Prior to 1984, Meredith’s father was a vet on the Holloway Road. Meredith and Vivien would spend their summers in Portugal, and their winters in Switzerland with the entire Hepner family. Usually, the dogs would stay with Meredith’s father, however one year in the early 1980s, he was unable to take them. This led Vivien to making the trip to Clipperdown Cottage for the first time, to board her dogs in Fredwell Kennels which were situated there, and owned by Joan Wells Meecham. Joan’s partner, Mildred Sieffert brought the first PBGVs into the country in the 1970s- these were shown under their joint affix “Jomil”. Viv completely fell in love with the Cottage and became involved in BGVs in 1984. In 1985 Viv purchased Clipperdown Cottage and the kennels, in a brief partnership with Nick Frost of the Dehra affix, who was working as a Kennel Hand at Clipperdown at the time.

In 1987, Nick Frost bought a GBGV bitch  from Jolanda Huisman “I’m Dutch du Greffier du Roi”. She was sent to Denmark for a short time and mated to Ch. Dampierre du Greffier du Roi. “Dutchy” had her first litter in the UK, born early, in quarantine in 1989. Sadly, two of the four in the litter died young. The surviving bitch was campaigned by Lynne Owens in the early 90s, had three litters, and went to live on to 15. Dutchy returned to the Netherlands after her litter and produced a second litter. A son came through quarantine in 1993 and was the sire of Dehra Allo Allo’s litter.

Jolanda Huisman had bred a highly successful litter from “Dampierre” to “Halou Baba” which included Jaromir Du Greffier du Roi who was campaigned in Germany and throughout Europe by Heidi Winklemann, becoming a multi champion.

In 1990, a second litter was born in quarantine and the puppies were brought through quarantine by Diane and Colin Poole in conjuction with Nick Frost.

From the second litter, the pick bitch “Bien-Venue at Dehra” was raised at Clipperdown. She later produced one litter to “Flambeur” before going to the USA with Nick Frost in 1995.

In 1991, Viv and Nick Frost purchased Efficace du Roc du Deymier from Yves Audouy, who came through quarantine in whelp. Sadly the litter all died before 2 weeks, but “Effie” later produced 5 litters in the UK.

In January 1994, Flambeur came out of quarantine along with 2 PBGVs purchased in France the previous year. Through 1994-95, Flambeur was campaigned and was top Imported Register Hound in 1995. His first litter was to Bien-Venue and produced Dehra Esperance de Debucher (Bear) who produced some beautiful offspring and was Viv’s all-time favourite dog.

Following Nick Frost’s departure to the USA, his involvement at Clipperdown ceased in 1994. In 1995, Viv founded her solo affix, the now famous “Debucher”. She had immediate success in the show ring. GBGVs finally came off the imported register in 1996 and “Bear” was the first GBGV to go Best in Show in the UK in January 1997 and subsequently the first GBGV BOB at an all-breed championship show that year. He was top GBGV in 1996 and 1997 jointly with his litter sister, owned by Jessica Holm. Amongst the Championship shows that gave us breed classes, Jolanda Huisman was invited to judge Houndshow that year. She gave BOB to Dehra Allo Allo and Best Male to Flambeur. Finally the GBGV could qualify for Crufts.

In 1995, “Jolanda du Hamel de la Renaudie” came through quarantine from Monsieur Buche and produced four litters. One to Flambeur, another to Bien Fait du Greffier du Roi, and two to Bear. From the Flambeur litter, a brother and sister were produced- Debucher Jaromir and Debucher Jour D’Hiver- who later themselves produced exciting progeny.

In 1996 Debucher brought into the UK, under the Balai directive, a young male from the Greffier du Roi kennel “Bien Fait du Greffier du Roi” (Ben). His first litter to Efficace (Effie) produced Dutch Champion Debucher le Barbu who was top GBGV 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002 and top Hound in the UK in 2001. Barbu was also No.7 All Breeds in the UK in 2001, unprecedented for such a rare breed at the time.

Since 1999 when there were the first breed classes at Crufts, GBGVs have been successful in the show ring. In 2000, Jeff Bunney judged the breed at Crufts and awarded Barbu BOB.

Thanks to the pet passport scheme, Debucher le Barbu went over to the Netherlands to Jolanda Huisman and became Dutch Champion- but his real triumph was to go Best in Show at the “Winners” Show in 2000 in Amsterdam. In May 2001, Crufts was held late due to the foot and mouth crisis, and Judge Yvonne Dean awarded BOB to Barbu for the second year running.

Also in 2001, Barbu also became the first GBGV to win a Hound Group in the UK at an All Breeds Championship by Judge Terry Thorn. He won two more Hound Groups in the UK; at Windsor and East of England.

