By Brian Dearn
The Lancashire Social Circle came into being in 1906 and therefore in its 113th year being formed under truly social circumstances. The hard backed year book published every year contains a stream of useful information alongside the one and only rule the society has. This is quite unique in this day and age that an organisation can function and thrive with just one rule for well over 100 years. The twice yearly gatherings attract new faces every time a function is held and at the Autumn Gathering that was held the first weekend in November, a total of 11 fanciers were in our company for their first time. The friendships forged over these weekends have in many cases lasted a lifetime! One great friend and Honorary Member, Stan Dangerfield was missing from this year's function, with age catching up on him. Stan has been coming to Southport for many years and followed in the footsteps of other Gloucestershire fanciers the likes of John James, Ken Gardner and Ray Safe, all of which have made a great contribution to the Circle. Stan first became involved in the sport when he used to train his father's pigeons, L F Dangerfield who was President of the Mid Gloucestershire Fed. These training excursions were the only time Stan saw the birds and it wasn't until 1958 on his father's death that Stan, then 21 years old, took over the management of the pigeons. His parents must surely have been rewarded many times, for his prospects were very good both at his hobby and his profession as a master baker. Since Stan's first contact with the sport he has held various offices right up to national level. Although Stan's dad was a good club flyer in the area, he had doubts his birds would fly in the nationals and needed better birds. These came from Tom Clarke of Frampton-on-severn and with Tom's guidance many top national places have been won over his racing career. With Stan now in a Care Home it is unlikely that we will see him in Southport again but as secretary I am still in contact with him and write every once in a while. At the Gathering a number of friends asked for his address in order to write a few lines. Proving just how popular this gentleman from Gloucester really is with his fellow members.
This year's Gathering and Prize-Presentation numbers were a little down on previous years which partly came about with the hotel wanting bookings a lot earlier than usual. A number of members and guests had other commitments and the list of apologies was a little longer than normal. Friday night, the Circle holds their Friday Forum, when all members and their guests meet in the Ball Room of the hotel for a Carvery Supper, with more than enough to eat to satisfy all. A very funny man by the name of Jed Stone who I have been trying to book for our Friday nights for a couple of years, but he had been book up and when he had finished his spot you could see why. With the new PA system provided by the hotel this last year Jed gave a great performance leaving his audience wanting more.
Following a short break one of our principal guests for the Saturday night Alasdair Muir who had travelled all the way from Surrey was called upon to make the draw for the Lancashire Social Circle exchange where all the members’ names go into the hat and drawn against each other. They then breed one another a pair of youngsters that they enter in the YB race from Portland at the end of the YB season. This event is very popular with the members and over the years some great performances have been put up with these exchange pigeons. This year's draw is as follows;
B Walsh - V Donnelly, G Clements - T Owen, D Sowerby - R Sutton, G Mainwaring - K Iddon, J Winstanley - S Beardmore, J Churchill - A Bamford, R Smith - K Cliffe, A Cowley - G Cockshott, P Latham - B Brandon, A Jones - P Robinson, J Mills - G Mackay, M McCartney - I Cooper, C Knowles - E Fergusson, E Entwistle - G Hilson, R Bullen - G Pulford, D Newson - M Hewitt, J Tunstall - D Jones, J Dearden - S Gabriel, M Parry-Jones - T Merrick, D Little - R Pollitt.
With the official part of the evening over it was my turn to relax and mix with several of the fanciers coming along for the first time.
Following breakfast on the Saturday morning, the Committee was scheduled to meet, but as this is a social event and England were playing in the Rugby World Cup Final which, was on the big screen provided by the hotel along with an earlier than normal breakfast arranged, the meeting was put back until after the annual general meeting. The AGM went through without any changes to the officials apart from a new addition to the committee David Jones, who has been a member for quite a number of years and has been heavily involved with the race marking with ETS. David has also taken the photos at many of our Gatherings this last few years being a backup for George Hilson. David has also taken all the photos at the Ladies Weekends and was instrumental in booking the entertainment at the last two events. I am sure now he is on the management committee his involvement will be even greater and I for one am very pleased to see him as part of the team.
