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From PaM BrucE I truly cannot remember a time being without our Nigel and Bill. As a child I would help Carol Hol- lands, and Nancy carry the famous white wire crates seemingly full of cute balls of fluff with bright eyes, and wagging tails back to Uncle Harold’s set up at the dog shows. I was cautioned that I had respon- sibility of the most precious cargo—the St. Aubrey Elsdon Pekingese! I always knew them as “NI and the Mrs”—which I have to admit as a kid was an odd sort of name to call a man of Bill’s stature! I just knew being around all of them was infectious. There was always much laughter and fun. We ate well, talked about dogs and although we won lots of ribbons, for some reason the winning seemed sec- ondary to the friendships, and their love and care of our dogs. I have to say everything was done in such a positive and entertaining manner. They were at the top of their game. I knew I never ever wanted to have a time in my life that I was not a part of that. It was in large part because of Bill and Nigel’s kind words, and with their blessing, that I became part of anoth- er legendary kennel and the Afghan Hounds of Grandeur family with Roger Rechler, Michael Canalizo and Dennis and Susan Sprung. My memories of Nigel and Bill are endless. I became closer to Bill when Nigel passed as Ni was always was such a huge life presence. Nigel’s death affected Bill and we were always con- cerned it was something he would nev- er truly get over. I was judging at the Caledon dog show shortly after Nigel’s death. I was having lunch with Frank Sabella and Bill. In the middle of talking about our day Bill said there was something he had been meaning to ask me. He caught me off guard when he asked, “Exactly how do you and Ed and other police officers deal with death?” He said watching Nigel pass was nothing he had expected. I sat there switching up my thoughts from Judge Bruce to Officer Bruce. Mr. Sabella couldn’t get out of his chair fast enough, but Bill’s eyes were focused on mine and I knew he expected the real answers. I talked him through things as best as I could. He seemed content with my answers. I then commented to him as
we got up from the table to go back to our judging, “Bill, as sad as it was to lose Nigel I bet it’s some relief to know that you can finally have the last word in a conversation!” Bill started to smile then shaking his head replied that Nigel still controlled their conversations! He then said, “You know you grew up far more like Nigel than me with that quick wit, but at least you got my height!” He hugged me and then waved me off, rolling his eyes with that look he gets on his face when you know he is about to say, “Away you go!” For the record Bill always said, “Away you go” when you were being dismissed IN HIS RING !S EXHIBITORS ,YNDA AND ) agreed we never wanted to hear those words when we were showing to 27 4AYLOR
confirm that Nigel has a direct line set up from heaven! We would expect nothing less! My tears turned to laugh- ter—I thanked him and went about my day. As dysfunctional as the dog world can be at times, “Friends are indeed the family we choose.” Nigel and Bill were caretakers of the Pekingese breed—care- takers of each other, caretakers of their dog show family and a countless number of people who have passed before them, those with us and those with us in spirit. In Bill Taylor’s passing, we mourn not only the loss of a friend and mentor but it’s truly the end of an era in dogs. There will only ever be one Nigel and one RW—and because of Nigel and Bill there will only ever be one St. Aubrey Elsdon. It is such comfort for us to know that
“...We mourn noT only THe loSS oF a Friend and menTor BuT iT‘S Truly THe end oF an era in doGS.”
As a judge, Bill taught me to not only glean knowledge from the written breed standard, but to keep a specimen in your mind’s eye that gave you goose bumps and remember that dog as you judge a specific breed. I will always strive to carry myself with a tenth of Bill’s grace. I hope to learn as much about dogs as Bill has for- gotten. I, like most of us, would never even think of letting him down. I was laying in tears the night that Bill passed. It was exactly at 3:22 am; one minute later than the last time I had looked at the clock, waiting for the 4 am wake up call from either my phone or Jack and Cookie, Bill’s “niece and neph- ew”—my two Airedales—their two cold noses in my face, willing me to get up because the excitement of their big walk was not able to be contained. I was talking to Nigel and saying, “Ni, I hope you have Bill by now and that the dogs are all there and in coat—and your gardens are all weeded in anticipation of his arrival. Do you have a Nancy in heaven Nigel? Bill will expect nothing less! I just need to know you are togeth- er.” It was at that exact second my cell phone rang. It was on bedside mode, so no noise should have been made before my 4 am alarm. The call was seven seconds long. I said hello, then there were two beeps and then the call ended. I can now
the St. Aubrey Elsdon Pekingese name will rest with the irreplaceable icons the name is synonymous with. We are truly blessed to have had them in our lives. Bill was one of the few who kept me going when I was sick. My first assign- ment back from my second bout with cancer was to judge the Pekin Peke Specialty. My judge’s gift was Nigel’s book with a dedication from Bill in the front of it. It is one of my most cherished possessions. I—like all of us—will miss his knowledge, his wit and his friendship often shared in cards and letters, calls and emails. When trying to think of some fitting poem or quote to end with, I turned to all the great literary sources. A saying from AA Milne and Winnie The Pooh ANOTHER 7INNIPEG NATIVE THEN CAME to mind. It was a saying that Bill himself had actually said to me on a particular a day that I was not feeling very well. It made me smile and I reminded him that Nigel said the drawing of Pooh and Piglet holding hands reminded him of himself and Bill. Bill not only spoke those words to me, but I have them on a pillow I was given that I hold in a place of honour in my home. So Bill, I will return those words to you my friend. “If there ever comes a day that we can’t be together—keep me in your heart, I will be there forever.” Rest in peace sir and thank you.
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