.
Tributes
to Joy Taylor
Joy with
Ch Nanfan Chinese Puzzle
in the terrier group ring at Crufts 1989
 026
Dear NTC,
It is with sadness that we have just found out
about the death of Joy Taylor last year. In 1994 we
bought 'Frankie' (Nanfan Citron) from Joy and he has
been the centre of our lives for the past 13 years,
although obviously not as sprightly as he once was.
Every Christmas Joy would send us a card and
enquire how Frankie was doing. We would of course
reply and send a photo. She was genuinely delighted
that dear old Frankie was doing so well for his age.
I suppose we feared the worst when this Christmas for
the first time since 1994 we did not receive a card
from Joy. We will always remember her for
providing us with Frankie who has been such an
integral part of our family life.
Richard, Sue,
Rhys and Greg POWELL Monmouth
025
I met Mrs Joy
Taylor first in April 2000. I had left from Italy
just to
meet her and her dogs. She welcomed me into her
beautiful home with her high
class, style and maybe a little curiosity. I was
astonished both by her
charisma and by the beauty of her dogs. The day ran
fast and when I got
back to Italy I was still very thrilled. From that
moment on, day after day,
our friendship grew more and more: letters and phone
calls contributed to
create that mutual affection that I still preserve in
my heart. I'll never
forget her.
About two years later, in October 2001, Nanfan Chorus
had a litter
of two bitches and one of them would be for me!
Breaking her habits, Joy even
decided to call her Nanfan Nico's Joy (our Christian
names). And the great day
arrived: on Dec.16 2001, I returned to Standhall
Cottage, but this time I
wouldn't go back to Italy alone! I can still remember
how much my hands
trembled when Joy handed me the puppy!
Nico's Joy has had a great career: Italian,
International, Terrier Club and
foreign Champion, Top Norfolk in Italy for 3 years. I
shared with Joy
every success, prize and joy and I really hope
that she
goes on looking at us from Heaven.
In March 2005 I saw her again, sadly it was to be for
the last time. She gave me another puppy, Nanfan
Cantata, who is
about to become Italian and International Champion. I
am very proud to be
the only Italian to have her Norfolks. Thank you Mrs
Joy, thank you for everything.
We have lost much more than a great breeder.
Nico Danovaro, Italy
024
We first met
Joy, having attended a Ladies Kennel Club Show in
Birmingham,
what seems a lifetime ago. We met a young, feisty
puppy who had been taken
to the show to gain experience and fell in love with
the breed. We were told
that the best breeder of Norfolks was Joy and got to
meet her at Standhall
Cottage, a few weks later, where we were introduced
to our first Norfolk
puppy, Nanfan Cater. We became part of the
"family". He was followed a few
years later by Sweet Potato and as ever, we were made
so welcome. Our third
Norfolk, Comma, arrived almost 11 years ago and, as
ever, we have been so
happy to have yet another dog with character and full
of love.
It was a privilege and a pleasure to meet and get to
know Joy.
We're saddened by her passing.
Long live the Nanfans!
Richard Riley
023
Joy Taylor was
Nanfan and Nanfan was Joy Taylor. Her death saddens
me more than l can say. I remember seeing Joy many,
many years ago when a much younger lad. I suppose in
the days when Andrew Hunt showed her dogs for her at
that time. Through Andrew l got to know her well and
liked her a lot. In those days Dorothy Dorkins used
to travel with us to shows and was showing Toy
poodles at that time. she then showed and interest in
Norfolk's and asked if l would introduce her to Joy.
Of course l did and they got on famously and shortly
afterwards she acquired Nanfan Nectarine and the
start of the Lowmita Norfolk's. Then l was invited to
handle her dogs and so began a great friendship which
last many years. We became more than a client handler
relationship, we became friends. She built up a great
friendship with Michael Coads mother until she sadly
a few years ago now. I loved my stays at Standhall
Cottage, especially for the Three Cts Show when the
dogs were in conjunction with the main show. Often
Elizabeth would be there and have a picnic on the
lawn outside. I have such wonderful memories of Joy
and even now its hard to believe she is still not
with us. She could be difficult, oh yes she could,
but that was part of her. But she was a tough girl
and in the middle of winter she would have no
heating, or at least just an open fire but she didn't
mind in the least. The dogs also were as tough as
nails and those wonderfull heads she had will stick
in my mind for ever. I could go on and on remembering
Joy, she was very special to us. The funeral was a
wonderful occasion and sure she would have approved.
