email: richard.watts@rrwt.org

phone: 01793 728095 

A farmer's daughter, I've had a lifelong love affair with animals so when, as an adult, I was finally in a position to have a dog of my own, a Ridgeback belonging to friends in Australia caught my eye resulting in my first Ridgeback arriving in August 1986. With just two or three at any one time, the rest, as they say, is history. Is there any other breed?!!

Now retired I’m happy to give some time to the amazing RRWT.  At Trust events you’ll usually find me either helping out where needed or, as a relatively new Trustee, trying to meet some of the amazing people who have, or are hoping to, adopt one of our less fortunate Ridgebacks. I have also been known to help Maggie make chili for the Jamboree and one year made over 90 portions!  In searing heat I have also been seen judging the fabulous show at the Jamboree, which is held thanks to the amazing support of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of Great Britain.

As well as being treasurer, and keeping tabs on the money, I also look after many of the rescue dogs in my kennels at Rosehill and where we host the annual Rosehill Jamboree in Sept to raise much-needed funds for the trust.

I also run the “100 “ club for the trust, so I'm always kept busy. 

If you'd like to join the 100 club click here to download the form.

Hi I'm Ellen and I look after our new website (that's the one you're looking at now, so do let me know if you spot any horrid typos or ghastly broken links!!)

I also run the merchandise and the online shop and I love finding new and useful things for our supporters to buy to raise funds for the trust. So if you have any special requests or you come across something you think would sell well and make a good profit for us that's RR related, then please do let me know!.

At events, you'll usually find me behind the merchandise table so make sure you come and say hello!

Hi, I'm Tracy. I became a trustee in 2018 after regularly supporting the trust and helping out at different events. 

I now lead the coordination of the Trust's two annual events - the Summer Rally at Chieveley in early July and the Rosehill Jamboree which is always the first Sunday in September. These events are a great opportunity for everyone to meet and socialise with other ridgeback owners and their dogs and for us to connect with our supporters. Throughout the year we also attend Crufts and regional club events to promote the work of the RRWT. 

I'm currently with my 3rd Ridgeback, the two most recent dogs having been adopted through the RRWT. I have a passion for dogs, but Ridgebacks are just such an extra special breed. 

If you have any ideas or feedback on any of our events, please feel free to get in touch - I'm always pleased to hear from you. 

My email is: tracy.beswick@gmail.com

And, in the meantime, I look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events!

My first “Ridgeback” back in the 1980s was actually a Border Collie x RR, called Ali, which was a fine mix to cut my teeth on - the intelligence of a collie and the stubbornness of a ridgeback (or was it the other way around…?)!  We then found a lovely companion for her - my first full ridgeback, Rani. And that was it, I was smitten by the breed. 

Since then, I've had a few more RR girls, two were beautiful blonds (light wheaten) and the current youngest is a liver nose. I also adopted a gorgeous boy MToto who lived his final five years with my two girls and me. 

Along the way, I became a dog trainer at a local dog training club for over 10 years, which was very rewarding. And when the breeder of my first girl, (who became a great friend), got me a bit interested in dog showing, to my big blond girl Zimbi’s disgust, I attempted to show her a few times. We both lost interest, but I continued attending various dog shows to watch the Ridgeback competitions.

The other place I really enjoyed myself was the annual RRWT Summer Rally and there, over the years, I met many wonderful people, including the late, great Peter Jones who was a very early trustee and chairman of the RRWT. 

I was very honoured to be asked to become a trustee in Oct 2018 and as I'd been a Facebook user for many years and have set up and managed several Ridgeback groups, naturally, I was asked to build and run our current RRWT group. It's a lovely private space where we share what's going on in the trust, give you exclusive first dibs on all the new merchandise and our events (including our annual Chieveley Summer Rally and annual Rosehill Jamboree which is usually the first Sunday in Sept). And of course we all love to hear how your RRs are getting on with you in their new homes. And, if we need any help or support from you, we'll ask first there too! 🥰

If you haven't joined our closed group yet and would like to - just click on the button below and answer a few easy screening questions and we'll look forward to welcoming you! 💗 xx

Hi, I'm Sue and I'm responsible for growing and managing our wonderful nationwide network of volunteers and supporters who give their time, homes and/or expertise to help us with the myriad of moving parts involved in running a rescue and rehoming charity.

You can read more about all the things I coordinate and see if there's anything you would like to volunteer for here.

Or come and find me at Chieveley Rally or the Rosehill Jamboree where you'll usually find me doing meet-and-greets with any rescue ridgebacks we have available.

I'm Jan and I've been a Ridgeback owner, or been owned by a Ridgeback, since 1966 and have shown them, occasionally bred them, and also judged them. I remember when we bought our first Ridgeback as if it were yesterday. We wanted a dog but had no idea what breed. We didn't want a small dog, a hairy dog or one with a docked tail, so we bought 'The Observer's Book of Dogs' and ploughed our way through it, eventually choosing the Ridgeback. Some time later we saw a Ridgeback for sale in one of the daily papers, made contact with the breeder, went to see it, and brought him home. Certainly NOT the way to get a dog these days! He became a gentle giant, standing well over 31 inches at the shoulder and sharing the bed when my husband was away.

These days, I share my home, (but not my bed), with my rescue dog Bella.

I've been a trustee since the RRWT was set up in 1994. 

Hi, I'm Mick.

My introduction to Ridgebacks started in 1990 when a friend told me of a dog he'd seen with a ridge running down its back. Never having heard or seen one I wanted one. A year later at work a colleague just happened to have a litter on the way. And that's how it started.

Linford was a big boy 55 kilo and toned, thanks to loads of agility. When I got my second, a rescue, I was approached by a sadly missed trustee called Peter Jones who kindly asked if I would like to be a trustee. That was some 20+.years ago now and haven't regretted a moment. 

Not being tech-savvy. I do home checks and the pick-up of rescue dogs in my neck of the woods. I also help out at events as a Ridgeback Roadie with a bit of agility thrown in for fun. Some of the rescues I kept with my pair from a week to a few months (entertaining) until I could get to Rosehill kennels. 

No, I don't look like my dog, more like a Puli or Komondor.