Last week I had a letter from Paul Stephens and it got me thinking about how many fanciers race as a young Boy or Girl and then come back into the sport later in there lives. Perhaps we should have an advert in the Saga magazine. Paul Stephens has lived in Northampton for 25 years, and for the last six years, he has been racing pigeons again. He tells me that as a young lad his home was in Southend on sea and at the age of six he started racing with his late Grandfather Tom Burke who raced in the Prittlewell club most of his life. Paul raced in partnership with his Granddad for a few years as Burke & Stephens.
He remembers flying with Johnny Tucker, Peter Sadler, Alex Ward and Ron Bennett, Ron is still going strong, he was not as old as the rest, must have been a young lad at that time, the others are sadly no longer with us. John remembers all of these old fliers. John used to fly in the Prittlewell club in the 1950s with his Dad as H Gladwin & Son, and remembers all the people Paul mentioned. Ron Bennett is still racing pigeons; I think he is about 75 now. We used to race with Ron in the Southend club.
Prittlewell club became Southend club, then when Southend clubhouse was burnt down, the members mostly joined Stambridge club. Now, for the very strange thing. We brought Pauls Granddads white dowelled loft, which John thinks, was about 12 ft. long. Way back in the 1970 times. Pauls Granddad was related to Harry Warden the secretary of Prittlewell club and Harry Warden’s Daughter Hilda Married John’s Mothers Brother. What a small world. I myself remember Peter Sadler, Johnny Tucker Alex Ward and of course, Ron, Ron won a race about two years ago, and I took his photo and it was published in the Racing Pigeon. Paul said reading my column brings back the good old memories of when he was a child racing pigeons in Southend.
Basildon TNEC was at Poole on the 10/7/10 they were liberated at 8am. It was the last old bird race of the season. Joe House was first with a grizzle 06 hen and second with a yearling chequer hen. Meg Murray took the next three places.
Colchester Inv RPC Poole 10.7.10 5 sent 54 birds Being pushed all the way the Red Daniel van Reets of Mr & Mrs K Turner and Ritchie Ryder partnership managed to hold on to top spot, they also claimed 5th & 6th positions, Tony Beagrie still maintaining form having another decent race taking 2nd, 3rd & 4th.
Stambridge club were also on there last old bird race this being Thurso. It turned out to be a very hard race with only three birds home Paul Devoto 1st. 2nd. Trevor Chadwick 3rd. more about this race next week, when I will have been to see Paul.
Thames North and Eastern Counties, Poole 10/7/10 35 Members sent 527 Birds South West Wind.
Mr. & Mrs. H. Marler, from Buntingford 1st 2nd. open and west section.
Mr & Mrs T Robinson from Goffs Oak 3rd 4th. Open and West section.
Vic Shaw & Son from Harlow 5th. open and west section.
B Fenech & Son from Epping 6th. 7th. 8th. Open and west section.
Smith & Pennell 9th. open and west section
Bruce McAllister 10th. open and west section.
D Wilton and Son 1st. East section.
First young bird race will be 24th July. So a week off.
In last weeks, article a mentioned about our pigeons not coming across the Thames where we would like them to. In reply, I received this very interesting email from Eileen and Deryl Adams from Sheerness.
We live near the cliffs at Minster, on the north coast of Isle Of Sheppey, and whilst waiting for our pigeons we see many flying along the coastline. The bottom line is that in our opinion the pigeons will NEVER cross the water at this wide point. We were told some years ago, that the usual place for them to cross is Gravesend, where the break is quite slim across from Essex to Kent. We live high and can see Southend front very easily, especially on a lovely clear day. When The NFC race from Folkestone they will come along the coast line in their hundreds, and when they race from Maidstone, they come across country again in their hundreds, get to the coast line and do a direct left turn up river.
Sheppey is not a big island, and all our fanciers live on the northern half, which is the populated side, and these pigeons, mentioned above, can be seen flying along the island at varying places, i.e. if our club members at Leysdown see them, after they leave that area, they can fly either along the coast, or slightly inland, and those fanciers inland will see them, when we don’t about 3-4 miles further along the coast. The pattern is somewhat erratic to say the least.
I know this is not what you want to read, but these unfortunately are the facts. There are the very odd occasions when we might see 2, 3, 6? and they sometimes will fly straight out across the water.
But having said that, we never know if the tide is in or out, as we lay back from the coastline, and if the tide is out, maybe they still fly to the water line and then turn. Who knows, We wish you well with your racing and our good wishes go to all your members.
We are both aged 75 now, and are well past our “best times” but still enjoy our hobby. Eileen (and Deryl) Adams. Sheerness Club.
This is such an interesting email that I thought all fanciers should see it. Our Son Michael lives on the highest point in Benfleet Essex just across from Canvey Island and Higham. Moreover, on any given Saturday, he also sees the North road pigeons doing exactly the same thing; they will not go across the Thames at that point.
He says you may see a hundred going along towards Southend pier and then they will turn and come back and head towards the Dartford Tunnel, Gravesend is straight across from the tunnel. It just goes to show that once the birds are in the sky we have no say in what they do.
Talking about that I have written to the head office of the RSPB regarding releasing pigeons on Canvey Marshes. In addition, have had an email back saying they are looking into it and will get back to me shortly.
Thank you to Stephen Holmes who rang them last week after my article appeared in the Homing World and got things moving. Will update you all, when I hear from the RSPB.
Pam Gladwin
Phone me on 01702542019 or 07958463095
Email: pamelagladwin@yahoo.co.uk