Especially the dogs who took part and were as good as
gold. She is buried in that wonderful peaceful place
in sight of Standhall Cottage and sure she will be
keeping an eye on Elizabeth !
Geoff Corish
www.pamplonapoodles.co.uk
022
It is with great sadness we
learn of Mrs Joy Taylor’s death. We have
loved and enjoyed the pleasure of having 5
Nanfan’s over the past 40 years and ‘Bowler
V’ (Nanfan Chiff-chaff) died at 10½ years
only 2 weeks ago. There is a deep hole in our
lives at present. As with all Nanfan’s he
had a distinct character of his own whilst bearing
the underlying influence of the fantastic line that
Mrs Taylor developed. She was an amazing
lady who cared so deeply about her
dogs. When we first contacted her
in 1965 we were subjected to a very thorough
screening as to our ability to care for a Nanfan and
the fact that we had two young children.
Fortunately we passed her test but she kept in touch
and we made two return visits to her kennels in the
first year just to let her see that he was being
loved and cared for. We remember Joy Taylor
with grateful thanks for allowing us the privilege of
having had a Nanfan as an valued member of the family
for the past 41 years.
Peter and Janet Roffey,
Melton Mowbray.
021
How very sad I feel that such a
marvellous lady has passed on from this world.
My husband and I contacted Joy some 11 years ago
hoping to be able to own a Norfolk Terrier. She
immediately invited us and our spaniels to her lovely
home. We all hit it off straight away resulting
in us becoming the proud owner of
"Grizzler". Joy always laughed at the
name - derived from his grizzle coat, although I must
say he has grown in to the name very well. I
kept in contact with her meeting her at shows
Christmas cards etc. I shall never forget the
story she told us about hating the fact that the
clocks changed every year and in fact one year she
refused to change hers so was never on time for
anything for a whole six months - did she care - not
likely. We will remember her with huge
affection and hope she is happy and contented
wherever she is now.
Our
very sincere condolences to her family.
Sue & Ian
Downie (and of course Grizzler)
020
Dear fellows. It may sounds funny but
I had never own a norfolk terrier in my life! I`m a
terrier breeder and at home we mostly have scottish
terriers and Norwich. Also, I never had the chance to
meet Mrs Taylor when I went to England, even if we
have a great common friend as Garry Mason. But since
I started in dogs, I always was curious and crazy
about reading and learning from other breeders
and their work!I read everythingh I could, and later
when I went to the US to improve my trimming skills,
I saw for the first time one of the most
beautiful dogs that I ever saw before: BIS.Am.Ch.Duke
of Cooperplate at the groups rings in
California showed by Bill Mc Fadden when it
just start his career.(both of Duke Parents were bred
in England by Mrs Taylor) Later I was lucky enough to
work closely with Duke while I was learnign at
Larry`s Cornelious in Ocala , Florida. I must confess
he was one of my very favourite dogs ever!!His faces
just catch my eye, and I wouldn`t forget that sweet
expression wich was so characteristic on him. Curious
about from where he got that lovely sweet face I
start a track and I found it was one of
the strenghs of the Nanfan bloodline, and every
dog that I saw with Nanfan behind had that
"Classic type of face and
expression". Then, later I saw norfolks from
Scandinavia, germany, USA, and the UK and all of them
wich I was carazy about their lovely expressions had
some Nanfan on their pedigrees, so it was easy for me
recognize them by the classic Nanfan type, even if I
wasn`t an expert of this breed . I follow Mrs Taylor
career by books and magazines and I learned so much
about the way she worked on her pedigrees, and her
work was an inspiration to me. At my very first show
in England (Darlington) while I was visiting, I
went to watch the norfolks, and to see if I could
meet Mrs Taylor around the ring.Sadly she wasn`t
there, but the Best of Breed dog and CC´s
winner was a dog sired by two Nanfan dogs, and I was
delighted to had pick the same dog that the
judge picked that day for BOB.That day Garry told me
that Mrs.Taylor didn`t come to the shows that
often due to her age. Later I came back to
England to show my norwich dog at Cruft 2005, and as
my schedule was so tight I wasn`t able to visit Garry
and may be meet Joy as he promissed me once, to
finnaly meet her. Now I feel very sorry to don`t ever
have the time to meet a great Lady like
she was.A World Wide Known tallented breeder
like her who left her stamp on the breed, and wich I
admired the most from the very end of the World where
I am from. Her legacy and wisdom will survive through
her dogs and the norfolks new generations that
will come. I`m very sorry she is not with us
anymore.And even more sorry for the empty space that
she left on the Dog World and her close circle of
friends. She was known at every corner of this wide
world! and anybody who knows about terriers, should
heard or know about the famous Mrs Joy Taylor and her
Nanfan norfolks.She will be always on our hearts and
her lifestyle would be always an example for the
future generations of breeders. To me like many
others she was an example to follow. The norfolk
breed owes her something, as she gave so much
to the Today`s norfolks! Mrs Taylor made the
"Before " and "After" on this
breed...
