Remembering a Past President - Sheila Steadman

Sheila with CH Beauwire Bitter Sweet

The Wire Fox Terrier Association is deeply saddened to hear the news that past WFTA President and Committee member Mrs Sheila Steadman (Beauwire) has passed away. Always a keen dedicated and great supporter of Wires, Sheila became a very successful owner/breeder/handler and judge too. She made up well known Champions such as Ch Beauwire Bitter Sweet (pictured with Sheila in the late 80s) and Ch Sarabel Just Susie, the latter owned by Sheila’s close friends Barbara and Sarah Jull.

Sheila was mentored in her early days by Bob Barlow of the famous Crackley prefix and would travel to his kennels every weekend on the bus just to learn. Sheila worked tirelessly for the Breed clubs and served on the Committees of The Wire Fox Terrier Association, The Fox Terrier Club and closer to her home Birmingham and District Fox Terrier Club.

For many years Sheila co-ordinated the Wire booth at Discover Dogs and had it all organised like clockwork year after year.  Sheila was elected President of the Wire Fox Terrier Association for 2003 by the members and judged our Championship show the same year, Sheila retired from judging after judging BIS at The Fox Terrier Club in 2014.

Sheila had a very kind warm personality and was very welcoming and supportive to new Exhibitors in the breed. Sheila was also a very talented artist, many of her paintings featuring Wires. She will be sorely missed by all those who knew her and we extend our deepest sympathies to her family at this very sad time.