Written by Mrs Betty Neath & prepared by Mrs Donna Goodall

The inaugural meeting of Evesham & District Canine Society was held in Room 7 of the Evesham Public Hall on Monday 19^th June 1950 at 7.30pm. The meeting was chaired by Mr Ian Hampton. A list of 25 Founder Members was compiled and 17 members were present. The objects of the Society were to encourage the showing and improvement of pedigree dogs, and the following appointments were made: Colonel H R Davies of Elmley Castle as Patron, Mr W R Partridge as President, Mrs Olga Hampton as Secretary/Treasurer to be assisted by Mr Ian Hampton, and Mr Woodward as Chairman.  The annual subscription was to be 7/6d joint and 5/0d single.

The next meeting was held at the Railway Hotel on 23^rd October 1950 at 7.30pm. A letter had been received from the Kennel Club giving approval of the title applied for.

The first show would be a 25 mile radius *Sanction Show of 25 classes, to be held on 27^th January 1951 in the Town Hall, Evesham. Entrance fee to be 2/6d in all classes, with prizes in all classes of 10/- for 1^st, 5/- for 2^nd and 2/6d for 3^rd.  A list of cups and trophies were donated. Three more Sanction Shows were held in the first year, and the Society then settled down to holding two Members Sanction Shows per year.

In 1974 a number of exhibitors in Pershore got together and voiced their desire to hold an Open Show in the area. Our then Secretary, Mrs Edna Walker, was approached with a request that Evesham & DCS hold an Open Show but this was firmly turned down by the committee. The Pershore exhibitors then approached the Kennel Club asking if it would be allowed to form a Canine Society to hold Open Shows in the Pershore area. The KC replied that they must first obtain the support of the two nearest Canine Societies, but this was not forthcoming.

At the 1975 AGM, Pershore exhibitors Mr Bryan Dyson, Mr Joe Neath, Mr Sam McIlrath and Mr Colin Dandy successfully put themselves forward for the committee. These four served on the committee for the next 12 months and again tried, and failed, to persuade Evesham to hold an Open Show.

By 1976, support for an Open show was growing ever stronger, and at the AGM a change in Officers & Committee was inevitable. Mrs Sally Stewart was elected as President, Mr Sturgess as Chairman, Mrs Betty Neath as Secretary and Mrs Edna Walker as Treasurer. A Special General Meeting was held on 24^th May 1976 to draw up a new set of rules. At the subsequent committee meeting on 21^st June 1976 the first Open Show was discussed.

A new Retail Market Hall was due to be opened in the centre of Pershore in 1977, and this was duly booked for the 3^rd July 1977.  The committee worked very hard and showed great enthusiasm to make the first ever 65 class Open Show a success. Best in Show Judge was Mr Ray Arthur and the BIS winner was a Miniature Schnauzer. The Treasurer was able to report, to great relief all round, that the show had been a success.  

The following years saw an increase in classification, although venues were difficult to find, until in 1986 the Three Counties Agricultural Society converted a large warehouse into a venue for dog shows, and Evesham & DCS was the first to use this venue where it has stayed ever since, initially holding a Members Limited Show each winter which changed to an Open Show in 1987, and an ever increasing summer Open Show which reached 700 classes in 1993 and was moved to the outdoor Open Show which has been so successful and popular ever since.

In 1999 Mrs Jean Evans became Treasurer, and in 2003, after serving the Society for 28 years, the Secretary Mrs Betty Neath retired and was made Vice President. From 1999 the summer show has slowly decreased in classification to the 463 class show that it is today. In 2003, due to the Kennel Club's new criteria, the winter Open Show was discontinued.

Over the years many international Judges have officiated for Evesham & DCS, some examples being Terry Thorn, Joe Braddon, George Leatt, Brenda Banbury, Zena Thorn-Andrews, Ann Argyle, Ann Arch, Liz Cartledge, Wing Commander Iles, Andrew Brace, Maureen Micklethwaite, Bill Foster, Jean Lanning, Herbert Essam, and Harry Jordon.

Mr Bryan Dyson and Mr Joe Neath, two of the four Pershore exhibitors who joined the Evesham Committee at the 1975 AGM, are still serving members, now in their 33^rd year with the Society.