Sincerly
Mr. Mariano Gatica Gomez
(Eastman's Terriers)
CHILE
019
I
have
read all the worthy tributes to this very great lady
but I feel I have to express my gratitude for her
kindness on the first of several black days. When my
severely disabled late husband and I returned from
the splendid NTC Millennium show to find our home
flooded and completely unusable the first person on
the phone to offer help was Joy. "Put Colin and
the dogs in the car dear and come and stay for as
long as you need" she said. The dogs included a
three week old litter and she was aware of my
husband's disability. The insurance stepped in and I
did not need to accept the offer but I have never
forgotten such exceptional kindness. There are few
like Joy around now, she will be sorely missed.
Dorothy
Taylor
018
It was with a desolate heart that I
heard of the death of Joy Taylor. I knew her
from my early girlhood. She was an amazing life
mentor to both me and my sister and was not only
knowledgeable about Norfolks but also chihauhaus and
luckily for me horses. (She generously lent me a
saddle and didn’t say a word when I returned it
in a rather sorry state.)
Her good
humour, independence and strength of mind made a deep
impression on me and I happily tried to live up to
her example. She dealt with the vicissitudes of
her life with unfailing courage. She was always
pleased to see young and impecunious callers but
would never hesitate to tell you if you were in the
way!
As we grew
older the welcome would extend into large and if you
were a driver very dangerous gin and tonics. By
chance I visited her just a few days before she died
and gave her my families’ love. We
will all miss her sorely and remember her with great
affection.
Nel Rann and
Debbee Adamson
017
I
was quite
stunned when Garry Mason telephoned me to tell me
that Joy had passed away. I had realised that she
wasn't in the best of health as Garry had told me of
his concerns when he visited Nanfan the previous
weekend, but strangely Joy was one of those people
who we expect to go on for ever.
I cannot say that Joy and I were close friends, but
for many years before we ever met I was aware of
this supremely elegant and beautifully spoken lady,
always immaculately dressed, who seemed to have an
aura of "class" about her, and who always
had an impressive - and equally well groomed -
Norfolk in tow.
When we did meet, Joy was as impressive as I had
expected - one of those straight-shooters who had a
true passion for her breed and who was ready to share
her knowledge with anyone she felt was genuinely
interested.
A few years ago my good friend Garry Mason, already
highly successful with his Glenhafod Norwich
Terriers, has expressed an interest in maybe getting
involved in the sister breed and wondered if I could
introduce him to Joy. That was at a Midland Counties
show and although you may have thought Garry and Joy
to be poles apart on the surface, they instantly hit
it off and soon became great friends. I know Joy was
very impressed when Garry (a keen historian)
unearthed a huge amount of information about the
Nanfan name, and indeed her family tree. Although a
good hour-and-half's drive away, Garry never thought
twice if Joy telephoned and asked if he could come
over and help out in a minor crisis.
