Bridget, the Labrador, Makes BBCH History

BBCH
4 days ago
4 min read

Jim & Mary with Bridget in their cottage garden.

At Bernhard Baron Care Home, we know that life can be brighter with a wagging tail or a gentle purr by your side. Care & Companionship is at the heart of what we do, and we’ve seen first hand the joy, comfort, and positive impact pets bring to our Residents. That’s why we’ve created a thoughtful pet policy—to make it possible for cottage Residents to keep their beloved animals while ensuring a safe and harmonious environment for everyone. For those considering joining BBCH, we hope this brings reassurance—because we understand how difficult it can be to part with a pet that has been such an important part of your life.

Here’s Bridget’s story—in her own words! Our very first furry Resident, she’s already won over hearts (and quite a few treats) here at BBCH!

Bridget’s Doggy Diary

I’m officially a Resident. 1st of April 2025 - Moved into my forever home — a charming cottage at BBCH — with Mary and Jim (my people, married 58 years; they just celebrated their anniversary).

They first visited friends here, and I came along for the ride as a registered PAT (Pets As Therapy) dog, doing what I do best: wagging, comforting, and graciously accepting biscuits.

They’d been on the interested list for eight years. Eight! That’s, like, 56 dog years. But the stars aligned — and so did the pet policy. Trudi and the trustees said dogs were now welcome, and my people were invited to try life in one of the cottages. Me included. Obviously.

Turns out, I’d already made myself at home here a while ago. Visits to BBCH meant I knew the lay of the land — and more importantly, got to know the Residents who loved to have a cuddle.

My daily walk takes me around the Millennium Path. I like it because it has just the right ratio of fresh air, squirrel activity, and people who call me ‘good girl’. I love getting stopped by Residents, staff, and volunteers crossing over to the main building. I’m what you might call the welcome committee.

I even have my own secure garden (no chance of escaping though — I’m a Labrador, not a criminal). Mary says I wouldn’t dream of running off. She’s right. Not with my cosy cottage, a biscuit tin, and a steady stream of admirers.

Each day I go on longer adventures — outside of BBCH, I enjoy walks at Friston Forest (Butcher’s Hole) for exploring, Paragon Fields for a zoomie run, Hampden Park for the beautiful pond… Exceat, Belle Tout, and Helen Gardens are some of Mary & Jim’s favourites.

Mary and Jim are Labrador royalty. They’ve bred, shown, judged — even had a stand at Crufts. (I’m their 12th Labrador.) Mary also used to run the Labrador Retriever Club.

I’ve also done rather well in the show ring, if I may say so. I recently came 2nd in the Veteran Bitch Club Championship Show, beaten only by my half-sister (cheek!)— and that means I qualified for Crufts 2025.

A little more about me: I’m officially known (on my important paperwork) as Buckholt Bridget Jones at Bourncott. Sounds very grand, doesn’t it? That’s my Kennel Club registered name — the breeders and show dogs are given. Mary and Jim didn’t choose the Bridget Jones part — I came with it when they adopted me at age 5. It reflects my lineage, breeders, and where I was born. Every part of the name tells a little story. Here’s the Kennel Club Name Breakdown:

So , I was bred at Buckholt, named Bridget Jones, and now live with my forever family at Bournecott — the kennel name of Mary and Jim. I come from excellent show and breeding lines, with both parents having strong Kennel Club recognition.

Before I met Mary and Jim my breeder decided to mate me and for this I needed to have my eyes tested, my hips and elbows x-rayed and all these tests were good. Sadly, I only produced one puppy and he is called Kingfisher. I was very unwell afterwards and had to have ‘everything’ taken away, so I could not produce any more puppies. That’s how I became available to Mary and Jim.

Prior to moving in, Mary and I spent a year visiting Hampden Park Primary School to help the little ones with reading. I’d sit, wag, and offer encouraging eyes. Some of the children needed help with speech and communication, so when I came in, they would pick a book and describe it out loud to me. I had a big impact on their development. One child even received a Christmas card from me and gasped, “I didn’t know dogs could write!”

In return, the children made me a giant card with Labrador shapes and sweet messages just for me.

I wasn’t the first PAT dog Mary and Jim had — back in the ’70s, Mary worked at Chasely Trust and brought one of her Labs in to comfort disabled ex-servicemen. That was her first PAT dog. I’m very proud to follow in those pawprints.

I love my new home and the joy I bring to the Residents and staff. Mary and Jim found their perfect fit. And so did I.