JIM SNEDDON – GARALEX
The passing of Jim Sneddon, Garalex, is another sad day for wire fox terriers in Scotland. Jim was part of a great tradition of old-time wire fox terrier breeders.
For those of us old enough to remember the trips to Scotland to Waverly Market, Kelvin Hall, Ayr, and Dumfries, the old “Scottish Mafia” was always there - the “Godfather”, Jack Abbott; his right-hand man, Willie Dodds; the Capos – Willie Miller, Tommy Wright, Jimmy McGregor, Peter Richards, Jim Sneddon, and last (but by no means least), Andrew Clannachan. From all these fanciers, you were given a real Scottish welcome. They were all true Scottish gentlemen!
Jim Sneddon was born in Coatbridge in 1917. He was the third eldest of 12 children. He was born into a mining family, and at the age of 14 he went to the mine with his father and older brother. In those days the work was piece work, meaning “if you didn’t work, you didn’t get paid.” Times were hard. In the 1930’s the family relocated to Northumberland where Jim worked at the Rising Sun Colliery. In 1947 he was seriously injured when a pit-pony bolted and trampled upon Jim’s back.
After recuperation Jim was offered a job as mining tools demonstrator. He was present in the pit at Creswell when an underground fire broke out and 83 men were killed. If it had not been for Jim alerting other miners of the danger and getting them to use an alternative route, the body count would have been much higher. He was a hero that day.
Later in life Jim worked for a German mining engineering company and was responsible for bringing into the mine some huge crawling anchor stations and coal cutting equipment used before the mines started to close down.
Jim was a keen gardener specializing in colourful floral displays. This hobby was to take second place to his passion for breeding wire fox terriers. The Garalex wires were always noted for their quality heads. One that comes to mind is Garalex May Queen, a lovely bitch who should have been a champion. His first English champion was Ch. Garalex Dream Angus of Purston, a lovely-headed dog who was sold to Germany after winning 2 CC’s and numerous Reserve CC’s. That dog was brought back to this country by the late Ken Howe and gained his 3rd CC to make him a champion.
Jim also bred American Champion Garalex Rock Solid of Purston who was a multiple group winner. He was shown by American-based Scotsman, George Wright.
Along with his wife Melia, you were always assured of a genuine welcome. They were a lovely couple. Unfortunately Melia passed away in 2004, and this seemed to drain his spirit. Jim had a bad fall and was confined in Hospital. He eventually settled in Woodlands Nursing Home where he once again was able to use his horticultural skills in the central garden. To the end, wires were his life and he appreciated the letters and photos he received from his friends. They made his last days enjoyable.
Michael Collings
It came as a great shock to fox terrier exhibitors to learn of Jim’s death earlier this year. Jim was the last of the old school of wire fox terrier exhibitors that were around when I started showing in the 1980’s serving my apprenticeship in an atmosphere of mutual respect and friendly rivalry. In this decade in Scotland we were fortunate to have some excellent dogs – Dodd’s and Miller’s Harmil’s and Jimmy McGregor’s Gregdon’s being prominent and Jim’s Garalex affix was also at the forefront.
From this period I can recall kind remarks of encouragement from him at the Fox Terrier Club of Scotland’s show in 1984 when Garalex Dream Angus won the dog ticket and Jimmy McGregor’s Gregdon Glengarry the RDCC. I had showed a young bitch that had caught his eye.
Jim’s most successful dog was Dream Angus which he sold to Michael Collings; he was then subsequently exported to Holland and later imported back to the U.K. to Ken and Val Howe under whose ownership he gained his title. I remember him as a wonderful-headed, sound dog with a good reach of neck and shoulders.
We have lost another terrier man from the ever-depleting ranks of the old school and no doubt he will be missed by the people that he came into contact with. I personally shall remember his kind and helpful remarks to me as a novice exhibitor.
Jim McGhie
Secretary – Fox Terrier Club of Scotland