I remember watching Joy judging a breed club Open
show - I believe her retirement appointment but I may
be mistaken - and it was inspirational. She handled
the dogs thoroughly but with no wasted effort, and
after watching one or two classes it was easy to see
from the ringside exactly what dogs were likely to
place in the next - this was "type judging"
at its best. Her Best in Show that day was Rouletta
Russet Leaf, a dog that looked very much out of the
Nanfan mould, who I was amazed to discover was not a
Champion. The following year when I awarded CCs in
the breed for the first time, it was with pleasure I
awarded the same dog the CC & BOB, thrilled that
he was as satisfying at close quarters as I found him
from ringside.
We have far too few "characters" left in
the dog world, and Joy certainly fell into that
category. Her presence will be sorely missed, as will
her influence and wisdom, but the Nanfan legacy will
serve as her greatest memorial, and I am sure that
those who have been entrusted with Joy's precious
bloodlines will treasure and respect them as much as
she did.
Andrew H. Brace
016
What will the Norfolks be
without Joy and her Nanfans?
I have great memories of my visits with Joy at
Standhall Cottage, of the things I was allowed to
learn from her and her visits here with us and
judging the German Norfolk specialty in 1999.
Not only through "Tubby", one of
my first imports 25 years ago, the Nanfans have
strongly influenced my breeding programme.
"Tubby"
Tubby
(Ch. Cracknor Candidate) was sired by Ch Nanfan
Sweetcorn and out of Nanfan Country Cousin and
besides being my first "owner handled"
Worldwinner he left a big mark on my Norfolks. He was
the first but not the last one who brought the
Nanfans in my lines. Later Ch. Yarrows Henley
joined us, a son of Ch. Nanfan Caper and he sired so
many super pups for us. From Finland came the
influence of Ch. Nanfan Joystick to my Norfolks and
so did it through a son of Nanfan Siskin in my very
early years as a Norfolk breeder. In a lot of my
Norfolks this Nanfan influence is quite obvious
today, the deep red harsh coats and typical heads...
I am
grateful that our lives have touched and that I could
learn from Joy.
Dr.
Frauke Hinsch
Joy Taylor judging in
the USA in 1986
giving Best of Winners to Ch. Allright Magic Lamp,
standing in the picture
with (from left to right): Joan R. Read (Chidley),
Linda Plummer (Wenwaggon) and Bee Ege (Joan's
daughter).
(Huntingdon
Valley Kennel Club Ashbey 1986)
015
The German Norfolk Terrier
breeders pay tribute to the memory of Joy Taylor.
Even those of us who never met her knew her name and
her Nanfan kennel. Her influence on our breed was
unique and certainly not limited to her own country.
We owe her a lot and will not forget her. Our
sympathy and condolences go to her family.
Heike Mark,
Toenisvorst/Germany
German Breed Representative
014
I was so sadden to hear of this great
lady's passing.
Joy was a great English country woman who was admired
by so many.
She created such an outstanding line of dogs.
We have lost a bright star in the Norfolk community.
My sympathy and condolences to her good friends and
family and her beloved canines.
Linda Lyons
(Laughing Lyons Norfolk Terriers)
Greenwich, CT USA
013
Joy started me in Norfolks by letting
me have Nanfan Nectarine who I made up to a champion.
She then let me have a bitch pup who proved to be a
super mum and produced lovely pups.
Joy was always willing to help and advise. A very
special lady with a unique personality.
Chatter (Ch Nanfan Chit Chat) came to live with us
when he was two years old and we soon made him a
champion. We lost Chatter just a few months ago at
nearly 16 years. I hope Joy looks him up in Heaven
for some hunting.
Thanks Joy, we will miss you.
Dorothy Dorkins
and Family
(Lowmita)
PS. Joy, thanks for pulling me out of the mud.
012
We are immensely sorry to hear that
Joy has passed away. A legend has left us!
We had the pleasure to buy two beauties from her. Ch
Nanfan Castaway (who was top Norfolk in Sweden for
three years), and our new little 'Simba', Nanfan
Clove. We’re so happy to have him to go on with.
Thank you Joy !
We also owned Ch Porrigito Claypot, a son of Int Ch
Nanfan Joystick (the Finnish legend). Claypot won
nearly everything possible! And of course our latest
star, Ch Max-Well’s Red Devil, who is a son of
Am Ch Nanfan Canter.
We really loved both her and her dogs, and will miss
them a lot !
