The formation of a society for flatcoat owners in the north of England had long been a dream for Paddy Petch of the Rase Flatcoats, but alas she died before N.E.F.R.A. was formed. However, I am sure she would have been pleased with the result.

As a result of the efforts of several flatcoat owners in the north an inaugural meeting to form a society was held at Harewood Village Hall on 10th April 1994.

Three names for the society were put forward: The Northern Counties Flatcoated Retriever Association, The Northern Flatcoated Retriever Association and The Northern Flatcoated Retriever Club. Of these it was decided to apply to the Kennel Club for the Northern Flatcoated Retriever Association. The Kennel Club subsequently decided to avoid confusion the word England should be included in our title. At a Committee Meeting in January 1995 it was decided that it should be Northern England Flatcoated Retriever Association and so N.E.F.R.A. was born.

Fifty-five founder members paid their £2.00 and signed on. A president, chairman, vice chairman, secretary, treasurer and a committee of twelve were duly elected and the association was on its way. We were all delighted when Lady Crathorne agreed to be our patron and she was a staunch supporter of the association until her passing away in 2009.

A training day was organised as early as April 1995 and a working sub-committee was formed to organise a working test the following year.

By April 1995 the membership had risen to 329.

Between our inaugural meeting and our registration by the Kennel Club we could not hold a show or charge a subscription so fund-raising was the name of the game and we succeeded well. But we were all relieved when the Kennel Club registered us in early 1996. At our seminar and dance on February 17th, 1996 Sandra brought a celebration cake beautifully decorated with flatcoats. It seemed a pity to cut it but in the end gave way and jolly nice it was too.

Registration brought with it the need to call our first AGM. This we did on April 28th, 1996 and we followed this with our first working test on October 6th and our first open show on November 16th of that year.

Since these early adventurous days our membership has increased to around 500. We have put on 14 open shows and we have had two working tests per year except when the foot and mouth outbreak brought everything to a halt. We ran fun days and seminars each year to cater for all our membership. We also have sponsored a dog for Dogs for the Disabled.

In addition to our working test we have put on a very successful cold game test. We have run a Gundog Proficiency Certificate during the season. Last year we ran the novice part of a Working Retriever Test.

I suppose none of us at the inaugural meeting had any idea as to the size and ramification of the association. We have had our moments of great enjoyment for example the millenium fun day at Salmsbury and our moments of great sadness when first Sandra then Bob Kiching were taken from us.

From an acorn a great tree will grow and this is certainly true with N.E.F.R.A and long may this be so.