L to R: Richard Chambers, Chris Knowles, Alisdair Muir and Bill Lewis - Geoff Churchill,Peter Latham, Brian Dearn, Chris knowles, John Winstanley and Bill Lewis, all speakers on the night.
Saturday night official dinner and prize-presentation was held in the hotel Ball Room when 120 members and guests were called to order by the president Chris Knowles when he asked all to stand for a minutes silence to a past honorary member Alan Harrison of Chester. Following dinner the president made a very warm welcome to all the members and their guests, 11 of whom were attending for their first time. With the sport experiencing falling numbers he pointed out how the Lancashire Social Circle was bucking the trend of falling membership. Making reference to two guest in our company for their first time, Chris Cassar who is new to our shores and originates from Malta attending as a guest of David Newson, and Suavek Lacki who came along as a guest of Ernie Fergusson and is new to the sport in this country originating from Poland. The numbers were somewhat down on previous functions, as a number of members had other commitments over the weekend and others health issues, the apology list was far bigger than normal and included Alan Bamford, Ken Cliffe, Stan Dangerfield, John Marsden, Brian Newson, Brian Woodhouse, Rod Adams, Geoff Kirkland, Ray Bullen, V Donnelly, G Clements and Dave Sowerby. The President was pleased to see Dr Geoff Richmond in our company following his recent visit to the ladies weekend in Llandudno with his family, and his son-in law Dave was with him on this night following Geoff’s recent health problem. Chris then went on to make a special welcome to Tony Merrick who had gone to great effort to be with us, following a fall that had put him in hospital for a few days.
Dr. Geoff Richmond with Maurice McCartney - Good friends and members Jeff Churchill and George Pullford
The first of our speakers was Jeff Churchill who paid a fitting tribute to past Honorary Member Alan Harrison from Chester, which is the neck of the woods from where Jeff comes from. Jeff reminded the members of Alan's love of the countryside and in his youth playing football and cricket. On leaving school he worked for the Gas Board and subsequently formed a successful heating company himself. His wife Barbara came home one day to find the garden hedge had been removed and the flower bed done away with. Asking the question what's going on Alan's reply was this is where the pigeon loft is going. To say he was a great pigeon flyer would be an over statement but when he won the Lancashire Social Circle Wright Trophy for the first nom bird entered in the Pau race he was in seventh heaven. Jeff recalled some fond memories of himself along with George Pulford and Ted Shore with some light hearted stories many that seemed to have involved drink or trips to the bookies and Cheltenham races. As an Honorary Member his friendship and camaraderie when attending the gatherings in his wheelchair will be sadly missed.
Bill Lewis an Honorary Member from Worcester was next up, to make the introduction of the two principal guests, this was made more difficult as one of them had given back word a few days earlier, so a re-write must have been done very quickly. Bill gave some background on Alasdair Muir who had travelled all the way from Abinger Hammer near Dorking in Surrey. Alasdair who is originally from Scotland before moving to the North East for eight years before moving down to Surrey where he competes with the L&SECC with his interest being in the longer races. Alasdair can be described as one of the premier channel flyers in the South of England. He was for a time president of the L&SECC when he set a record of winning three first opens including winning it twice in one season. Alasdair started racing at the age of eight with the help of his father when he flew in the very strong Carluke Club in Lanarkshire. Alasdair has had a number of good pigeons but his Champion pigeon "Andy's Boy" who won 1st Open L&SECC in 1996 has fond memories for him.
Bill then spoke of our second guest Richard Chambers and flies as Chambers Family, with Richard being the RPRA Development Officer and has the task of not only trying to retain our present membership but recruiting new members into the sport. This is something of a new position and Richard has only been in the role a matter of months and while he has had a number of success stories there has been one or two difficulties with some clubs. A former school teacher who while in the post set up a racing loft for his pupils. Bill finished his introduction by asking all members to stand and raise their glasses in a toast to the guests.
