Lancashire Social Circle
The Circle's autumn Gathering held on the weekend of 14th 15th November was one of the best attended functions in more recent years with 100 members and guests sitting down to a well prepared and presented four course official dinner on the Saturday night. I was most surprised at this number, as in the last two of years we have had seven of our members pass away, all of which have proved difficult to replace. Like all pigeon clubs all over the country we are experiencing an ageing membership that comes with health problems in some cases. So to attract an increase number to this year's prize presentation has given us great hope for the future of this unique club.
The Lancashire Social Circle was formed back in 1906 and has remained the most successful retaining its membership with no increase in subscriptions for the last 16 years. Members receive from the subscriptions their dinners at the twine yearly Gatherings, a hard backed Hand Book containing all the information needed going forward for the season ahead, that also double up as a loft book with pages for breeding pairs alongside training and racing. Members also get free entry into all races with a free lunch provided at the race marking. With all of the above you can understand we have no problem in attracting new members as and when needed into our ranks. New members are invited from the long list of guests that attend the twice yearly Gatherings that are held at the Inn On The Prom at St Annes-on Sea. The hotel is a family run hotel with its roots dating back to the 1870's. Originally three grand Victorian villas, it has been owned by the Croston Family since 1945. With over 140 years in hospitality, it stands as one of the longest running and most beloved establishments along the St Annes seafront. The hotel is always booked up at all times of the year, and is the reason members have to arrange their room requirements with the Secretary weeks in advance.
I have drifted away from my report on the weekend, so the event kicks off on the Friday when most of the fanciers arrive from different parts of the country, with the weather at the seaside resort being more than kind to us than down country, where several of our guests had to travel from. Took the opportunity to make the most of the better weather and take in what was on offer. Some of the longer distance travellers were more than happy to sit in and around the bar area meeting up with old friends while others used the gym, swimming pool and snooker table to pass a couple of hours before we all made our way to the Ball Room for the hot buffet supper. The Friday Forum as we all know start off with a meal in a relaxed way until the comedian took to the stage and kept us entertained for around an hour of light hearted stories that had everyone in stitches. We have used this type of entertainment a few time over the past number of years but this one proved one of the better ones. At these Friday Forums we have had a number of different topics all of which have proved entertaining helping keep everyone in the hotel that gives me a little leverage when negotiating prices going forward. Following a short break to refill our glasses the President was called upon to make the draw for next seasons Breeders Exchange. With Gerry Clements drawn against David Sowerby, Maurice Jackson with Chris Knowles, Ian Cooper with Mark Smith, David Jones with Malcolm Parry-Jones, Robert Brandon with David Newson, Peter Robinson with David Pritchard, Stephen Beardmore with Tom Owen, Peter Latham with John Dearden, William Curtis with Jim Kenny, John Winstanley with Chris Corfield, Brian Walsh with Dennis Little, Bob Smith with John Mills, Paul Dalton with Ray Bullen, Brian Holland with Alan Bamford, Graham Mackay with David Hilton, George Pendleton with Roger Sutton, Jim Frost with Kenny Atherton. With the formalities out of the way the rest of the evening was left for everyone to play catch up since our last Gathering in February.
Following very little sleep everyone was down for breakfast in our own part of the dining room provided by the hotel, separate from other guests staying in the hotel. Once breakfast was over members of the Management Committee met to resolve a number of items on the agenda that needed to be put to bed before we enter the racing season this next year. The AGM followed when all members joined the room. One of the first items was the resignation of our long serving members who wished to resign as a racing member of the Circle. George Pulford who has now reached 90 years old and while he is still fit and able to drive has found that his local club now only has two flying members and with his love of channel racing has found it more and more difficult to raise enthusiasm to carry on, with his nearest club being some 20 miles away. This was excepted with much regret but as George was made a Life Member of the Circle a few years back, that still enables him to attend all our functions. A second resignation was received from one of our newer members Henry Krasowski, Henry on the other hand had disposed with all his birds and in keeping with our one rule tendered his resignation. The balance sheet and auditor's report was well received showing a number of savings on several items giving us a very healthy balance going forward into 2026 where once again there being no need for any increase in subscriptions. All official positions were filled with the President Stephen Beardmore taking on the office of President for his final year. It was with this in mind the position of President Elect was offered to Vice President Brian Smith who excepted the post with a unanimous vote of all in favour. We also added a new member to the Committee George Pendleton. With the pigeon sport loosing fanciers every year, the Circle has bucked this trend retaining its membership, but it was decided to cast our net a little wider in the recruitment of nominees, with a number of our long time guests being approached to go on the list for membership.
Saturday evening started off with everyone meeting up in the bar area before moving on to the Ball Room with our own private bar. The room looked fabulous with 12 tables all dressed with place names and a copy of the programme of events along with a top table of 9 seated with our principal guest for the weekend Jeremy Davis who was for some time, the One Loft Race Manager for the RPRA, and now runs the UK Premier One Loft Race. Jeremy's reputation in the sport of pigeon racing is second to none, when his expertise came to the forefront during 2023 grand final race when he guided his loft with an unparalleled skill, achieving a remarkable 80% return rate over a very challenging 315 mile race. Jeremy's close connection with birds and livestock, isn't confined to racing pigeons, being involved with his father's business, The Britmorton Wildlife Sanctuary. Looking a little further into pigeon racing under the name of T & J Davis the partnership secured multiple victories with several federations, and his ability as a top fancier also led him to clinch the British International Championship Club title on two occasions. His family of pigeons emulates from a pigeon called "Jimmy" bred in 2001 and was supposed to be a pigeon offered to a fellow fancier by the name of Jimmy. The young pigeon in question had a limp so another bird was substituted. That turned out to be great news, as a racer he won several top prizes and when retired became the lofts top breeder producing a great number of winners in open competition.
