt (4 RCCs), Sevray Just Remember (mother of Ch Sevray Just Rumours ShCM and Sevray Daisy JW) and Joan Hamilton's cc-winning Sevray Rare Edition, along with others who have made their mark in the ring for their owners. Thank you, Ren, for all the pleasure you brought to us in your eleven years here - we shall miss you for ever, and life here will never be quite the same again.

Our show team now consists of Penfold (Ch Sevray Just Rumours ShCM) Sevray Daisy JW and the lovely Jetsway Mother's Ruin for Sevray JW ("Dora"). Penfold is siring some lovely puppies of his own (six litters to date), and is available at stud to approved bitches. Daisy and Dora are currently the only two bitches in the country who have a Junior Warrant, and Dora was Bedlington Puppy of the Year 2005. Both the girls have 2 RCCs apiece. Dora has missed the last six months showing, after breaking a leg last October, but she'll be back soon, hopefully to pick up where she left off.

We haven't bred many litters over the years, as we are limited for space, and our oldies retire by our own fireside, but occasionally puppies are available to discerning owners.

The odd one out

Somewhere in the course of things, a scruffy, hairy, grizzled lurcher sneaked in - answers to the name of Foggy (when she feels like it!) - and we wouldn't be without her.