Love
Anna-Lena Munkvall (Easy)
Sweden
011
Like so many of us I was saddened to
hear of Joy Taylor’s death – to me she was
an indomitable English country woman who lived for
her dogs and family. I have many memories of her some
funny, some wry but she was always gracious and
giving of her extensive knowledge of the Norfolk
Terrier.
One
of the many things I did admire was her consistent
and carefully planned breeding of her dogs which was
the Nanfan type over the years – to me their
pedigrees were a classic example of good line
breeding and something which I have aspired to follow
– consequently I was delighted and stunned to
receive a major award from her when she judged the
NNTC specialty in 1991 – to a Black and tan no
less!
Watching
some Nanfan grandkids whizzing round my kitchen
floorat present I am truly delighted to have known
one of the “Grand Dames” of the breed.
Judith
Felton USA
010
Nanfan Sharpshooter came to Australia
in the 1970s and with that heralded the arrival of
Norfolk Terriers here. My first Norfolk was sired by
Shooter.
The 1980s
brought Nanfan Cheesecake and in the '90s Nanfan
Cactus and Nanfan Chill Off arrived. By this time I
had had the opportunity to meet Joy and stay at
Standhall Cottage where I learned about breeding,
grooming and judging Norfolks. Then Nanfan Calamus,
better known as 'Chaucer', arrived. Chaucer has
raised the profile of the Norfolk breed in this
country. We were able to repay her by his becoming
the first Norfolk Terrier in Australia to gain his
Grand Championship. I am so pleased we were able to
surprise her with the presentation at the 40th
anniversary Norfolk Terrier Club ch show in 2004.
Without Joy's
assistance this would not have happened. She was my
friend and mentor and one of the few who was prepared
to send Norfolks to Australia. Her knowledge was
immense. Her friendship had no restrictions.
How do I
remember her? Trying to push Dorothy Dorkins bogged
down car out of the mud by lifting it by the window
while Mary and I pushed from the front, and then
dining in style at the Duke of York especially with
the Sticky Chocolate Pudding just three weeks ago.
It is hard to
imagine that she is gone. BUT she isn't – I know
that she is looking down from Norfolk heaven and
saying "Liz, you cannot mate that bitch to that
dog!".
Liz Hindley
(Jotruba) Australia
009
I
am sorry to
hear about passing of Joy Taylor.
She will be missed and remembered by all
involved in the the breeding of
Norfolks for her dedication and hard work.
I never met her however made contact with her
when looking for a Norfolk puppy in 1994. I
spoke to her on the phone and sent her my
males pedigree and photos. She was very
helpful and advised me what to do. I still have
the letter.
Ingrid McLagan
(Macsnest) South Africa
008
Might a newcomer to the breed
(and a poodle person at that) be allowed to pay their
small tribute to one of the all time greats in
Norfolk Terriers. My one and only Norfolk
Terrier is a daughter of Champion Nanfan
Creole, (Korky was if not the last certainly one of
the last of the many Nanfan Champions.) He was
well into old age when he sired our girl. Her mum is
a Cracknor so the foundation line on that
side is very strongly Nanfan as well and we
feel so priviledged to have a Norfolk from these
lines. Such was the excellence and fame of the
breeding that even our poodle friends knew about the
Nanfan Norfolks telling us how fortunate we were that
the new puppy was from that line. I met
Joy Taylor at Builth Wells a few years ago when I was
wandering round like a lost soul just before judging
was due to start looking for Elisabeth Matell (who
was at that time the only Norfolk Terrier person I
knew.) By pure chance I asked Joy if she
knew Elisabeth -(she did!) and Joy looked after me
that day in Elisabeths absence as I watched much of
the judging with her, I was even offered a drink and
sandwich for my lunch. She was so kind and as I
immediately twigged very knowledgable about the
breed. Of course at the time I hadn't a clue who
I was sitting with only realising later that I was
with one of the top people in the breed. I have
never forgotten her kindness that day.
I am sure her knowledge and great abilities
which served the breed so well for so long will be
greatly missed. Many in the breed will have special
memories of her and so much to be grateful for over
the years, primarily of course the Nanfan Norfolks
who are at the foundation of this wonderful breed.