Stephen Beardmore Jeremy Davis Peter Morris Stephen Beardmore Jeremy Davis Brian Smith
The President called the Gathering to order by saying Grace and while standing asked for a minutes silence in memory of two members we have lost from our ranks earlier this year, Jeff Churchill and Brian Woodhouse. A written tribute to both these two members appeared in the programme of events. Brian was an honorary member of the Circle who followed in a long line of fanciers to hold this position, starting back with one of the earlier ones, Dr. William Anderson. The doctor first became involved with the Circle back in 1920 when he was invited by S P Griffiths to join a party of Circle members on a visit to Belgium. Readers may well know the doctor was one of the first fanciers to import top winning racing pigeons from Belgium into the UK. That improved the sport no ends as many of the pigeons at the time originated from pigeons kept by landowners in large flocks as a source of food in large dovecotes. This type of pigeons were on the larger size and not the bests of flyer as you would expect being used for human consumption.
Stephen Beardmore Jeremy Davis Scott Irving Stephen Beardmore Jeremy Davis Paul Bolton
The President then went on to introduce a new member into the Circle for this next season Paul Dalton from North Wales. Paul has supported all the events organised by the Circle these last few years attending all of the twice yearly Gatherings as well as supporting the Ladies Weekend events along with his wife Michelle.
New Member Paul Dalton congratulated by Secretary Brian Dearn
Following the meal and the Loyal Toast by the President, the Secretary was called upon to make the tribute to Jeff Churchill, before John Dearden was asked to make a tribute to Brian Wood house. One of "woodo's" long time guests Keith Davison who is not in the best of health himself made the journey from London by train to be with us over the weekend. This in itself might not seem a big thing but when you consider the effort involved for a man with a stick and dragging an overnight bag changing trains on the way and then getting a taxi from the station to the hotel his efforts were outstanding. The members of the Circle presented Keith with a Certificate of Merit for his efforts in getting to the Gathering that almost brought him to tears. Keith had brought a small gift for a number of the members, a Kit Kat with a small card attached from the Woodhouse family, with the words "I have taken my final flight, thanks for sharing it with me, next time you enjoy a Kit Kat of see a pigeon soaring, know I am thinking of you".
Bob Smith Keith Davison Brian Dearn Bill Lewis Jeremy Davis Mick Howard
The introduction of the official guest was made by Brian Dearn, then Jeremy made his address, a very moving speech with fond memories of his father. He explained the running of a One Loft Race and the problems with health and birds of prey. Then told us how he first became involved with pigeons, having always been around birds, it was at a game show he acquired three tumbler pigeons that latter attracted a stray racer. This was liberated some distance away but returned albeit 2 weeks later and from then on he was hooked. A school friends brother kept pigeons and was secretary of the local pigeon club offered a few birds with a few more from a fellow club mate along with some from Louella. In his first race with youngsters he won 6th club and later that season took 1st club with one of the Louella youngsters. He admitted he had no idea how to feed with most of the feed being duck food and hen pellets. Within a few years he had progressed to top flyer winning the averages for 10 years on the run. He applied for the position of Loft Manager of the RPRA One Loft Race in 2005 the year his daughter Heather was born and 18 years later was still running the RPRA race. In 2023 he started the UK Premier One Loft Race with some good results and is fully booked up for 2026 housing a maximum of 1200 birds although the loft would house more. He then went on to make a toast to the Lancashire Social Circle. Gary Cockshott made the reply on behalf of the members picking up on several points in Jeremy's speech.
David Sowerby George Pulford Roger Sutton Celebrating 40 years of membership John Dearden Secretary Brian Dearn Gary Cockshott
At this point Jeremy was accompanied by the President Stephen Beardmore to the prize table where he presented this seasons winners with their trophies, awards and diplomas. Some remarkable performances were put up by Circle members in the NFC old bird races we used the national as our transport to enter the channel races. Following the presentation the President made his address giving a résumé of some of the finer points of the morning meeting. Then presented Jeremy with the Circle Centenary Book, Hand Book and Club Tie. Bob Smith was next to his feet replying on behalf of the prizewinners being the winner of the longest OB race. Bob congratulated all the winner on what had been an excellent racing season for Circle members with excellent returns and some top performances in the NFC races. He thanked the members who had sponsored the races and then went on to explain the benefits of being a member of the Circle.
Mark Smith with one of his trophies President Beardmore Jeremy Davis David Pritchard
Stephen brought the evening to a close, but before doing so asked David Sowerby, George Pulford and Roger Sutton to stand when he told the gathering these three members were celebrating 40 years of membership of the Circle this year. Stephen then went on to congratulated Brian Smith on being elected President Elect, who will take over from him in 2027 following his last year in office. Stephen had a few words of thanks to Brian Smith who was assisted by John Mills for getting the trophies engraved and putting the display together in the afternoon. A special mention went out to Alan Bamford who stores the trophies. He then paid thanks to David Newson for collecting and delivering the flowers worn by the members and guests at the Autumn Gathering, thanks also went out to David Jones who takes the photos at the Gathering along with all the winners and not forgetting the Secretary Brian Dearn for putting the weekend together, before he closed the evening.
S Beardmore J Davis with John Winstanley Jeremy Davis with George Pendleton
Brian Dearn. Tel. 01254 772515.
