Category: News

The atmosphere at our Picnic in the Paddock celebration on 11th July was absolutely electric, serving as the perfect stage for a monumental announcement: we are officially transitioning into a registered charity!

We were incredibly honoured to welcome Dr Modha, the Deputy Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire (representing the Lord-Lieutenant, the King’s representative), alongside the Whittlesey Town Mayor. Both expressed their enthusiastic and wholehearted support for this fantastic leap forward.

Formalising Our Passion 🐾

As a club, fundraising and supporting good causes has always been in our DNA. By formalising our work as an education and welfare charity, we are taking our mission to the next level. Moving forward, we are absolutely thrilled to be:

• Providing free dog training classes to those on low incomes.
• Championing and promoting responsible dog ownership.
• Providing grants and donations to vital organisations supporting dogs and their owners across our Fenland community.

What This Means for the FiveJays Family ❤️

The new structure will see us become a charity guided by a dedicated Board of Trustees, working hand-in-hand with our fantastic Club Committee (formerly the Club Team). Rest assured, we are still very much the same tight-knit FiveJays Family we have always been!

For our members, absolutely nothing changes. The club begins operating under our new charitable constitution immediately. The formal paperwork has already been submitted to the Charity Commission for registered status, a process which can take up to six months.

What’s Next? 📰

You can read the full, exciting details of this transition in the upcoming issue of the Zoomies Gazette.

We are also delighted to introduce your very first charity trustees: Marion House, Fiona Durrant, Robert Hilton, and Gary Gregory. Meanwhile, the familiar faces of our club committee remain completely unchanged.

This year, as we proudly reflect on 40 incredible years at the heart of our rural community, we aren’t just looking back—we are eagerly shaping a bright, impactful future for the next 40 years and beyond!

Whittlesey’s FiveJays Dog Club kicked off its Ruby Anniversary celebrations in spectacular style with a “Picnic in the Paddock” at their training field.

The special event welcomed the Deputy Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, Dr Neil Modha (representing the King), and the Mayor of Whittlesey. The dignitaries presented club founder Marion House with a special gift to honour her incredible 40 years of voluntary service to the local community.

It was an action-packed, family-friendly day. Highlights included:

• The Flyball Tournament: Won by the victorious ‘Club Blue Flyball Team’.
• A Royal Trial: Dr Modha’s family dog, Tallulah, even tried her paw at flyball, whilst his children received a hands-on show-handling lesson.
• Canine Catering: Four-legged guests enjoyed a roaming “Puppaccino and Sausage Surprise” wagon, whilst humans made use of the licensed bar.

“We are all here for our love of dogs,” said Vice President Fiona Durrant. “This year we reflect on 40 years of being at the heart of our rural community, but we are also looking ahead to the next 40.”

What’s Next?

The celebrations are only just beginning. The club’s packed diary includes an upcoming curry night, companion shows, Scent & Search time trials, and a coach trip to London for a 40th Anniversary Lunch at the Royal Kennel Club this September.

Get Involved: To learn more about weekly training classes, monthly pub socials, or upcoming anniversary events, visit www.fivejaysdogclub.org.