Our Late Patron

 

duchess_of_buccleuch

 

It was with great sadness that we learned of the untimely death of the Club’s Patron, the Duchess of Buccleuch, on 30th April 2023. She died following a short illness after undergoing an operation.  Out of respect for the late Duchess we propose to leave the position of Patron vacant for a suitable period of time.  

 

The Club would like to express its sincere thanks for the Duchess’s much appreciated patronage.  We also extend our condolences to the Duke of Buccleuch and his family.

 

Born in 1954, Lady Elizabeth Kerr married the current Duke of Buccleuch, Richard Scott in 1981. She is survived by the Duke, their four children and eleven grandchildren.  The Duchess kindly served as Patron of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club from 2005.  

 

The appointment of the Duchess of Buccleuch as Patron held special significance because of the historic links between Dandie Dinmont Terriers and past Dukes of Buccleuch. It is said that every Dandie Dinmont alive today can trace its lineage back to 'Old Ginger', who was sired by 'Old Pepper', a poacher's dog found in a trap on the estate of the 5th Duke of Buccleuch (Walter Francis, 1806-1884).

 

 

Etching from Gainsborough

 
 
According to Charles Cook in his book of 1885...
 
'The late Walter Francis, Duke of Buccleuch and Queensferry, K.G., was in his earlier days a keen fancier of the Dandie Dinmont terrier. His Grace's brother, Lord John Scott, also took a great interest in the breed, and the kennels at Bowhill contained therefore for a long period some of the choicest specimens of the Pepper and Mustard race. Duke Henry, third Duke of Buccleuch, and grandfather of the late Duke, had been in his day also famous for his terriers, which were of the old Border breed from which have sprung, as I believe, the Dandie Dinmont.'
 
The 3rd Duke, Henry, was portrayed by Gainsborough in 1770 with an early Dandie Dinmont. An etching from that portrait can be found in Charles Cook's book 'The Dandie Dinmont Terrier - Its History and Characteristics'.