I was a late starter in Rough Collies, but I had had dogs all my life. My first dog was a wired-haired Fox Terrier. That was during the war, my Dad brought him home in his lunch bag. All the time the children were growing up we had Border Collies until the early 90's. Then in 1994 I graduated to the Rough Collie.My wife bought me Gerian Charming Lover [Joe], as a pet because at that stage I had no intention of showing. All I wanted was a Rough Collie as a pet. A friend of ours saw him and thought we ought to show him. He showed me what to do and he also took him in the ring a few times, but without much success and we parted company. I then decided to have a go myself.My first show was the Collie Association Open Show and I got a Reserve, and was bitten by the show bug. I have had eleven years of fun, pleasure and love with Joe. To date along the way he has collected some three hundred rosettes, numerous firsts and three Best of Breeds, not bad for a pet.

Noreen then bought me Gerian Scarlet Lady [Simone]. At that stage I applied for an affix and Orethorpe was formed which is an anagram of E.Prothero. So Simone became Gerian Scarlet Lady at Orethorpe. Joe became Gerian Charming Lover at Orethorpe. We have and still are having lots of success with Simone and she obtained her Stud Book Number in 2002.

In 1999 Simone was mated to Gerian Sunset [Simon]. From the resulting puppies we retained Monty, Orethorpe Scarlet Sunshine. He is becoming very successful and has achieved 1 C.C., 1 R.C.C, 1 RB of Sex, 8 BOB's, 8 RBOB, to date.

In 2003 Noreen, for my 70th Birthday bought me Gerian Sunangel over Orethorpe [Angel], who again we are having lots of love and fun from. She has already won several BOB's and at Redditch 2005 she won PG, BOB & G1.