Kennel History
Jo and Lionel Hemstock with (left to right) Ch. Jolihem Wildfire, Jolihem Ironmaster (1CC), Ch. Judy of Jolihem, Jolihem The Lad Himself (1CC), and Jolihem The Equlizer.
Jolihem is synonymous with Staffordshire Bull Terriers since Jolihem has paid such a major part in the history, development and success of the breed. However, Jolihem has had interests in other breeds such as Rhodesian Ridgebacks (both Lionel and Jo Hemstock were founder members of the Midland & Northern Rhodesian Ridgeback Club with Lionel being Chairman and Jo being a Committee member for many years. Breeds owned and campaigned by Jolihem also include: Kerry Blue Terriers, Bedlington Terriers, Dobes and Rotts.
A
1960's Open Show.
Jack Price with Oxcroft Rocket and Lionel Hemstock with a son of Ch.
Jolihem El Toro.
Jolihem pre-history
"There are only two breeds of dog - Staffordshire Bull Terriers and Others" L.
F. Hemstock.
Anyone who has ever had a Stafford as a companion will understand this statement,
they certainly are a breed apart. Lionel F. Hemstock (1932-1990) was in Staffords
literally all his life. His maternal Grandfather and Uncle and his Father all kept
"Bull n' Terriers" and could tell many tails of their antics. Lionel's Mother,
Edith, could remember her own Grandfather having "Bull n' Terriers", and in
those days, they were not kept for showing ! There is a photograph of Lionel as a
toddler sat on a "roundabout" at Huthwaite (Notts, UK) recreation ground with a
fawn and white Stafford bitch. The bitch was called "Sue" (all the family's
bitches were called Sue), and she was a "Bull and Terrier", since the photo was
taken before the breed the Staffordshire Bull Terrier was registered by the Kennel Club.
Sue was typical of present day Staffords and would not be disgraced in the show ring
today. Lionel's maternal Uncle also played an early part in getting the breed which we now
know as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier recognised.
Jo Hemstock (ne: Forster) (1932-1997) was in dogs all
her life. Her Mother, Eunice Forster, was a founder of Ashfield Canine Society some 62
years ago and is currently its President. Jo was raised with "of Ware" Cocker
Spaniels and Wire Fox Terriers from her Uncle's kennel as well as "Chewsen"
Chows who were owned by another Aunt and Uncle. Jo's introduction to Stafford's was as a
youngster. She was horrified as a small brown dog flew a travelling tinker's horse,
"got hold" and turned it over in its shafts!! The incident took place on the
street where Jo lived in Stanton Hill, Notts, and the small brown culprit turned out to be
one of Lionel's Uncle's Bull and Terriers!! Jo's first Stafford "Butch" was bred
by Lionel and died in 1965 aged 17.
Jo's paternal Uncle, who bred Fox Terriers, sold Lionel's Father an Irish (Red)
Setter as a "nice" pet for the young Lionel. However, the Setter had been sold
to several other prospective owners since it was trained to run back home at the first
available opportunity. Edith, Lionel's Mother, who was already "lumbered" with
looking after a "housefull" of dogs, was more than pleased with the
Setter's "homing" ability. Every morning after she had seen Lionel off to school
she would send the Setter out of the gate and let it go "home". Every evening,
after leaving school, Lionel would go and fetch his Setter back from Jo's Uncle's kennels.
This routine went on for quite some time until Lionel took a shine to a Manchester Terrier
bitch, which he swapped for his "homing" Irish Setter. This turned out to be a
more than fair swap since the Manchester turned out to be an excellent ratter, better than
any of his Staffords!!
A
"pre-Jolihem" Stafford.
L.F.Hemstock's The White Knight.
(late 1940's).