Lancashire Social Circle
The spring Gathering of the Circle looked like it was going to be a pigs ear but turned out to be a silk purse. The reason being, in the history of the Lancashire Social Circle the number of members unable to attend the first function of the year was the most we have ever experienced. There was various reasons given by members for their absence, from ill health, family commitments and the dates clashing with other events. But whatever the reason the Friday night hot buffet supper that started the official part of the weekend proved one of the most successful ones, starting with the meal provided by the hotel that filled all members and guests, before Doug Went a past guest speaker who has now become a regular guest at our twice yearly Gatherings provided a list of answers to all present before he then gave out a series of questions that I must admit were not available on Google. A big thank you went out to Doug for putting the effort into this part of the evening entertainment.
On a slightly different subject Doug informed me he will not be writing any more of his interesting and amusing articles in the fancy press as his last efforts were rejected. I have not seen the content of what was written but understand it was based around how we as a fancy work out race results on total time total distance. That gives us a winning velocity that in some cases results in velocities split by a matter of seconds at the home end. While minutes can be lost at the liberation site, that could result in an unfair result.
Moving on to the Saturday morning management committee meeting, with the ever increasing numbers of members failing to attend for the whole weekend was one of the main items on the agenda. A number of ideas were put forward to resolve the situation that was felt would reverse the declining numbers. The Ladies Weekend was also discussed with David Newson the event organiser providing details of the forthcoming event to be held at the Ro Hotel in Bowness-on-Windermere on the 18th 19th October. The hotel is most central to Bowness itself and has recently been refurbished to a very high standard with all rooms now having new walk-in-showers. A short walk from the hotel takes you straight into the shopping streets of the town and a 500 meter walk finds you at the lake side with ferries trips around the lake. David has arranged a coach trip on the Saturday morning included in the price for anyone wishing to visit the neighbouring towns of Grasmere and then onto Keswick with the return journey around 4 00pm giving plenty of time before the start of the evening function. The Saturday night will be as previous ladies events consisting of a 3 course dinner followed by entertainment that I am assured will involve some dancing. As with all hotels in the Lakes the Ro request a £200 deposit per couple to be received by mid March to secure the rooms they are holding for us, so an early response is required if you intend coming along.
Saturday night saw most members and guest dressed and suited down in the hotel bar area around 6 00pm even though the evening didn't start until 7 00pm. I have to admit I was also one of them and was pleased I did, to welcome 6 of my guest who were all members of the local St Annes pigeon club. While in their company our main guest speaker for the evening Stuart Wilcox from Bristol entered the bar along with his travelling companion David Wyatt. Once I had them both holding a drink several fanciers were playing catch-up with Stuart, that gave me an ideal opportunity to get to know David, someone I had not had the pleasure of meeting before. David who is a farmer and when you shake his hand you know he is a working farmer. His interest with the pigeons, is distance racing and he was for some time on the NFC Committee, but running a working farm and all the problems that go along with that and the travelling time to and from the meetings he has stepped down. He keeps his pigeons on a totally natural system where the race team can come and go as they please fed on the old system of farm beans etc.
Once everyone had made their way to the Ball Room President Stephen Beardmore said grace before the four course dinner was served, following which all stood to toast the King with the Loyal Toast. Stephen then explained we were down in numbers with a particular mention of three members who he felt will be unable to attend our Gatherings with ongoing health problems, Geoff Kirkland, John Marsden and Tony Merrick, he also made mention of two members of the Committee who were unable to be with us David Jones the LSC official photographer and Peter Latham who is a key member at the race marking, both recovering one from an accident and the other from an operation wishing them both a speedy recovery before making a toast to absent friends.
The room layed out before the members and guests arrive.
Following a short break and welcoming everyone back he asked William Curtis one of our newer members to stand a introduce the principal guest Stuart Wilcox. Although this was the first time William has spoken at one of our Gatherings he made a splendid job, he explained how Stuart was, in his younger days a rugby player. A top pigeon who proved this by winning the first National this last season. Alongside this he is one of the country's best auctioneers selling some of the ace pigeons both from this country and from the continent. William was fully aware of not speaking for too long and while he felt this applied to him, he told Stuart this was not the case with his speech.
William Curtis introducing the Main Guest.
