91-year old and not a wrinkle to show for it!
True to form, he arrived at the 3rd Congress of the International Partnership
for
Dogs (IPFD) for the presentation of the book paying tribute to his work. Coming
from all 4 corners of the globe, the scientific community rose from their seats
to give him a standing ovation at the end of his speech given in English, the language
of this international scientific congress held in Paris under the auspices of the
SCC.
A well-deserved reward for a life dedicated to cynology and standards.
How can I possibly introduce him to those who don’t know him? A difficult task,
as his life is one enormous work, a lot of it dedicated to dogs. And also full of
anecdotes, because he is very much a human, with both feet firmly on the ground.
Not long ago, I spoke with him about the Conti standard, the text which was in dire
need of revision. “Do you want me to take a look at it?” asked Raymond Triquet.
“But I warn you, I’m working on several other things at the moment .... And I’m
no longer the youngest.... This will probably take some time”.
Some time? Two days later, my phone rang: “I’m finished”. And that was really the
case!!! The revised standard delivered in French, but also in German and English.
A professor of English phonetics at Lille University, this was no great surprise
coming from someone who, like nobody else, can explain English pronunciation to
you. But not just in the language of Shakespeare, but also in Russian, German and
a few other languages.
Whatever the language, listeners hang on his lips. And what an astounding contrast
between this small and discrete man and the authority he still enjoys throughout
the world. Everything he teaches you sticks in your mind. In just a few words, he’ll
explain a breed to you, give you the meaning of a word or a phrase. And believe
me, what he says will remain stuck in your mind for years to come. He knows how
to put across his knowledge without being boring or pedantic.
Originally from Northern France, Raymond is spending his retirement in the Périgord,
devoting his time to his horses, his woods and to translating standards. His family
plays a big role in his life, his wife, his children and his ten grandchildren.
And of course let’s not forget our national Great Dane breed, the Dogue de Bordeaux,
a breed that owes it renaissance to him and has been one of the passions of his
life.
In the cynological bible published by him - Le Dictionnaire Encyclopédique des termes
canins - he quotes Lesbre: Cynology is one of the few sciences so rich in special
terms, but one must not overdo them, as the best way to be understood is still to
speak like everyone else.
Speak like everyone else? Not really, but he knows how to make himself accessible
to all and to enrich his listeners’ knowledge.
Thank you very much, Raymond. We hope to see you for a long time yet in direct contact
with your adopted land, seated on your tractor, pruning your trees and imparting
your wisdom.
Anne-Marie Class