the bluebonnet norfolk terrier club
Historic Norfolk Breeders/Kennels
Historical Breeders
© The Bluebonnet Norfolk Terrier Club
History History
Airman Kennels By Frank Rogers According to Mrs. Bunting it was circa 1930 when Mrs Normandy Rodwell of the Airman prefix approached The Kennel Club to recognize the breed which it did in 1932. She was founder and Honorable Sect. of the club. This kennel is famous for having dogs of perfect ear carriage, whether dropped or priced, though the latter had pride of place. Winning Airmans dogs of note included Betty, Sam, Storm, Tempest, Red Dog. She acquired HOrstead Nipper in partnership with Mr. R. J. Read and he was a full younger brother to Storm - all these being prick eared.
Allercombe Kennels  Miss Tucker owned her first Norwich in 1943 but did not begin breeding until after World War II.  Contributed by Frank Rogers: About this time a most successful prick-eared breeder came to the forefront named Miss D.E. Tucker, who had the Allercombe prefix. She founded her kennel on Mrs. Hardy’s Quartzhill Teasel, who has had many distinguished descendants both in England and America. Though Miss Tucker bred good Norwich terriers, she lived rather far from shows, and it was difficult to attend, so she sold her stock to other dog show people to enable her dogs to gain their Championships. She was the breeder of Allercombe Task, Allercombe Have-A-Go, Allercombe Escort, who all became Champions. Another two that she bred were brother and sister Allercombe Hiker and Allercomber Hetty, who after becoming Champions in England were exported to America soon to become U.S. Champions as well. Allright Kennels  Allright Kennels, founded with Ickworth Sandstorm in the mid 1980's, Frauke Hinsch continues to be an active breeder in Germany. Elisabeth and Philip Fell, Badgewood Kennels By Barbara Miller              Mrs. P.S.P. Fell with Badgewood Windmill Girl and Judge Mrs. M. May, Painting of Badgewood Kennels by C.R. Turnor  Philip, known as “Tiny”, and Elisabeth, called “Betty”, were always involved in one breed or another. She grew up with Whippets and Wires in the house that her parents leased from the Phipps family on what is known as Old Westbury Gardens here in Long Island, New York. As a teenager her mother gave her a Sealyham Terrier. Tiny, on the other hand, didn’t own a dog until Betty purchased a Beagle for him when they became engaged. A move to Pasadena, California, an eight year stint, occurred when they got married due to Tiny’s career with the Union Oil Company as a top executive. Betty showed her Whippet on the west coast and finished him when they returned to Long Island in 1956. Both Betty and Tiny were born to prominent families, he a great grandson of Anthony Joseph Drexel, the founder of Drexel University; she related to many well known Long Island families.  The Fells lived in Kent, England for ten years when he became an executive of Gulf Oil in 1960. Years ago Betty told me having the National Forestry as their backyard was an ideal place to run her Whippets. She had her heart set on the Norwich and Norfolk breeds having spotted two, owned by Henry Bixby, at the Westbury Kennel Club which were exhibited by the great Percy Roberts in 1935. In 1960, in England, they purchased their first Norwich from the Ragus kennel of Marjorie Bunting, Ragus Elegant Lady. On a trip back to the states they purchased a Norfolk bitch Ch. Newry’s Mrs. Mc Thing of Badgewood handled by Len Brumby. The Fells bred her to a Bethways stud and returned to England whereby the bitch delivered in quarantine. And so their involvement in both breeds began early on and our breed is better for it.  Tiny was the club delegate from 1974 until his death in 1979. It was his fortitude that enabled the breed to become two, with final approval from the American Kennel Club. And so it was in January 1979 we became two breeds, the Norfolk and Norwich. Betty became a judge in the early 1930’s due to her mother’s encouragement and judged both in England and the States at such shows as Westminster and West of England Ladies Kennel Society (England).  In the fall of 1979 the Fells hosted the club’s Match show at their showplace, Badgewood, in Oyster Bay, Long Island. They asked me to serve as Match show chairman. During lunch they provided live music and wine and I enlisted members to supply a goodly amount of food; all served on a perfectly manicured lawn. It was a perfect Fell day.  Ch. Badgewood The Huntress was Betty’s favorite Norfolk. She won the National Specialty two years in a row, 1977 and ’78. Jack Simm was their private handler for many years here in the States. He piloted Ch. Badgewood Monty Collins to a National Specialty win and a two time winner of the breed at Montgomery in 1975 and ’76. The Badgewood Norfolk and Norwich were a force and we all owe the Fells a round of applause for their fortitude in bringing the breed to the public and for their involvement in all club activities.  Published with permission from the Norfolk Terrier Annual 2010   More >> A reprint from an old interview with Mrs. Phillip S.P. Fell: next next