Stuart spoke of early days in rugby as a school boy and his interest in the pigeons, and how he first got started with our fathered friends. This came about when a local fanciers youngsters fell down the family chimney and broke its leg, the fancier in question did not want the youngster back so it shared the rabbit hutch with the New Zealand white rabbit until it was able to fly. Some years later this same pigeon was sent to a distance race and when the birds were due young Stuart was playing rugby when he saw the red pied cock flying low over the rugby ground, he ran off the pitch and ran like mad to the loft and clocked him in. This resulted in a two weeks ban from the game but clocking the pigeon was well worth it. Stuart gave us several more stories of his rugby days and his time in the sport giving praise to several fanciers who have left a lasting impression on him, the likes of Sam and Rory Fear. Another of his stories was when he and David Wyatt went over to Belgium doing loft visits, the first of these a top flyer handed over one of his ace pigeons to Stuart, his comments being nice pigeon etc. Then handed it over to David, his comment being I have better at home. Stuart said don't say things like that again when we visit the next loft. At the second loft visit the fancier hand over his Pau winner and David's reply was the same I have better at home. At the third loft David was handed the pigeon that was 1st International from Pau being the only bird on the day, David's reply was I have several just as good. Stuart assured us this story was perfectly true. Stuart spoke of his auction sales with the big prices paid for pigeons at Blackpool, which he had to admit he was part of, but did feel these outrageous prices for pigeons was doing the sport no good. He also touched on the Alwyn Hill sale and the sale of his house with all proceeds going to the RPRA future of the sport and raptor situation. He then spoke of Alwyn's pigeon "Wing Down" which he thought was the best pigeon long distance pigeon in the country being a winner of 2nd 4th and 7th. Stuart then asked all guests to stand when he made a toast to the Lancashire Social Circle.
Stuart Wilcox addressing the Gathering
Brian Smith was next to his feet standing in for fellow member George Pendleton who had given back word hours before. Brian made the reply on behalf of the members expressing just how good a pigeon fancier Stuart was not only being 1st National but taking 2nd National beating a good fancier into 3rd place. He explained how Stuart was not only taking out of the sport but putting something back, Brian then touched on how Stuart had the up most respect for both fanciers past and present who had helped make the sport of pigeon racing.
Doug Went was next giving the gathering some of his memories of his 85 years from birth to the present. Doug gave us some of his fond memories of his late brother Lol who entered a couple of pigeons in Thurso the race when the pigeons were liberated at 5 00am into a head wind he timed his pigeon ring number 8750 at 9 49pm being the only bird in the clock station on the day flying against all the top fanciers at the time. The second of the two entries ring number 8741 was found at 3 00am the next morning. The following year these two pigeons were sent back to Thurso and won 1st & 2nd London North Road Combine but sadly brother Lol had passed away and was not there to see what the two birds had achieved. The Secretary Brian Dearn then asked all the members to stand and raise a toast to the guests.
London Fanciers Doug Went, George Chalkley, Keith Davison, Albert Stockwell with there hosts from Rochdale.
A change from the norm came next when one of our long time guests Andy Webb was asked to address the Gathering explaining the value of being a guest of the Circle. Andy explained he and his good mate Les Adams of Adams Bros had been coming to the Gatherings as guests of past President Chris Knowles for the past 9 years.
Guest Andy Webb giving his speach.
The two of them have been part of the fabric of the Circle since then. Andy explained being in the company of fanciers the likes of Rod Adams, John Rumney, Brian Hicks, Geoff Kirkland, Gerry Clements, Frank Bristow and R & B Smith to mention just a few is all part of being a guest of the Lancashire Social Circle. Chris had informed the two of them the dress code that still exists to this day along with other traditions. The seating plan and place names and programme of events was a statement of the hard work, organisation, time, and effort taken by the Secretary to put these events together. On that first, visit pinning the buttonhole flower to my suit and forming friendships which still last 9 years on. Although Andy no longer keep pigeons himself, he still take an interest in the activates and results that go on in the sport. The opportunities that have arisen since coming to the Circle have been countless. Having been involved in the sport of pigeon racing for most of his life starting with his granddad 50 years ago, can't believe that a group of gentlemen pigeon fanciers conducts themselves in such a unique manner. The word unique describes the Lancashire Social Circle and its members perfectly, long may it continue.
Brian & Bob Smith
The evening was brought to a close with the President thanking all the speakers who have made the evening a great success.
Phil Allen with Andy Florek
I have also included in this article a photo of the Circle's new Honorary Life Member Scott Irving who along with the Bill Southward from the Cumbria Region and Raymond White from the SNFC all laid wreaths at Ypres a couple of weeks ago.
(l to r) Scott Irving, Bill Southward and Raymond White photographed preparing to lay wreaths at Ypres on behalf of L.S.C., Cumbria Region R.P.R.A. and the S.N.F.C.
Brian Dearn Tel. 01254 772515.