May she rest in peace and rise in glory
surrounded by her beloved Norfolks.
Lynn
Ward (owner of the Ch Nanfan Creole daughter 'Poppy')
007
The best tribute everyone in the breed
could pay to Joy now would be to plan their breeding
programmes as carefully as she did.
Gilean White
(Vicbrita)
006
I
was
only introduced to Joy a few years ago by Andrew
Brace at a Midland Counties Championship Show.
In the short period of time I knew Joy, I soon became
amazed at her wicked sense of humour and her sheer
zest for life - she had more energy than many people
half her age. Furthermore, Joy taught me far
more about the Norfolk breed in a few years than most
people would learn in a lifetime. Of course,
the greatest honour of all was Joy's total trust in
our friendship to such an extent that she allowed
Annette and me to co-own and show some of her famous
Nanfan Norfolk Terriers.
I will miss her deeply.
Garry
and Annette Mason (Glenhafod Norwich & Norfolk
Terriers)
Joy, Eileen
Needham and Garry Mason
outside Standhall Cottage in September 2004
005
I first contacted Joy around the early
1980s, I had seen two delightful young Norfolks that
she had sold to Phil Beeley. Prior to that I had seen
some of her breeding in Sweden, and I had made up my
mind that I was going to have a Norfolk and there was
only one breeder that I wanted to buy one from.
And so the wait
for a Norfolk began. When we went to WELKS and Three
Counties showing our Cavaliers we always visited but
the wait continued, until on one visit there was a
little bitch who had a heavily bandaged hind foot. I
picked her up, she licked my face and I turned to Joy
and said "This one's for me" to which she
replied "Would you like her? But you can't
possibly take her until the strapping comes
off". I quickly replied that if she could take
it off so could I.
Our life with
Norfolks had begun. Nanfan Corncracker, litter sister
to Ch Corndodger and Ch Crackle, was our foundation
bitch and, although Joy warned me that it would not
be easy breeding Norfolks, we have stuck at it these
last 20 years breeding the type that we and Joy are
happy to live with. Joy took me under her wing, and
the happy hours and weeks that I have spent at
Standhall Cottage will remain precious memories.
We have only
ever bought one Norfolk, our first one, the other
Nanfans, Ch Creole whom we co-owned and Chilli Bean,
were given to us by Joy. We trusted one another, over
the years Marilyn and I have had many Nanfan
youngsters come to stay with us to be socialised, and
we felt privileged that Joy trusted us with their
safe keeping.
We mated her
last bitch to Ch Brymarden Charleston, and Joy
confided in me that this may be her last litter, and
that she wanted us to have a bitch from the litter. I
never really believed that it would really be her
last litter and that I would soon be getting the
dreadful news that she had been taken into hospital
and was not to return home again.
For me and many
more people around the world our inspiration has
gone, our friend and mentor is no longer with us, but
for as long as we can we will carry on breeding the
type of Norfolk we are happy to live with. Joy was a
true dog person through and through and free with her
advice and knowledge, considerate and generous to a
fault. Yes we consider ourselves fortunate to have
had her as a friend.
Bryan and
Marilyn Claydon (Brymarden)
004
As the previous writers have stated,
the Norfolks and the people loving and taking care of
them has very much to thank Joy and her Nanfans of.
Me and my family and the whole Finnish Norfolks are
greatly thankful to our own "little big
man" Int. CH Nanfan Joystick (descending from
Joy's C- line, but got his name differing from that
tradition to include Joy in it), son of Caper and the
most important stud dog in Finland in Norfolks ever.
But not only am I saddened for the miss that the
Norfolks and the fanciers experienced with Joy's
death, but also due to a loss of a dear friend.
My "another home in England" is no more.
From the right INT CH Nanfan
Joystick at 10 years old,
in the middle his grandson INT CH Porrigito Hippa,
and on the left his daughter INT CH Mainly
Hullabaloo.
Thank you for
all, Joy.
Nan Salminen
003
Elisabeth has written, for Dog World,
a truly inspirational account of Joy's life and times
which I hope will be reprinted on the website, so I
am going to remember Joy with some memories of visits
to Standhall Cottage and of how she changed my life.
