On the left is her Dog C.C. winner, Susanne Hudson's
Brabyns Donaghadee, and on the right her BoB winner, Margaret
Harrison & May Atfield's Massetts Morag
May judged Blackpool Show in 1976. No trophies were won in this year. Massetts Morag won the CC and Best of Breed at the East of England and the CC at Leicester City Shows. Very little went on through the year, and no litters were registered, just the addition of 'Sanctuary' to Massetts Morag's name, and the transfer of Cleveragh Clare - by Royden Jasper ex Cleveragh Molly, wh. March 12th, 1975 - and Cleveragh Molly - by Sanctuary Revog ex Downdaniel Bridget, wh. September 9th, 1973 - from Mr. & Mrs. J.R. Hegarty.
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| Elsie James judging the East of England Show, Peterborough in 1976 On the left is her Dog C.C. winner, Susanne Hudson's Brabyns Donaghadee, and on the right her BoB winner, Margaret Harrison & May Atfield's Massetts Morag |
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| Sanctuary Massetts Morag | Puppies by Sanctuary Mighty Monarch ex Sanctuary Massetts Morag |
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| May Atfield with Sanctuary Mighty Monarch and Sanctuary Peg O'My Heart | |
Things picked up again in 1977. Margaret judged at Windsor, and May at Richmond. Ch. Sanctuary Mona won the Sulhamstead Challenge Salver and the Ch. Urla of Arraghglen Cup at Crufts, and Massetts Morag won the Ouborough Challenge Cup at Blackpool. Mona won the CC and Best of Breed at Crufts, and the CC at the City of Birmingham, while Massetts Morag won the CC at Blackpool and the Welsh K.C. shows, gaining her championship at Blackpool.
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| Ch. Sanctuary Mona with her trophies |
This was the period when the Kennel Club registrations were not any longer for whole litters but only for those animals being registered for breeding, or for competition, or for export, which reduced the number of registrations to a very marked extent and usually those registrations that were made were carried out by the owner rather than the breeder, except, of course, for those that remained with the breeder.
In January, 1977 Sanctuary Kerry of Erin, d, by Sanctuary Mighty Monarch ex Ch. Sanctuary Mona, wh. July 18th 1976, was registered for competition by Mr. & Mrs. Polirer; and in September Sanctuary Brickeen, b, by Erindale Adam ex Sanctuary Peg O'My Heart, wh. May 21st, 1977, was registered for competition by Miss Sarah Whitmore; and in October Sanctuary Secret, b, and Sanctuary Sonnet, b, by Mighty Monarch ex Cleveragh Clare, wh. December 8th, 1976, were registered for export by Margaret and May, and Sanctuary Sheenah from the same litter was registered for export by Mr. J. Papenfuss.
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| Margaret Harrison with Sanctuary Peg O'My Heart and Ch. Sanctuary Revog, and May Atfield with Sanctuary Mighty Monarch and Sanctuary Margaret Maud |
In 1978 there were no trophies and no CCs won, but Margaret judged the East of England show. The Kennel Club registrations had gone back to the original form but no Sanctuary litters were registered. In January Mr. D. Megrath registered Sanctuary Cormac of Tara, by Sanctuary Mighty Monarch ex Cleveragh Clare, wh. December 8th, 1976, and this was actually the dog presented by Margaret Harrison and May Atfield to the Irish Guards as their new mascot.
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| Official portrait of Cormac by Tod Ramon |
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| H.M. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother presenting Cormac with his sprig of Shamrock on St. Patrick's Day |
In February' 1978 Mr. W. Tonnies registered Sanctuary Sophia from the same litter as Sanctuary Cormac of Tara. In December Sanctuary Mystic Knight, by Mighty Monarch ex Ch. Sanctuary Mona, wh. July 18th, 1976, was registered by Mr. P. Fouquet.
