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Kennel hand who says Crufts champion breeder treated him like 'family' sues her son over her £1.1m will

Mary Swash, whose estate of £1.1m was divided between a £100,000 bequest to kennel hand David Brand and the remainder left to her son John Cartledge.
Mary Swash, whose estate of £1.1m was divided between a £100,000 bequest to kennel hand David Brand and the remainder left to her son John Cartledge.
David Brand, 59, and Mary Swash, whose Airedale terrier Ginger Christmas Carol took best-in-show at Crufts in 1986.
David Brand, 59, and Mary Swash, whose Airedale terrier Ginger Christmas Carol took best-in-show at Crufts in 1986.

David Brand, 59, devoted 34 years of his adult life to Mary Swash's Jokyl kennels in West Tisted, Hampshire, living on-site and caring for her prize Airedale terriers before stepping up to help with her personal care in the final year of her life. Brand was left £100,000 in Swash's will when she died aged 89 in July 2025, but argues that falls far short of the lifelong provision she promised him. Her son and sole heir John Cartledge, who receives the remaining fortune as executor, is fighting the claim — with his lawyers warning it could strip him of everything.

Swash's Airedales won honours across decades, with bitch Ginger Christmas Carol — pet name Emma — taking best-in-show at Crufts in 1986.

Brand, who still lives at the farm and cares for ten surviving Airedales, is claiming 'reasonable financial provision' under inheritance law.

The case is before High Court Deputy Master Michael Jefferis, with Cartledge's lawyers warning a successful claim could leave him with nothing from his mother's estate.

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