Miss G M M Cousens of Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, always known as Marjorie, was a well-known figure in the world of dogs and from 1945 until her death on 11 December 1962 she was the Honorary Secretary and moving spirit behind the West Of England Ladies’ Kennel Society. In addition, she served on the Committee of the Ladies’ Branch of the Kennel Club.Marjorie was also in great demand as a judge, and judged 28 different breeds at Championship level, culminating with her being one of the Group judges at the February 1961 Crufts Show, the year entries topped 15,000.The breed she was known for was Griffon Bruxellois and in addition to her lifetime’s devotion and interest in dogs and dog people she also served in the Territorial Army during WW2.In 1963 at the WELKS Committee Meeting held before the AGM it was proposed that as a memorial to Miss Cousens a fund should be started to raise money to help Members in need of financial assistance due to accident or illness. This was agreed and it was further agreed the fund should be held open for three years. In 1964 the Fund only totalled £60.00 and it was decided a Sub-Committee should be formed to further the appeal to raise funds. Within a year the Fund had reached almost £400.00 – a tidy sum for the time!For some reason, that is not clearly documented, in the following year there developed a strong minority opposition to the fund resulting in the calling of an EGM in November 1965. The meeting was well attended and it was once again agreed that the Fund be devoted to assisting Members in financial need due to accident or illness. The Sub-Committee became the Trustees and it has continued to run in much the same way, with five Trustees, one of whom is the Chair, to this day. The Treasurer of WELKS, in consultation with the Chair of the Trustees, maintains the accounts for the Fund.In the mists of time the word ‘Benevolent’ was dropped from the title and it is now known as the Marjorie Cousens Memorial Fund, and to qualify for consideration of benefits from the Fund it is necessary to be a paid-up Member of WELKS for a continuous period of a minimum of three years. All applications are treated in the strictest of confidence.
Mrs Suzie Smyth
Chair & Trustee
Marjorie Cousens Memorial Fund
07921 269863
01666 500369
cazhmir@aol.com