It all began when I met Joy, through photography, in
the 60s, when Heckle was the king and the Nanfan
dynasty was in full swing - a glance at the Crufts
BOB winners of those years bears this out. Of course
to see Heckle and the others brought on an
overwhelming desire to have a puppy and be part the
Nanfan family - but it often seemed that kidnapping
was going to be the only means of achieving this. But
although I met gorgeous puppies in many other breeds
I remained true to the Nanfan dream and after three
years of waiting patiently ('Are there any puppies
yet, Joy?' at every show or photography session) she
said she would breed a special one for me. I think my
lovely puppy, in 1973, was from the only Ninety x
Snapshot litter. Our Kevin (Tjeps Red Lord Kenton of
Cracknor) with his German, Swiss and Swedish ancestry
goes back to this puppy's Nanfan lines and, in his
looks and his ways, could be her son.
Nanfan Sage
Standhall
Cottage was a wonderful, fascinating and amazing
place unlike any other. There would be trophies sent
from abroad won by her dogs, that photograph of
Crunch from Barbara Miller which Joy loved and the
cradle full of Norfolk paperwork and memorabilia -
the cottage was a treasure trove. But it was always
freezing cold; usually the top of the stable door in
the kitchen was open and always the window - 'to let
the robin in', he would hop in and pick up crumbs.
The open dishwasher would always be full of dogs'
bowls, Joy was a stickler for cleanliness, with a Min
Pin in there too licking out any tasty bits. On the
ancient tiled floor there would often be a couple
pens, sometimes with a heat lamp, with a special dog
or puppy that needed her attention. But I am sure
Joy's friends will agree that dramas happened at
Standhall Cottage. Naughtily we could not help making
'the effluent in the street at Berrow' one of our
catch phrases and I know the kennels were struck by
lightning and flooded several times - if not always
with effluent - and did the roof blow off once? It
did not matter whether Joy had been up all night
whelping a bitch, had been driving visitors from the
US round the country or just flown in from judging,
she was always welcoming and ready for a hard days
photography, and with all the dogs looking
immaculate. The longer coats in the photographs
simply indicate that the style was different then;
today's short coats would have been seen as over
trimming I think. We would strive to show the true
terrier spirit in the pictures; enemies were brought
out and paraded meaningfully in front of the dog
being photographed - usually to no avail, as happens
with Norfolks, but occasionally with sensational
results. Sometimes Ron and the cat were placed in the
hedge to attract the dog, with instructions not to
make a sound until we shouted 'now'. Once, when we
were having tea after the last dog had been
photographed, we remembered that Ron was still there
waiting for the cry of 'now'! Joy loved her dogs to
be hunters and sweet pictures were not her - although
she did like Ron's pile of typical Nanfan puppies
widely used on NTC merchandise. My first ever
photographs of a Norfolk were of Heckle at the LKA
where I had been commissioned to find some lesser
known breeds for a magazine article. The shot Joy
really approved of was the now well known one where I
had caught a blink and he appears to be slitting his
eyes, giving an almost mean expression. (I did
actually open one eye slightly, by retouching, when
Joy was not looking.) This is the picture that has
been on the Norfolk Terrier Club Handbook covers,
except for a few special editions, since at least
1978. How lucky we are to have known Joy, how much we
have to thank her for and how very much we will miss
her.
Sally Willbie
Ch Nanfan Heckle
002
A very sad loss to the
Norfolk Terrier world - and terrier fanciers around
the world - with the death of Joy Taylor, Nanfan, on
April 18, 2006. - a friend from across the pond
- Linda Wagner, Springfield, Virginia, USA on a 2003
visit - she'd only allow photos of herself if you
were photographing her dogs.
001
With the death of Joy Taylor of the
world famous Nanfan Norfolk Terriers an era has come
to an end. For the last 50 years the closely bred
Nanfans have shaped the breed stamping their
distinctive type on their progeny not only in Britain
with 39 Nanfan champions, but in the US, Scandinavia,
Holland, Germany, Italy and Australia. Joy died
suddenly in Gloucester hospital only three weeks
before her 84th birthday. I am sure that all her
hundreds of friends all over the world would say that
to know Joy was not only to respect her but also to
love her – and certainly never forget her.
Elisabeth
Matell
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