Obituary: David Nicholson (Sabinhay)
David Nicholson was a man whose popularity drew people from all over the country and indeed from Ireland to mourn his passing. Around 300 people attended his funeral representing the many facets of his life, from the beagle and general dog world and also from the school where he taught. Wharncliff Side School closed for the day as a mark of respect allowing his colleagues and former pupils to attend. The huntsman from the Holme Valley beagles who he had supported for many years (along with the Colne Valley) blew us in to the service on Saddleworth Moor and also gone home after. Many beagles attended including his own two favourites Saffron and Phantasy together with two pack beagles. David showed his thoughtfulness right to the end leaving a detailed itinerary for his service, in planning the food requirements he ensured none of his friends would go hungry-food being of particular importance beaglers and beagles alike. One person commented that she felt “this was David's last assembly”. At his funeral David acknowledged the help and support he had received during his long illness most notably from his long time partner and friend John and regretted they had so little time to enjoy their retirement together.
David was a person who became involved in beagles first as a teenager and then again when he had completed his teacher training. All those who knew him were regaled with stories about his beagles and he even took them into school on occasion for the children to meet. His beagles were lucky in that his deep love of nature kept them walking no matter the weather as David saw no problem with walking them in rain or snow, wind or shine.
David started with Barvae Shuna who did quite well at Open Show level and Barvae Marble but unfortunately wasn't able to breed anything to keep. David started breeding under the Sabinhay affix (a name taken from a local farm when he was a boy) in 1981 with Crestamere Remembrance and Burnhart Damsel being foundations for the kennel. Remembrance bred to Ch Newlin Prefect produced a Junior Warrant winner in his first litter-S Premier. A daughter of Damsel-S Daylight when put to Ch Mistylaw Willy Nilly produced David's first Champion S Woodlark. She in turn produced Ch S Outlaw recording one of David's most memorable days winning his first CC and the Hound group at SKC in 1991. Daylight also founded David's other show beagle interest in mottles S Hector being the first of several generations of mottled hounds. David was proud to have registered beagles of many of the colours on the KC list which could hold their own in the show ring. He felt that colour was unimportant to their ability to fit the standard and often compared their working physique to the pack hounds he helped exercise. He walked several pack puppies and retired a few favourites to a softer life after their working days had finished.
David was a kind gentle person and he was often seen at the ring side with one of his “young hopefuls” on his knee patiently introducing the youngster to each new experience. He also befriended newcomers to the breed both with his famous long phone calls and supported their efforts at the side of the show ring.
David was a staunch supporter of the Northern & Midland Counties Beagle Club for many years and a committee member for 21 years and has held many posts always filling where it would help the club. His Editorship of this magazine will surely miss the articles he researched every year on the founder beagles and beaglers of the UK.
On a personal note I felt honoured to be asked by David to go into partnership breeding with his hounds and to be left several of his beagles. We have campaigned many beagles together in recent years and he has left some quality hounds to be remembered by.
Sam Goldberg