A 1978 advertisement carried these two pictures:-
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| Sanctuary Peg O'My Heart | l to r: Ch. Sanctuary Mona, Ch. Sanctuary Massetts Morag, Sanctuary Peg O'My Heart, Ch. Cleveragh Clare |
In 1979 there were no trophies and no CCs won., and no judging appointments. Very little showing was done because of May's poor state of health.
In February there was the registration of three dogs (Sanctuary Earl of Shannon, Joseph, and Shamus) and four bitches (Sanctuary Fionna Sinead, Lydia, Tessa, and The Bard), by Ch. Erindale Triston ex Sanctuary Sweetbriar, wh. January 9th, 1979. Then in March three bitches were registered - Sanctuary Arrabella, Clara, and Lady Loraine - by Sanctuary Lugard ex Cleveragh Clare, wh. January 24th, 1979. In September there was the registration of six bitches (Sanctuary Flora, Grainne, Monica Edith, Musical Margaret, Sheena, and Stephanie) and four dogs (Sanctuary Jason, Jasper, John, and Joshua), by Ch. & Ir. Ch. Erindale Triston ex Sanctuary Sweet Briar, wh. September 18th. Sanctuary The Bard and Sanctuary Flora were transferred to Mrs. M. Saunders and 'of Erindale' added to their names.
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| (l to r) Sanctuary Sweet Briar, Sanctuary Peg O'My Heart, Sanctuary Mighty Monarch and Cleveragh Clare |
On November 10th May Atfield died at the age of 77. She was buried with May Harrison and Beatrice Harrison in Limpsfield churchyard.
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In the Dog World Breed Notes:- "Marjorie Saunders writes: "On Tuesday, November 20, May Atfield was buried at St. Peters Church, Limpsfield in a family grave, just a few feet away from the great composer Delius, and Beatrice Harrison, the famous cellist, and sister of Miss Margaret Harrison.
"There were some 60 or 70 mourners at the funeral including Bill Siggers, Miranda and Bernard Brace, Judy O'Connor, Joan Forsey, Ann Harpwood and myself. The service was simple but beautiful and the hymns Margaret chose were: For all the Saints, Lead us Heavenly Father, Praise my Soul, the King of Heaven and the 23rd Psalm.
"There were numerous flowers and wreaths which were laid along the path to the grave; one was a cushion of yellow flowers with the figure of a Wolfhound in the centre. Another, just a single red rose, bore a card which said: 'From Jake and Wolfhounds everywhere.'
"After the funeral we adjourned to the drawing room at Sanctuary Kennels, a room full of memories, souvenirs, priceless objets d'art, oil paintings of members of the family and Irish Wolfhounds, also a Bechstein grand piano laden with trophies, photographs, china and glass. I think that it was here that we really missed May's presence. In such company she would have dominated the scene with her charm, wit and vitality.
"May met Margaret just a week prior to the war during which time they cared for the dogs belonging to the airmen while they were flying or if they failed to return, hence the name Sanctuary.
"After the war, they began breeding Irish Wolfhounds, Pomeranians and Pekingese. When Irish Wolfhounds were first shown they were few in number and May guaranteed the classes of many shows to help get the breed on its feet.
"They achieved great success with their Irish Wolfhounds, breeding with care and having true type always in mind. They have had many champions around the world and at home. Ch. Sanctuary Mona was BoB at Crufts, Ch. Sanctuary Revog won the coveted Graham Shield at the club show and the hound group at Blackpool. Other champions are: ~Sanctuary Sandorleigh Fineen, Sanctuary Rory of Kihone, Sanctuary Brave Knight, Sanctuary Monica and Massetts Morag.
"May had a smile for everyone and advice in plenty which came from a wealth of experience. Her many friends and relations together with the members of the Irish Wolfhound Club will miss her sadly although she will be forever in their memories.
"Born into an era when good manners and correct etiquette prevailed, she was polite, generous to a fault, and while possessing an indomitable sense of humour, she was indeed a great Lady."
Margaret was determined to continue with the Sanctuary Kennels, as she was sure that was what May would have wanted, but it was difficult for her in many ways, particularly since May had always been the organiser.
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