Wendy and her team were very busy preparing lunch for the Partnership Ceremony day at Canine Partners when I first met her in the kitchen.
When I asked for a portrait for my strangers' project she promised me one if I went back in the afternoon when the flurry of activity had died down. So I did just that. One advantage to taking this indoor portrait was the totally uncluttered wall as a background, rather unusual for a strangers' portrait.
For the past 12 years Wendy has held the position of domestic manager and housekeeper at Canine Partners. She says she feels passionate about the cause and about the difference which assistance dogs make to their partners, their families and friends.
The role of admin manager of partnerships and aftercare was how Wendy started work for Canine Partners and amongst the duties of this post were home visits and assessment days. She herself has a big extended family of eight children and stepchildren, and eight grandchildren.
She told me she loves catering for large groups. At work she often has to consider various dietary requirements, the most extreme she has had to deal with being a paleolithic diet.
At home, Wendy has a horse, a black labrador, some chickens and two cats.
In 2014, at team of five from Canine Partners, calling themselves The Hound Dogs, went on the TV programme Eggheads and won. The other ladies in the kitchen when I was talking with Wendy, told me this was largely due to her contribution. Unfortunately, the prize money was not enormous that week but the winnings did help towards the training of more puppies as assistance dogs.
I'm sending Wendy a photo and a link to this post, together with thanks for being No.76 in my strangers' portrait project.
Had to go and look that diet up! Thought it was eating fossils!! Quite a challenge in the catering dept I bet! Your stranger's project is really growing and really divers!
I started it as a result of seeing Phil's @phil_howcroft project which he began on Flickr. Not being on Flickr, I decided to do mine here on 365 - rules are: get to 100 strangers, portrait photo with permission given from subject + text about them. I don't think I'll be able to stop when I get to 100 as I enjoy it too much!
Thanks, Phil, always a pleasure to receive such comments from you as a judge! I made a bw version of this too but finally preferred the colour.
I started it as a result of seeing Phil's @phil_howcroft project which he began on Flickr. Not being on Flickr, I decided to do mine here on 365 - rules are: get to 100 strangers, portrait photo with permission given from subject + text about them. I don't think I'll be able to stop when I get to 100 as I enjoy it too much!
Many thanks for your comments - I find this project all-engrossing!