On August 16, 2002, Mrs. Lois Weston of Simbelair Persians passed away. The cat fancy has lost a great lady. The Persian breed, and especially the whites, has lost a legend.
Simbelair cattery began in the early 1960s, breeding primarily white Persians, and combining the Skyway, Bloemhill, Babalong and Azulita lines. Probably the most significant cat was her foundation male – a copper-eyed white male CH Skyway’s Rajah of Simbelair, DM, who sired 20 white Grand Champions, including 2 National Winners.
Simbelair was active from the early 1960’s through the early 1980’s, producing numerous Grands during that time, 8 National Winners, and providing the foundation cats for many of the later catteries who worked with whites. Simbelair’s first National Winner was GC, NW Simbelair Aristocrat, a odd-eyed white male who was CFA’s 2nd Best Cat in 1967-68.
CH Skyway’s Rajah of Simbelair, DM
GC, NW Simbelair Aristocrat
CFA’s 2nd Best Cat in 1967-68
Aristocrat was followed by another National Winner in 1968-69 – CFA’s 2nd Best Kitten, GC, NW Simbelair Fantastic, a copper-eyed white male. Fantastic was a cat way ahead of his time, with the head type of a cat from the 80’s, and truly lived up to his name.
GC, NW Simbelair Fantastic
CFA’s 2nd Best Kitten 1968-69
In the 1971-72 show season, Simbelair achieved another “first” – during the season, a white grand in each of the three eye colors! The 3 grands were GC Simbelair Felicia (odd-eyed female), GC Simbelair Flash (blue-eyed male), and GC Simbelair Tiffany (copper-eyed female).
GC Simbelair Felicia
GC Simbelair Flash
GC Simbelair Tiffany
Another significant National Winner was a 3-time winner – GC, NW Simbelair Carla of Northbrook – who was the very first “Blast from the Past” cat featured in PandEcats debut issue in July 2000. Carla was 3rd Best Kitten and 6th Best Cat in the 1979-80 show season, and then returned to the show hall to become CFA’s Best Cat for the 1981-82 show season.
GC, NW Simbelair Carla of Northbrook
3rd Best Kitten and 6th Best Cat, 1979-80
CFA’s Best Cat, 1981-82
In addition to Carla, there were 2 other National Winners in the 1970’s. 10th Best Cat in 1973-74 was an odd-eyed white male, GC NW Simbelair Azaraf. 11th Best Cat in 1978-79 was a copper-eyed white male, GC NW Simbelair Himself.
GC NW Simbelair Azaraf
10th Best Cat in 1973-74
GC NW Simbelair Himself
11th Best Cat in 1978-79
In the early 1980’s, Simbelair produced 3 more National Winners before retiring from the cat fancy. They were:
GC NW Simbelair Karina,
CFA’s 7th Best Kitten, 1980-81
copper-eyed female
GC NW Simbelair Fantasia
CFA’s 4th Best Kitten, 1981-82
copper-eyed female
GC NW Simbelair Etcetera
of Northbrook
CFA’s Best Kitten, 1983-84
copper-eyed female
Lois Weston and the cats of Simbelair had a huge impact on the Persians of her time. Just as significant a legacy are the memories Lois herself left behind with the breeders and exhibitors who were her contemporaries. Here are some of their remembrances…
From Kim Everett, CFA judge:
“Lois Weston was indeed a great lady and one of the most prestigious Persian breeders of all times. I admired her cats, especially her whites, for years.
I will never forget my first CFA judging assignment, which was double specialties at Garden State Cat Club. I clearly remember both my best longhair kitten and shorthair kitten. The shorthair kitten was Nikki Shuttleworth’s silver classic tabby ASH and the longhair was a copper-eyed white Persian male kitten. In my finals I was very enthusiastic in describing each kitten and when I came to the beautiful white Persian boy I said ” This kitten is FANTASTIC!”. Everyone laughed and cheered at the time. I began to wonder if I really blew my first judging assignment but was later told the kitten’s name was Simbelair’s Fantastic. How about that? I had no idea, but he was sure that. That was my first encounter with the great Simbelair Persians. I feel honored to have known Lois Weston and having had the privilege of judging her wonderful cats. She will long be remembered.”
From Diane Castor, Playwickey Cattery
” I remember taking a white male, GC Playwickey’s Lovey to a show as a kitten in Youngstown, Ohio in the hopes that Lois, who always attended that show, would be there. Then I could show her my pretty little boy. Well…she was there, with a CEW male and a CEW Female kitten. My kitten, Lovey, beat her kittens in all rings!!! I was so embarrassed I didn’t know what to do and kept apologizing profusely to Lois. She took this in an amusing manner and said,
“One cannot always remain at the top. Remember there is always going to be a cat out there that will beat you. When you are on top, there is only one way to go and that is down.”
I have never forgotten that advice. She was one of the best and I had enormous respect and admiration for her.”
From David Mare, CFA judge:
“I’d like to echo what others have said about Lois Weston. I, too, had the privilege of judging her beautiful cats and her whites were the standard by which others would be judged for many years. Kim mentions the cat “Fantastic” and I also remember him well. Indeed he was fantastic!
Lois was a genuinely warm and generous person. Her knowledge was vast, but available to others who wanted it. She had quality in her own cats but recognized quality in others as well – so her ability to lose or win was done with equal grace.
She was a genuine contributor and helped us get to where we are today. We owe her a great deal for this. She was also my friend and will be missed.”
From Susan Cook Henry, Jadon Cattery:
“Lois has been described by several people in many ways in their response to this sad news, and the common denominator seems to be: “What a great lady.” Yes, she was. As (much) younger girls, my Mother and I can remember how kind Lois was to everyone and how humble she seemed when receiving accolades for her stunning exhibits. She shared her fabulous bloodlines generously, and those bloodlines carry on to today in so many of the current top Persians. Yes, her Simbelair cats were “Fantastic” (and “Azaraf” and “Aristocrat” and “Carla” and so on ….) and those of us who were fortunate enough to know her personally are all the richer for it.”
CFA judge, Vickie Nye offered a quote from Lois herself. Lois said,
“Each one of us will have different ideas and methods, but if we strive to help each other, I am sure the cat is the one to benefit, and isn’t that our whole aim in this wonderful world of breeding?”
Lois Weston was obviously a lady of great insight and wisdom. She will be missed. Her Simbelair cats live on in the Persians of today… a legacy for all time.
