User:Anne Dickens
From BCDS
Anne has lived with dogs and/or horses for much of her life. Her family has owned a range of breeds, including Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, French Bulldogs, English Bull Terriers, Boston Terriers and a Border Terrier.
Anne grew up with a Dalmatian and, having fallen in love with the breed, vowed that one day she would own another. She got Munin from the famous [Washakie Kennels] in 2002, and has competed with her in the show ring, in obedience and agility tests, and in the Carriage Dog Trials.
Anne now lives in Kent with her partner Crosbie and horses. Munin had a litter of puppies in 2006 and one of the boy pups, Fenris, now also shares their home. As a rider and more recently a driver, Anne enjoys the combination of horse and dog that the trials offers. She stewarded at the first Trials in 2003 and has supported the trials since then through competition and as part of the organising team. She served on the BCDS Committee from the Society's inception in 2006 to 2009 and is still responsible for press and publicity. She organised and judged at the first South East Trials in 2009 and judged the carriage dogs in 2010.
Anne is a supporter of the Working Horse Trust which is devoted to safeguarding the future of heavy working horse breeds and, until recently, was a regular volunteer on the farm. Her highlight at the WHT was to drive a pair of Ardennes horses cross-country across the estate as part of their training for the "Route des Poissons" (The Fish Run!) - an international endurance relay event held in France. She is also a friend of the Sussex Pony Conservation Grazing Trust, which runs several herds of Exmoor ponies on the South Downs to graze the unwanted foreign grass species. She is also editor of the Dalmatian Welfare newsletter "Welfare Matters".
Anne owns two small driving ponies Parker and Polo and a huge French Percheron Nobel - all of whom have helped her to compete at trials and/or display the working Dalmatian.
In addition to her general canine and equine experience, Anne offers the Society some considerable experience in committee working, having served on various committees most of her working life, from union officer representation in the early days, through to Executive Director Board membership. As well as full time self-employment, Anne was non-executive director and vice-chairman of Sussex Ambulance Service NHS Trust for six years until 2006, is Trustee of a Kent based outdoor education charity, is Chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority Standards Committee, and is a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority Standards Committee and Vice-Chairman of the South Downs National Parks Authority Standards Committee.
