Downstream History:

The Downstream kennel was founded by my mother - Shirley Johnson after she acquired her first Flatcoat in 1959 although she did not take out the affix until 1961.

Shirley's first flatcoat was Ryshot Dryad whom she bought by chance when she was 10 months old and had become too much for her owner to handle. Having acquired her she then tracked down and introduced herself to Dryad's breeder - the late Margaret Izzard and subsequently became a member of the FCRS. At this time she had not met and married my father.

My father Peter was working in Hampshire as underkeeper for the then Sir George Merrick. Mrs Barwise of the Forestholm kennel met him and asked if he would train her flatcoats for her. He took over the training of her dogs and subsequently became the owner of Forestholm Jester. Later on he was to purchase Winkswood from Colin Wells. Winkswood was by Ch Workman x Ch Claverdon Tawny Pippet.

In 1960 my mother approached the late Read Flowers (Fenrivers) and asked if she might have a bitch puppy from his next litter. He agreed and Fenrivers Erica (Ch Atherbram Pedro x Ch Alyssum) duly arrived, followed a year later - Wish from the late Colin Wells. Wish was by Ch Woodlark x Blakeholme Juno.

In 1962 Fenrivers Erica was mated to Ch Woodlark and thus the first Downstream litter was born. Downstream Pax was retained.

Somewhen after this litter my parents were introduced to each other by the late Patience Lock (Halstock) and they were married in 1963. At this time Peter applied for a job as head keeper to Lord Hampden in Hertforshire and prior to the 1963 shooting season the Downstream kennel left Hampshire for East Anglia.

Sadly Erica was never to have another litter as she contracted bone cancer and died aged only 3 1/2. Therefore Downstream Pax was mated to Winkswood which produced the "H" litter. Downstream Hestia became the first Flatcoat bitch to go to Sweden where she became an Internation Champion for her owner Bat Brulen of the famous Puhs Labrador kennel. She also had 3 litters and much of the Swedish stock can be traced back to her. Downstream Hercules went to live with Peter's best friend John Wilson. He won 4 CCs, many more Reserve CCs and was a full Champion. As Shirley was expecting me by then we did not retain a puppy but the agreement was that we would have a puppy back from Hercules at some point.

In August 1964 I arrived on the scene and that was not without its problems! I was due to be born on 10th August but as I had not arrived Shirley decided it would be fine to drive down to Bournemouth Ch Show and show the dogs - after all half the exhibitors were nurses - Audrey Forster, Mary Grimes etc so if she started to give birth it would not be a problem! I don't think the judge (Maurice Gilliat) quite shared her point of view because Shirley said he was most worried everytime she ventured into the ring! I eventually popped out 10 days later and caused her to miss Leicester Ch Show!.

The mating between Pax and Winkswood was repeated in 1965, also at the same time (unbeknown to my parents apparently Wish had come into season and managed also to get herself mated to Winkswood. Therefore Shirley had 2 litters to contend with born within 5 days of each other! (oh well - we all make mistakes don't we!). However, the Wish/Winkswood litter proved to be a very influential one because it produced Downstream Manto and Downstream Medea. Manto went to Mick D'Arcy - a gamekeeper who was to win a couple of Field Trials plus numerous trial placings with him. Downstream Medea went to a friend locally on the proviso that we have a bitch puppy back from her first litter.

In early 1966 Ch Downstream Hercules sired a litter of puppies by Sh Ch Hollowdale Wendy of Birchcot. As we were due a bitch puppy from Hercules, Downstream Halstock Hussey came to join us. It is worth remembering in those days one could put one's prefix in front of the dog's name so although she was bred by Patience and John Lock, as her owners the Downstream affx could go in front - now it has to go behind.

In late 1967 Downstream Medea was mated to Ch Waveman and in accordance with the original agreement we took a bitch puppy from the litter who was to become Downstream Charm of Roysia. Charm was a very big influence on our line. Not only did she win well in the ring, but she also won numerous Field Trial awards and proved her worth as a brood bitch.

Another addition to the kennel in 1967 was my brother Timothy. According to Shirley he was a very easy child - so much so that she kept leaving him behind at dog shows! (I can't imagine what would happen now if she did that - is it too late to ring Child Line?)

Charm's first litter (by Black Prince of Yarlaw) yielded 11 puppies - 9 bitches and 2 dogs. Interestingly it was from this litter that Mary Tanner (Tacumshin) had her first Flatcoat - Downstream Leto. Bill Core had Downstream Labdacus and Gwen Lawrence-Jones had Downstream Lamia.

In 1967 my father asked Colin Wells if he could buy Woodpoppy! He was told that he was in a very long queue for her! However he told Peter that he could have a puppy from her the following year if he wished! Ch Woodpoppy was subsequently mated to Ch Donovan and Peter was given pick of dogs. Woodway came to Downstream in the spring of 1968. He was to become a full Champion.

Downstream Halstock Hussey was mated to Woodway the following year. Downstream Calliope was sold to Charmaine Ross-Thompson and subsequently gained her title whilst Downstream Crissa won 1 CC and several RCCs for her owner the late Sheila Godbolt (founder of the Flatcoat Tumour survey).

We then wanted another litter from Charm but because she was always in season at inappropriate times she was often injected to stop her coming in during the Field Trial season. Her second litter (by Ch Woodway) only yielded 2 bitch puppies - one of which was Downstream Robina.