KENNEL MOURNS THE SAD LOSS OF MARY PLEDGE

With great sadness the Norah Mac Kennel announce the death of Mary Pledge who died last night at a hospice in Ealing.

Mary Pledge was a warm hearted easy going lady who just lived for her greyhounds.
Life to Mary was a round-the-clock commitment to the dogs.
Head Girl to Norah McEllistrim for 46 years Mary was one of the most dedicated and experienced kennel staff in greyhound racing.

Mary holds top hurdler Sizzlers Bossman

Mary was employed at the Park Royal and Wandsworth tracks before working for Stan Martin at Wimbledon.

Joining Norah in 1974 the pair formed a formidable partnership at Burhill Kennels. A heart broken Norah said “Mary was a major support for me and she loved being part of the team and just keeping busy about the place. In all our time together we never had one row! Mary will be sadly missed by everyone”.

Mary and Norah – a formidable team!

Greyhounds was Marys way of life and when she went on holiday with two friends back in the 70’s she took seven dogs to keep them company in a self-catering chalet at Tintagel in Cornwall.
With restrictions in place for attending funerals Norah said the Kennel will organise a Celebration Of Marys Life at her local church at a later date when social distancing allows.

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Racing Post Report 

MARY PLEDGE, long-time head kennelhand to trainer Norah McEllistrim, died on Saturday evening after a battle with lung cancer. She was 75.
Awarded the honour of kennelhand of the year in 1998, Pledge had been with McEllistrim since she started training in 1974.
“She’d been ill since just before lockdown,” said an emotional McEllistrim yesterday, “then went into a hospice a few weeks ago but you could tell she was going downhill rapidly in the past few days.
“I’m at a loss really because she’s always been here. She officially retired a few years ago but kept a kennelhand’s licence and would still come in every Sunday and occasionally during the week.
“Everyone loved her and when others from my kennel went away open-racing the question would be ‘how’s Pledgey’ not ‘how’s Norah’!
“She went to Ireland with Awbeg Ball for me and had Lenson Billy for all his big wins. I’m devastated and haven’t gone into the kennels today.”
Former trainer Terry Dartnall paid tribute: “I’ve been in greyhound racing over 50 years and Mary Pledge was always there.

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