Protecting and promoting the health and welfare of Mastiffs.
From David Blaxter
It is with great sadness that I have to tell you that Sylvia Blaxter passed away on September 20 th , 2018 after a
very short time in hospital. I have been asked to fill in the story of her life, so here goes.
Born in 1934, in a London suburb (as Leyton was then), Sylvia had her childhood disrupted by the 2 nd
World War. Father was too old for service, but was set to run a group of food buffer depots in
Wales. Education was at some 15 schools, often in Welsh, so it is surprising she learnt anything.
We met when she joined the firm where I trained. We became friends and started going out in her
car, yes, in 1958 here was a young lady with a very nice car of her own. We married in 1960, as I
finished my exams. Holidaying in Masnou Spain in 1961 our dreams were of buying a site and
building our own home, and perhaps having a dog or so.
We did buy a site, and built our own bungalow, called it Masnou Lodge, and set about finding a
suitable breed of dog. Great Danes became favourite especially what were then the rare Blue ones.
That led to buying a Black bitch from Nellie Ennals (Bringtonhill) and the show bug got us. But “Elsa”
would not eat, so being advised, we bought another from Valerie Hill (Zarlinda) and re-homed a blue
of Sarzec breeding. That was it, Sylvia digested and sought pedigrees of all possible suitors and she
had her first litters. The offspring and from then on became a successful team, winning all over.
The Masnou’s were a force to be reckoned with, and several formed the base stock for other
breeders, home and abroad. Always sticking to the “Continental rules” of breeding blue to blue or
black carrying blue, or black to black so long as there was no fawn, brindle or harlie close behind.
Imports followed from Belgium and Sweden, and later France, widened the gene pool.
Sylvia was asked to judge, which led to a long a respected career as a breed judge of Great Danes
and later Mastiffs, which had joined the clan in the 70’s s David’s speciality under the Namous affix.
As time went on the affixes were used by both, as Sylvia had her own likes in the two breeds.
Sylvia retired from judging some years ago, but took a great interest in developments, many of
which she did not approve, and stopped breeding some 12 years ago. It is true today, that many of
today’s Danes and Mastiff carry Sylvia’s Masnou bloodlines.
Rest in Peace.
Sylvia’s Funeral will be on 31 st October 2.00pm at the Surfleet Crematoriam. No flowers please, but Donations
to Guide Dogs for the Blind