During the 1970's the Club experienced a rather rapid turnover of office holders and unfortunately the club records prior to 1961 were lost. Jeff Stoddart was then appointed Chairman and visited the Kennel Club where a helpful librarian was able to supply some information.
The National Chow Chow Club was first registered on the 25th April 1933. The founder and first Secretary was Mr J Hartley-Baileff who remained Secretary throughout the war years and up to 1959. Although no written confirmation could be found it is believed the Club was formed by a group of Chowists who could not see eye to eye with the committee of one of the other Clubs who held all their meetings at the Kennel Club and insisted on ending in time for afternoon tea at the Ritz. The newly formed National Chow Chow Club however held their meetings at a North London pub.
As far as could be traced the National jogged along quietly until post war when on the 26th May 1947, the first Open Show was held at The Memorial Hall, Camden Town, London. This drew an entry of 202 over 20 classes and was judged by Mr Gilbert Kay who awarded Best in Show to Padua's Anton of Kenway who was still a puppy. What a comparison this entry makes with current entries of around 40 - 60 in 2025.
The National Chow Chow Club was first registered on the 25th April 1933. The founder and first Secretary was Mr J Hartley-Baileff who remained Secretary throughout the war years and up to 1959. Although no written confirmation could be found it is believed the Club was formed by a group of Chowists who could not see eye to eye with the committee of one of the other Clubs who held all their meetings at the Kennel Club and insisted on ending in time for afternoon tea at the Ritz. The newly formed National Chow Chow Club however held their meetings at a North London pub.
As far as could be traced the National jogged along quietly until post war when on the 26th May 1947, the first Open Show was held at The Memorial Hall, Camden Town, London. This drew an entry of 202 over 20 classes and was judged by Mr Gilbert Kay who awarded Best in Show to Padua's Anton of Kenway who was still a puppy. What a comparison this entry makes with current entries of around 40 - 60 in 2025.
Above : Miriam Simpson's Mairim Blue Woo Tu, born 1947
The first CC'c awarded at a National Chow Chow Club show were to: Dogs, CC Ch Sabu, who was also Best in Show, RCC Padua's Anton of Kenway, now in Junior. Bitches. CC Mei of Adlung, RCC Una-so-sweet.
By 1959 Mrs Miriam Simpson had taken over as Secretary with the meetings and AGM still being held at a North London pub. The National Club continued to hold CC status during the 1950's until a change in policy at the Kennel Club resulted in CC's being lost until 1972.
The end of 1975 saw the sudden death of Mrs Simpson who had been only the second Secretary in the Club's history. Rod Oldham, who had joined the committee a few years earlier agreed to take on the position as a temporary measure.
The 1970's was a turbulent period for the Club with a number of changes of Officers, however in the early 1980's the Club settled down to two Open Shows and one Championship Show each year. Len Quinn was elected as Secretary in 1980, a position he held until becoming Chairman in 1983. At this time Pauline Quinn was elected as Secretary and this partnership steadied the Club for the next eleven years.
During the 1980's the Kennel Club announced and strongly recommended that Breeds formulate Breed Councils. The National Chow Chow Club was firmly in favour of this and Len and Pauline Quinn, along with representatives from the Chow Clubs of Scotland, Wales, Midland, Northern Counties, North Eastern, West of England and Ulster attended interim meetings to consider the formation of the Chow Chow Breed Council.
The National Chow Chow Club believed that no matter where you live in the UK your local club can be included in all the important decisions and the Breed Council can do so much more for the breed. Discussioins with the KC concerning re-allocation of CC's, extra CC's, organising Seminars, Chow Judges Training Scheme Presentations/Assessments, compiling Judges Lists and working closely with the KC with the dealing of important Health Issues.
A meeting was held to agree a Constitution and Rules which had been submitted by Len and Pauline Quinn on behalf of the National Chow Chow Club. After approval from the Board of the Kennel Club the Chow Chow Breed Council was formed and continues to go from strenght to strength.
In 1995 Jan Lefevre became Secretary and continued in this role until 2005 when, due to work commitments, she moved to the position of Chairman of the Club and Gillian Claxton was elected as Secretary. In 2010 the National Chow Chow Club were the sponsoring club for the Chow Of The Year Show. This was well supported and a great success. Unfortunately Jan Lefevre was taken ill just before the show and sadly died within a short time. Mrs Claire Merrion was elected Chairman at the next AGM with Helen Smith elected Vice Chairman.
Above : COTYS 2010 winners
(BIS Ch Cherrymount Good to be Black for Lechan [left] & BOS Ch Miketilla Motion Pictures [right])
Above : COTYS 2010 Celebration Cake
The Club continued to function successfully with Gillian Claxton as Secretary and Claire Merrion as Chairman for the next eight years until it was time for them to once again sponsor the Chow Of The Year Show in 2019. Photographs of the past winners of Best in Show were printed and displayed on the wall which was very popular. This show was 55 years since the inaugural one and once more a great success.
Above : COTYS 2019 winners
(BIS Ch Janqbu Valentino [left] & BOS Ch Shulian Shimmering Star at Kweichow [right])
Above : COTYS 2019 BPIS Lechan Lewis
Above : COTYS 2019 Celebration Cake
In 2022 the Club was contacted by the Chow Chow Club in connection with the possibility of amalgamating with them. With the number of Chow Chow exhibitors having fallen the Kennel Club had written to each club to advise that our average entries had fallen to 49.79 which placed the breed in stage 6, with a breed club allocation of 6 sets from 2029 and this would result in some clubs not being allocated championship status unless entries improve. They suggested that some clubs therefore may wish to consider amalgamation over the coming years and any clubs who do amalgamate would have CC status guaranteed for ten years.
Above : A part of the committee/officers of the National Chow Chow Club at the COTYS in 2010
(Note : L & F Fisher and M Reeve were not on the picture that day)
FLTR (back row) : John Merrion, Derek Brown, Chris Smith, Gillian Claxton, Roy Nunn, Rodney Oldham
FLTR (front row) : Pat Lawson, Pearl Brown, Helen Smith, Pippa Clare, Claire Merrion, Margaret Pyne, Diana Phillips
A number of meetings were held between the two clubs and it was agreed the amalgamation should go ahead. The two clubs jointly organised a Jubilee Tea Party on 12th June 2022 which was a great success with the profit being split equally. It was agreed that the name of the new club would be the British Chow Chow Club and a Special General Meeting was held on 1st October 2023 to deal with all the formalities. Details of this meeting were then sent to the Kennel Club and approval of the Board was subsequently received. The British Chow Chow Club was now in existence and the National Chow Chow ceased to exist as a separate club with effect from 31st December 2023.
Gillian Claxton
Secretary