Melksham Times Past

A column about days gone by in Melksham by local historian Lisa Ellis

Gratitude of a Greyhound

We know Henry Sawtell (1860-1944) as the manager of the family-owned feather factory that was located on Broughton Road. But his name was better known nationally for his sideline of breeding and racing greyhounds, specifically the famous “Melksham” strain. 

Melksham Tom was one of the greatest stud dogs in the country during the 1930s and was the sire of more track winners than any other greyhound.

I have a fondness for greyhounds (we have two), but I personally don’t agree with racing as a betting sport and so I’ve not written a lot about the Melksham line of racers. But I came across an article that I thought was sweet and particularly poignant since our home is located in a former veterinary surgery.

Quoting the Hartlepool Mail’s Friday 12th June 1931 article, “A story of a veterinary surgeon’s skill and a greyhound’s gratitude to its benefactor lies behind the appearance of Melksham Royal Tom in the ninth heat of the Greyhound Derby to the run at the White City to-morrow.

“This greyhound was bought by Mr H Sawtell, the senior steward of the National Greyhound Racing Club, after successful performances in the National Stakes at Clonmel in February 1930.

“Shortly after arrival in England the greyhound had distemper, and, on resuming training, one of its toes went wrong. For a year treatment proved of no avail, and it was sent to a veterinary surgeon who had once saved Mick the Miller’s life.

“An operation involving the loss of a greater part of the toe was performed. The dog recovered, and was able to resume racing. He is now Wiltshire’s hope in the Greyhound Derby.

“’Some time after the operation,’ Mr Sawtell told a Press Association reporter to-day, ‘Tom and the surgeon met, and the greyhound, barking joyously, immediately held up its paw to show the vet, that it was now all right, and then licked his face.’

“Greyhounds are not credited with too much intelligence, but this is an instance of almost human sagacity in a greyhound, and what is not always found in human beings — gratitude.”

Pictured: Melksham Tom and sons, Melksham Endurance and Melksham Denn