In 2002, Viv had the honour of judging the breed at Crufts and, for the first time, an overseas GBGV won BOB. Barbu also won the Male Class at the Elevage in France in 2001, BOB for the Winners Show in 2001 for the second year, and also at the World Show 2002 in Amsterdam at the CACIB. He completed the year by winning BIS at the BGV Club Championship Show.

In December 2001, Debucher imported Nireau du Barbilliot des Maladieres from the Netherlands.

In 2003, new puppies emerged in the ring, Debucher Idyllique made her debut at the BGV Club show where Jessica Holm awarded her Reserve Best Bitch and Best Puppy. She was top GBGV puppy 2003. Barbara Milton bred a litter out of Debucher Utopie at Wilmit to Nireau and Wilmit Altesse was winner of Best Puppy at several Championship Shows during the later part of the year.

At Crufts in 2003, Barbu won BOB for the third time and was shortlisted in the Group. In June 2003, Flambeur was sadly put to sleep, however his legacy lived on, particularly in his son, Debucher Jaromir.

At the World Show in Dortmund 2003, Monsieur Renaud Buche awarded the CACIB to Barbu. A week later, Barbu once again won the champion Male Class at the Nationale D’Elevage.

Top Bitch in 2003 was Debucher Tete-a-Tete, co-owned by Viv and Barbara Milton. Barbu was Top GBGV in the UK for the fifth time and went to Europe for the latter part of the year to win BIS at Hannover. In 2004 he gained his German Champion title at Lingen and Group 1 at Dortmund.

During 2003, numbers continued to increase in the show ring and some interesting litters were produced.

As well as the successes with the GBGVs, Viv continued to also breed Dachshunds, Dobermans, Basset Hounds and PBGVs. One of her most notable successes came in 1997 at Crufts when she won the Hound Group with the PBGV Debucher C’est Ca (Cedric), who then went on to show in the BIS ring. He was the first PBGV to do this, and paved the way for other PBGVs at Crufts including Jilly (Soletrader Peek a Boo) handled by Gavin Robertson and owned by Sara Robertson and Wendy Doherty who won BIS in 2013, followed by her son Mike (Soletrader Magic Mike) who won RBIS in 2019.

2006 was a huge year for Debucher. In It was the year that the UK Kennel Club finally gave GBGVs CC status. Jessica Holm judged Crufts 2006 and awarded the first set of CCs and Dutch/Ger/Ch Debucher le Barbu (at 9 years of age) was the first ever UK CC winner, along with his Granddaughter, Sophie, Debucher Sauve Qui Peut who took the Bitch CC. Amelia and Viv co-owned Sophie, however as Amelia was only 6 years old at the time, Meredith handled her! Best Puppy also went to Debucher Willow. Barbu was Best Dog at Driffield that year and received the RCC, with Wilmit Bracconier de Debucher (Poacher) winning Best Puppy. At the BGV Club Championship Show, Poacher was once more Best Puppy, as well as BPIS which made him Top Puppy in 2006. Le Barbu was Top GBGV for the 8th time and retired from breed competition at nearly 10 years of age.

As well as being Vice President, Vivien was also Health Officer of the UK BGV Club. She worked alongside Dr Peter Bedford and Dr Cathryn Mellersh to find a test for POAG, and in 2015 was awarded the Medal d’Honneur by the Club du Griffon Vendeen at the National Elevage in France. In 2015, the test was launched at Crufts:

Dr Cathryn Mellersh, head of the Genetics Centre, said: "We’re incredibly pleased to be able to offer this new test. A lot of hard work went into collecting the samples and identifying the mutation, none of which would have been possible without the continued support of the Basset Griffon Vendéen Club (BGVC).

"As there is no clinical test available to screen these dogs for POAG before the onset of the disease, it has been challenging for breeders to control. Now, any PBGV can have the non-invasive DNA test, collected via a simple cheek swab, giving the owner peace of mind about both the dog’s eye health and if it is a carrier of the genetic mutation.

"Hopefully, with responsible DNA testing and breeding we will be able to eradicate this painful and blinding condition from the PBGV population.”

"None of this would have been possible without the unstinting work of Vivien Phillips, the club’s health officer for eyes, Prof Peter Bedford and Dr Mellersh and her team. With this breakthrough it is hoped that, with careful and responsible breeding, owners and breeders can start the process of eradicating this condition in this wonderful breed. As chairman of the club we will do all we can to encourage all PBGV to be tested in the UK and overseas.”

After 2006, Viv’s successes in the dog world continued, and can be seen in detail on our GBGV page, as well as in her book “This is the Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen” which can be purchased through us direct.  

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