My name is Pam Gladwin and I have been involved with pigeons since I was a young girl aged fifteen. That was the year I met John. We had both been to the Southend Carnival Fete, and before the night was out I was on one dodgem car with John and my friend was in another car with John’s friend Keith.
That night John walked me home and told me he had just had his birthday and he was sixteen. He talked about his hobbies, cycle Speedway, Football and Pigeon racing. I had no idea what he was talking about.
I had never seen a racing pigeon, knew nothing about cycle speedway, or football and on our first date, he took me to see Southend united play football. Well I have never seen another game of football but I have certainly seen a lot and learnt a lot about Racing Pigeons.
His Father and his Uncle both kept pigeons before the Second World War, but these were all taken away for the war effort when the war started. Therefore, it was not until 1953 that John and his Dad built another loft out of an old pre war shed and got a few pigeons and started racing.
We married in 1961 when we were nineteen and in the garden of our first home John built a pigeon loft and we have had pigeons ever since. We had three boys all of them spent there childhood in and out of the lofts and by the time our eldest two were at secondary school they were racing from there own lofts as Gladwin Bros. As they got older, they found girls and for a while, Pigeons took a back seat. Our youngest son Jonathan took over his Dads birds at a very early age and John used to let him pair them up as he wanted and the only thing he was left to do was pay for everything.
What was I doing all this time, my job was to train the pigeons, we were racing on the north road then and flying with the Essex central fed and the Rayleigh club. Our eldest Son Michael still has pigeons, but because of his work and young family, he does not race them much. Whereas Jonathan has never had a break from the pigeons. He married Theresa who was a daughter of a pigeon fancier so she knew what she was taking on. She helps Jonathan with the pigeons, which enables him to be able to race as well as travelling up to London each day to work.
Jonathan is also a Partner in “Formula 1 lofts.” I retired from work due to ill health. It was at this time that I became secretary of the Leigh Club for the first time, when they were flying with the Mid Essex Federation. About this time, I also started writing for the Pigeon Sport. In 1999, we decided to try South road racing and turned the Leigh Club South as well. It was then that my life was taken over by the pigeons. A few of us got together and brought an old transporter.
Had it sign written “Leigh on Sea Racing Pigeon club” I became secretary and John was President. The first year we grew to fifteen members and I started writing for the Racing Pigeon. We had a lot of fun that year. John and I have travelled all over the world meeting pigeon fanciers. Where ever you go if you look up in the sky and see a group of pigeons flying there will be a fancier close by.
Many a time we have met people that way. In America, Spain, Australia and they have become friends. We met a fancier called Carroll (a man) in America, he came over and stayed with us, and we took him to see the Queens Pigeon Lofts. That was a day he never forgot and neither did we.
During my time as secretary of the Leigh Club we did a lot of fund raising, selling pigeons on line and at the phone to enable us to buy a new transporter in 2008. We were also one of the first to embrace ETS; we use the Unikon System and would never go back to a T3 clock. Last year 2009, we had 45 members.
Having written articles on a regular basis for a good many years for the Racing Pigeon I decided to have a change and now write for the Homing World. Last year I was asked to become the Press Officer for the British International Championship Club. That entails a lot of hard work but at the same time, I have met a great many nice people.
Therefore, although pigeon racing is a hobby it can also become a full time job. Pigeon racing is a fascinating sport and one that can be enjoyed by all the family. We have 8 year olds and 80 year olds in the sport. If you are just starting out then my advice to you is to go along to your nearest club and chat to the fanciers first, offer to help, show willing and you will find fanciers will help you. If you do not know where your local club is. Go on line to www.rpra.org and they will help you, or if you are in Essex, I might be able to help. We meet every Friday and Saturday evening from about 6.45 until 9pm. during the racing season. At the Basildon Football club. We would always be pleased to see you.
Pam Gladwin email me at pamelagladwin@yahoo.co.uk
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