Hundreds of fluffy golden retrievers have all met up at their ancestral home to celebrate 115 years since the breed was created.
Continuing on with what is a legendary tradition at this point, with previous milestone meetings grabbing headlines and going viral on social media – most-notably back in 2018 for the 150th anniversary – hundreds of golden retrievers have once again joined forces for a mass meet-up this week at the home of their ancestors in the rural Scottish Highlands.
The meet up is to celebrate an important milestone for the breed, as the first golden retriever puppies were born at Guisachan House in Glen Affric 155 years ago.
The proud breed – which has gone on to become one of the most popular in the UK, and is known for its loyalty and obedience – was bred by aristocrat Sir Dudley Marjoribanks, as he wanted a pup that had all the traits of a gun dog but was suited to the rugged Scottish Highland terrain.
The first litter of golden retriever puppies was born in 1868 to a now-extinct breed, the Tweed water spaniel, and yellow wavy-coated retriever, and were called Primrose, Cowslip, and Crocus.
ADVERTISEMENT
The golden retriever was officially recognised as a breed by The Kennel Club in 1913.
In honour of the place they were first born, owners from not only across the UK, but also from continental Europe, and as far as the US, Australia, and Japan have been known to meet at the ruins of Guisachan House on several occasions – and this week was one of them.
ADVERTISEMENT
Organised by the Golden Retriever Club of Scotland, and with dogs and owners travelling from 12 different countries, a series of events – including talks, workshops, demonstrations, and a night-time procession – are all taking place this week at the site of the ruined mansion house near Tomich and Cannich, which is just south of Inverness.
The gathering of the hundreds of fluffy pups was expected to be one of the world’s largest of the breed all in one place, according to the BBC.
Carol Henry, who is the secretary of the Golden Retriever Club of Scotland, told the BBC that the aim of the gathering was to keep alive knowledge of the breed, explaining that established breeders were mindful of protecting the golden retriever’s qualities and temperament.
“We want to hold on to the confidence, the biddability, the companionship and loyalty,” she added, “which are all the things the golden retriever was built on”.
Featured Image – Golden Retriever Club of Scotland
Trending
Half of Mancs don’t know how to cook Christmas dinner, new survey reveals
Emily Sergeant
Christmas dinner is one of the key parts of any festive celebration.
No matter whether you choose to tuck into a traditional roast with all the trimmings and lashings of gravy, or you prefer to go for something a little different like a curry or a Chinese instead, your Christmas dinner is a chance to gather round with your loved ones and enjoy one of the heartiest meals you’ll likely have all year.
However, some shocking new figures have revealed that half of Manchester residents have no clue how to even cook a Christmas dinner.
Through a major study by the UK’s leading electrical retailer, AO.com, it was revealed that the majority of our city’s residents are “losing confidence” in preparing even the simplest of British dishes – with a traditional roast or Christmas dinner being one of them.
As part of its new campaign to get Brits back into the kitchen, AO found that just 57% of respondents reckon they would be able to make a roast dinner, 52% could whip up a classic shepherd’s pie, 58% could cook bangers and mash, merely 61% could prepare a full English breakfast, and again, only 57% could tackle fish and chips.
Classic desserts are clearly a struggle for us Mancs too, according to the survey, as only 19% of respondents said they’d feel confident cooking a Christmas pudding.
The survey also found that nationwide, it was Gen Z – those between the age of 16 and 27 – that are the least confident in their ability to cook great British classics, while on the other end of the spectrum, Baby Boomers are the most capable, proving that culinary confidence increases with age.
Our region’s residents are apparently ‘losing confidence’ at cooking simple British classics / Credit: Freepik
Commenting on the results, Jay Lockton, oven expert at AO.com, said: “Kitchens should be a place of creativity and joy, but our data shows that a lot of people in Manchester are losing confidence in preparing even the simplest of British dishes.
“Based on our findings, many younger people may be opting for convenience foods or takeaways due to their busy schedules and the perception that cooking from scratch is time-consuming or difficult.
“But with simple guidance and the right tools, we believe everyone can rediscover the joy and simplicity of homemade meals.”
Featured Image – gpointstudio (via Freepik)
Trending
New Hairy Bikers documentary to take viewers on ’emotional journey’ in tribute to Dave Myers
Emily Sergeant
A new documentary paying an emotional tribute to late Hairy Biker Dave Myers is set to air on the BBC in the run up to Christmas.
Dave Myers – who was most well-known for being one half of the famous Hairy Bikers duo that starred in the BBC cookery and travel show of the same name, alongside Si King – died earlier this year (28 February 2024) after revealing back in May 2022 that he had been diagnosed with cancer, and was undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
The final Hairy Bikers episode aired on 19 March following Dave’s passing, and viewers tuned in in their tens of thousands to watch the beloved show that had been entertaining the masses for close to two decades.
🏍️ Si King celebrates the life of fellow Hairy Biker and best friend Dave Myers in a special one-off BBC documentary
Si picks out key moments from the past 25 years of the pair's TV careers in The Hairy Bikers: You’ll Never Ride Alone
But despite that being the final episode with Dave involved, there’s still one last chapter left to tell.
Set to air on BBC Two on Monday 23 December, viewers will be invited on an “emotional journey” through the Hairy Bikers story with Si King, as he celebrates the life of his best mate and former TV partner.
The documentary follows Si as he leads a motorcycle convoy to Dave’s hometown of Barrow-in-Furness, while archive material, new interviews, and previously-unseen footage is shown to help celebrate Dave’s life.
A new Hairy Bikers documentary will take viewers on an ’emotional journey’ in tribute to Dave Myers / Credit: BBC / South Shore Productions
You can relive the journey that took Dave around the world while cooking up a storm as one of television’s greatest-ever double acts.
“I’m incredibly proud of the programme because it’s a tribute to my best mate,” Si King said.
“It was an amazing experience, I didn’t quite know what to expect. That was the whole thing, none of us did. We thought at the most we’d get 10,000 bikes, we didn’t dream it would be 46,000 motorcycles and a 30-mile tail, it was just insane. I just felt enormously privileged.”