THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: East Down puppy show is blessed by brilliant sunshine at Mount Stewart

From the News Letter, June 5, 1950
Garden Party at Mount Stewart in 1933. Picture: National Trust NIGarden Party at Mount Stewart in 1933. Picture: National Trust NI
Garden Party at Mount Stewart in 1933. Picture: National Trust NI

There had been many wagging tails at Mount Stewart the previous day when the East Down Puppy Show had been held at the estate, reported the News Letter on this day in 1950.

The grand Co Down estate was blessed with brilliant sunshine. Lady Londonderry and Lady Bury, accompanied by Viscount Bury, received their guests on the lawn in front of the house, where the show was held.

The News Letter stated: “No more beautiful setting could have been chosen. Lady Londonderry looked well wearing a gown of black and white patterned crepe de chine, with diamond and pearl earrings; and rows of pearls. Lady Bury was in navy blue relieved with white, and her daughters, the Honourable Elizabeth and the Honourable Rose Keppel, were in short sleeved pink frocks.”

The majority of the guests came from east Down.

They included Commander and Mrs Kenneth Kirkpatrick, Major and Mrs Perceval-Maxwell, Lieutenant-Colonel James Cunningham, the master of the Co Down Staghounds, and Mrs Cunningham, Mr Granville Nugent, the master of the North Down Harriers, Major J Parkinson-Cumine, Canon and Mrs Pooler and Mr P W Stewart, the secretary of the East Down Harriers.

The News Letter reported that there had been a fine show of puppies which were judged by Major D A W Ker of Donaghadee and Lieutenant-Colonel N Cairns of the North Irish Horse.

A contingent of five Carlow foxhounds which had recently been acquired by East Down, were paraded by the huntsman in the enclosure and were “much admired”.

A Welsh foxhound called Panda also won general favour.

In total about 50 puppies were shown, some of which were as young as three weeks old. Prizes were distributed Lady Londonderry.

Winners in the dogs class included first placed Gargany owned by Mr J Steele of Ballynahinch, second was Ragwort owned by Mr Cecil McBride of Belfast, and third placed was Rascal owned by Dundonald man Mr A Thompson.

In the bitches class there was only one award which was presented to Greenfly owned by Ballynahinch man Mr H Steele.

At the conclusion of the show Major Perceval-Maxwell thanked Lady Londonderry and Lady Bury for their kind hospitality.