Guide dogs are large – hence we see Labradors and German Shepherds – no Jack Russells. They also should be friendly and non aggressive – again, no Jack Russells. Sorry Jack Russells, only joking.

They should be intelligent and quick to learn. They ought not to chase cats, be tolerant of children and ignore small dogs which yap at them. Marco who is a stud dog for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association is such a dog, and more. So much so that he and Tom, the neighbour's cat, are great buddies, and the local children treat him as one of their own, calling on him regularly to play. And for all his placid nature Marco knows how to have fun and enjoys nothing more than a good rough and tumble with one of his canine friends when he is allowed to.

In short, he is quite a character. And as for being large, Marco, weighing in at around fifty kilos, is simply enormous. Marco, for those who haven't yet met this gentle giant on his walks around the village with his owner Brenda Standing, is a German Shepherd.

He spent his first year at Lytham St Anne's in Lancashire where at the age of twelve weeks he was placed with a puppy walker. During this time Marco acquired all the social skills a dog needs and was ready to be trained as a guide dog.

But it soon became apparent that Marco's special nature was worth preserving, and it was decided he would become a stud dog. Reluctantly the puppy walker said goodbye to Marco and he came down to Wellesbourne to be with Brenda and her husband George where he is close to the Guide Dogs' National Breeding Centre at Tollgate near Bishops Tachbrook.

Marco is very much in demand. As well as being a stud dog at Tollgate he has fathered puppies as far afield as Belgium, Holland and America by artificial insemination. Still only six years old Marco has so far fathered forty four puppies in the UK and many have gone on to become guide dogs. Guide dogs associations here and abroad and the blind and partially sighted people who depend on them will no doubt be hoping for many more.

NLB

So all cuts aren’t bad!

“A lonely little petunia benefits from Council cutbacks in street cleaning.”

AC

That the Royal British Legion is 90 years old this year? That the Legion spends an average of £1.4 million each week helping members of the armed forces and their families looking after the younger generation as well as the older generation of veterans? That the RBL has made 10,000 individual grants to those who have served in Iraq & Afghanistan? That last year the Poppy Appeal raised a record £34 million thanks to the tremendous support of the British people and the hard work of the poppy sellers? Well, I didn't know either until I recently read an article by the National President.

The Legion set out to right wrongs, fight injustice and poverty and to look after people who couldn't look after themselves. It's still doing it! For instance the Legion is working

with 'Help for Heroes' to establish the new Personnel Recovery Centres, with 'Help for Heroes' funding the building and the Legion giving £50 million towards running costs. It is also establishing the £30 million Royal British Legion 'BattleBack' Centre to provide recuperation and challenging pursuits for wounded and injured service men & women, helping them to achieve their full potential, so at 90 the Royal British Legion continues its role of standing “Shoulder to Shoulder with All Who Serve”.

Collectors will be out and about in the village from 29th October onwards, at the Co-op and the Market. There will be the usual Act of Remembrance in The Precinct at 11am on Friday 11th November (11-11-11) and the Remembrance Service in St Peter's Church on Sunday 13th starting at 10.15am;
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Whilst no strangers to many of you in Wellesbourne, we thought that after nearly 160 years the time was right to move a little nearer to you, so hence you may have noticed the (almost complete) refurbishment of No. 6 The Precinct, which we hope will be fully operational from Monday 7th November.

It will not be practical initially to have a full time presence but will start our new venture in Wellesbourne by opening Monday to Friday between the hours of 10.00am and 12.00 noon and at any other time by appointment. We will also try our utmost to be on the end of a phone on a 24*7 basis to help you with those emergencies.

The last 20 years have seen a huge change in funerals in terms of content, music, orders of service, transport and especially coffins.

Death is to a much lesser degree associated to the taboo and mystery it once had; planning in advance is now recognised as a practical, economic and caring solution to give peace of mind.

Woodland burial grounds are yet another real change and despite some confusion are not divorced from a Christian rite; in fact most clergy will welcome it as a perfect partner.

Choices and decisions are endless. I often reflect that families will take over 12 months to arrange a wedding and (often out of necessity) have to arrange a funeral, with just as many decisions in a few days.

If you would like to be just a little bit more prepared, or even if you are just interested or curious, please feel very welcome to call in during the above hours for a chat to find out more.

We are very proud in boasting to be a truly independent family firm, and in being able to offer a comprehensive personal and caring service with total flexibility to plan or arrange exactly the type of plan that you and your family would wish for.

We will be having an open day on Saturday the 12th November when we will be able to show you some alternatives and show you behind the scenes as well as the front window, we will also have a representative from our local Natural Woodland Burial Ground and from Golden Charter Planning.

For more information or help at any time please ring 01789 840744.

R. Locke & Son
Independent Family Funeral Directors Est. 1853