I
have at last acquired Donald Millar’s book “Walking with my Airedale”
published last year by Orphans Printing Press (ISBN 1 903360 00 5). It
was more than worth waiting for. This 91 page hardback demands to be read by the
brilliance of its cover which depicts a coloured drawing, by no less than Ann Curran, of an Airedale Terrier striding out
(upright) across the moor with hiking boots on a stout pair of hind legs, red
hiking shorts, blue windcheater jacket into which are tucked the forelegs,
knapsack on back and wearing a red woolly hat with bobble.
The
book derives from Donald Millar’s articles published in Airedales West, the
official organ of the West of England & South Wales Airedale Terrier Club,
in each issue of which he describes a walk he has made accompanied by one or
other of his Karudon Airedales. These take place in Somerset and Devon within
striking distance of his home in Wedmore, in the former county. I have enjoyed
reading these walking guides over the years but have never attempted one of them
myself. I live too far away. But that is the great joy of this book. You don’t
need to follow the trail to get an immense amount of pleasure from reading his
accounts.
For
this book Donald has selected some 16 walks made over Exmoor, Dartmoor, the
Mendips, the Quantocks and the Blackdown Hills. The style of writing is easy on
the mind. It has the rhythm of a walk. You will learn much history, you will visualise
the terrain even though you are sitting in your lounge and you will acquire some
knowledge of Airedale Terrier temperament.
The
book is illustrated throughout and there is a central section of colour
photographs. All Airedalers know, or know of, Ann Curran. Her drawings of this
breed have to be seen to be believed. She captures the very essence of their
character and personality. The book is sprinkled with her amusing drawings.
Those who have not seen her drawing of an Airedale Terrier and a Bull Terrier
doffing their hats at one another have a treat in store. This is by way of an
illustration of Donald’s words on his visit, with ‘Kobber’, to
Drewsteignton, on Dartmoor. “In one of the gardens a large Bull Terrier had
been left to protect the house, and after he and Kobber had exchanged the usual
pleasantries, and pride had been satisfied, the perambulation was continued”.
This
is a delightful book, worthy of a place on any bookshelf, not just those found
in the houses of hiking and Airedale fanatics. There is a love of subject,
whether it be the local architecture, history or countryside. The dogs are both
essential to the walks and, at the same time, peripheral because so much else is
going on in the prose. At one point, describing a walk on the northern slopes of
the Quantocks, the author mentions a local war memorial comprising a plain
headstone in front of a specially planted copse. “The spot chosen for this
unpretentious memorial offers such outstanding views over the Bristol Channel
and the surrounding hills that a pause for thought and contemplation is
certain”. I think that readers will certainly pause for thought and
contemplation on their way from front to back cover. I heartily recommend this
book to all.
Michael Sarjeant
“Airedale Terrier
Breed Notes”
4th
May 2001
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