Dedicated to Norcis

 

We were lucky to get to know the late Eleanor and the late Frank Bothwell of famous Norcis Beagles.
Not only great personalities and a sense of humour that You just have to like, they are happy to share their knowledge for those who are eager to learn.

Known for famous Beagle Breeding, but really dog people to the core. Their efforts and their contribution for the entire Dog World were huge and can't be measured. They wrote not only the Standard for Beagles and Parson Russel Terriers, but also essays on health and breeding. We have never met a more fair judge or straighter persons. They highly influenced our thoughts on dogs in generally and on breeding.

Thank You Eleanor for  Your friendship and Your prescious advice. You will always have a special place in our hearts.

 

Norcis Foundation blood can be found in Monika and Peter Hahnenbergs „von der Tomburg“ Beagles in Germany.

 

Magi Henderson's orbituary 

 

ELEANOR BOTHWELL

 

It is with deep sadness that I write of the death on 1st June 2016 of Eleanor Bothwell. As many people will know Eleanor developed Dementia only a few years ago but it struck with great ferocity. She died, suddenly, from Cardiac Arrest, in a Nursing Home in Ayr .

Eleanor, together with her late husband Frank, showed and bred Beagles under the famous Norcis affix.

They bred 23 UK Champions plus many others across the world.  Norcis Beagles contributed to a number of today’s successful kennels, at home and abroad, and it was a source of great pleasure to Eleanor to watch their successes.

She was Vice-President of The Beagle Club, a past Vice Convenor of Scottish Kennel Club and served on committees’ of many local societies over the years.

Born and bred in Glasgow, she was a proud Scot but spent most of her adult life in Ayrshire where her home at Spring Garden was often open house and many, memorable parties were held there.

While her passion, as a breeder, was for the Beagle she was really a complete dog person who was interested in all breeds. She judged many breeds all over the world, across the groups at Championship Show level and was a Best In Show judge.   Her achievements were marked by the Kennel Club when she was invited to judge The Hound Group at Crufts in 2011.  She was genuinely delighted and honoured.  Her winner on that day was the PBGV known to the world now as “Jilly”, who went on to RBIS and her own glittering career. 

Eleanor was a much sought after seminar speaker and her knowledge of dogs, their construction and movement and why they did what they did, was immense.

Always willing to take time with people, she had infinite patience in trying to make them understand.

She was one of the original members of the Kennel Club Training Board and her desire to assist people who wanted to learn about dogs and judging led her to develop the “Hands-On Assessment” which is now part of the KC compulsory requirements.  She held the copyright to it and her family have now granted permission to use the material, to The Kennel Club, in the programme of continuing development in training tomorrows judges.  Her legacy lives on through this. 

Eleanor never saw the Hands-On Assessment as a final outcome, but as a tool for people to use to grow their knowledge from, whether as a judge, a breeder or simply an owner of dogs.  Her hope was that if it spurred people on to continue to learn her aim had been accomplished.

She compiled, for The Beagle Club, the illustrated Breed Standard and contributed to a number of other works, she was a Tutor to The Canine Studies Institute and ran NVQ courses are Cardonald College in Glasgow.

Eleanor had a great sense of humour and was a real people person, but could stop trains at 100 yards with a look if she felt someone was being obstructive, abusive or just downright rude!

Her integrity as a Judge of dogs was above question as anyone who had the temerity to seek to influence her can lay testament to.   Her belief in her own ability to “find it if it’s good enough” never wavered.

The world of dogs will feel her loss.  Those who knew her personally can cherish their memories of a real personality, a true force of nature, a talented, dyed in the wool dog person.