The Bearded Collie Club - a potted history
The Bearded Collie Club was formed in 1955. Mrs G.O.Willison was instrumental in its foundation, together with a hard-working and forward-looking core of pioneers in the breed. To found the BCC, help was needed from other breeds and it was not until 1967 that the Committee felt it possible to hold an Open Show without the help of various Collie clubs. The show was held in March of that year at St.Luke's Parish Hall, Shepherds Bush, and the judge was Michelle Taffe (Heathermead). BIS abd BP went to Glendonald Siver Braid and RBIS to Osmart Bonnie Blue Braid.
The next step forward from a show point of view was the granting of Club shows with Championship status in 1972. The first Championship show was judged by Mrs D Hale (Broadholme) and she awarded BIS and Bitch CC to Willowmead Juno of Tambora (Moorhouse), Res BIS and Dog CC to Ch Osmart Bonnie Blue Braid (Osborne) and BP to Moonlight Mile of Kintop at Banacek (Jackson). Now, from that lowly beginning, the BCC hosts two Open Shows that rotate around the country and one Championship Show held in the Midlands area.
As we are a nationwide club, it was decided to form 'branches' which would be able to organise events (not shows) for members. These included fun days, rambles, picnics, etc. The first branch was, appropriately enough, the Scottish Branch. Six branches now cover Great Britain.
In order to maintain the working instinct in the breed Working Tests were introduced, the first taking place in 1969 under judge Lynne Sharpe (Evans). The winner was Cannamoor Carn Roxie (Griffiths).
To keep in touch with members a News Letter was introduced, later to become the 'Bearded News', and in 1976 the Yearbook was born in paperback form. This has since grown to be a very professional hardbacked annual to be found on bookshelves all over the world.
The Club has come a long way in the last 50 years and now has a worldwide membership of around 2000.
Adapted from Mrs. Jenny Osborne's article in the Bearded Collie Club Golden Jubilee book, 2005.