Where my story began...

I was born in Weston-super-Mare in the summer of 1959, registered as June Cheryl, although throughout my life I have always been known simply as Cherry.

Animals have quite simply always been part of my life.

My love for the magnificent German Shepherd Dog goes right back to my childhood and to one very special person — my grandfather, Tom Robert Beavis.

My grandfather was a wonderful inspiration to me. He had been breeding, exhibiting and obedience training German Shepherds since the 1940s under his affix:

MEADOWLEA

German Shepherds were simply part of our family.

I honestly cannot remember growing up without a Shepherd 

somewhere beside me. Those early years created a love and respect for the breed 

that has stayed with me throughout my entire life.

And, apparently, there was another four-legged member of the

 family during those very early years — a golden Cocker Spaniel. 

I was only a young child at the time and my own memories of 

the dog are rather distant, but I love knowing that a Cocker was 

there in the background of my childhood too. 

Perhaps, without ever realising it, the Cocker Spaniel had already found 

a little place in my story all those years ago.

But the German Shepherd wasn't the only breed that would leave its mark on me...

My sister Toni successfully bred and exhibited Toy Poodles

 during the 1960s under her affix:

LUVIAN

Of all those memories, one beautiful little girl has always remained particularly vivid in my mind — a black Toy Poodle, Champion Tea Cosy of Petitbrun, 

whom Toni made up to Champion.

Perhaps that little black Poodle planted a seed all those years ago, because 

here I am today, more than half a century later, with Toy Poodles of my own.

There is something about the breed that I adore — their elegance and beauty 

combined with tremendous intelligence, affection and personality. 

They may be small in stature, but there is certainly nothing small about their character.

Sometimes life has the most wonderful way of bringing you full circle.

Today, when I look at my German Shepherds and my Toy Poodles — and think 

back to that golden Cocker who was apparently part of my earliest childhood 

 I see far more than simply dogs.

 I see pieces of my childhood, my family and the people who first taught me

 to love and appreciate these wonderful animals.

My grandfather gave me the German Shepherd and Meadowlea.

My sister gave me the Toy Poodle and memories of Luvian.

And somewhere in those early years, a golden Cocker Spaniel

 quietly became part of my story too.

Together, they helped give me a love of dogs that has lasted a lifetime.

From Meadowlea and Luvian all those years ago to Chezza’s today, the names may have changed and the generations have moved on, but that love has never left me.

What an incredible legacy my grandfather and my sister left 

me — and how very proud I am to carry a little part of them both 

forward through Chezza’s.