Alasdair Muir was the first of the official speakers to take the microphone when he gave a rundown of his life that started in Cyprus as a child before moving to Scotland from where he retains his accent. With the help of his father he raced in Scotland before his work took him to County Durham in the North East. A job in the Treasury meant a further move to Surrey from where most of his success as a pigeon flyer has been. Alasdair spoke on a number of subjects from Auction Sales on the internet with prices well beyond any workingman's pocket that are doing nothing to encourage new starters. While he endorsed the ETS as a great leap forward the cost of the rings alone in comparison to the rubbers rings again was not helping new recruits when the bird of prey take a pigeon the ring goes with it. Alasdair followed his address by asking all the guests to stand and made the toast to the Lancashire Social Circle.
This was a timely part of the evening to have a short break, and with everyone's glasses filled the President Chris Knowles welcomed everyone back and announced that following the morning meeting, the offer of honorary membership was being made to Phil Allen who has for a number of years come along as a guest of Stan Dangerfield. Phil has been of great help to the Circle over a period of time when his woodworking skills have been put to the test making plinths for several of the LSC trophies. A second honorary membership was offered to Brian Garnham who again has been supporting the LSC at the Gatherings and Ladies Weekends for more years than most can remember. These positions will now give these two new members the opportunity to bring along their own guests which in turn will help keep the Circle in a very good place going forward. Chris made mention of the work David Jones had made to the Circle and welcomed him onto the Management Committee, before thanking Tony Merrick for another great Ladies Weekend in Llandudno.
John Winstanely right receiving one of his trophies from Richard Chambers - Eric Entwistle receiving his trophy from Richard Chambers - David Newsom receiving one of his trophies from Richard Chambers
See details in text below for trophy winners.
Graham McKay, Brian Walsh and Roger Sutton pictured L to R above receiving their trophy from Richard chambers
It was now time for the prize presentation and Richard Chambers along with the President presented 15 members with their framed diplomas before the 8 members who had won the 26 trophies were asked to step forward. These being Eric Entwistle who won the Dr William Anderson Trophy runner-up OB Ave, Lady Proctor Smith Silver Salver runner-up Combined Ave. Graham Mackay who was the winner of the Irish Trophy. Brian Walsh who collected the Dickinson Trophy best nom bird in all races. Roger Sutton picked up the Roy Mundy Trophy first pigeon timed in the NFC Sigogne race by an LSC member. Ray Bullen won the Briggs Trophy 1st Carentan, along with a Frank H Parsonage Award and the Hitchen Award. Gerry Clements who had a fantastic YB race winning all three events picked up the Battersby Trophy, the Barrett Trophy, the Dave Allen Trophy and the Woodhouse Trophy a Frank H Parsonage Award and a John Marsden Award. David Newson who had a great season collected the Evans Trophy 1st Fougeres Webster Bros Trophy best two bird ave 1st race, Mary Hammond Rose Bowl best ave 1st & 2nd races, Second Thoughts Trophy best ave 2nd race, Holland Meyer Trophy for bird of the year, Three Musketeers Trophy highest winning velocity, along with a Frank H Parsonage Award a John Marsden Award and the J O Shone Award. Finally a new member for this season made his presence felt by winning the Kearns Trophy longest OB race, the Todd Trophy OB ave winner, Sir William Proctor Smith Trophy Combined ave winner, Cotswold Trophy best ave 2nd & 3rd OB races. Bill Ishmael Trophy lowest winning velocity, Joe Howarth Trophy best ave last OB race and YB race, Reliance Plate best ave 1st & 3rd OB races, and the Anglo Scottish Trophy best ave on a points system, John also took home two Frank H Parsonage Awards. To finish the presentation of diplomas the Circle held a friendship race for the second time and the guest picking up the first a fifth places was Ronnie Wignall who is a guest of Gerry Clements, Ronnie won the Colin Brough Memorial Plate and his framed diploma. David Hilton following his success in last year's race was second and wins the R McLaughlin Trophy and framed diploma raced by Eric Entwistle. Scott Irving who was last year's winner was third and this pigeon was raced by Graham Mackay. Willie Lawrence was the breeder of the pigeon that was fourth raced by Ray Bullen. Les Adams another longstanding guest was sixth that was raced by Ken Cliffe. Following the presentation President Chris Knowles asked Richard Chambers to say a few words giving the gathering a view of his task of recruitment of new members and what that involved.
Frienship Race winner Ronnie Wignall (L) Scott Irvine and Les Adams all guests wearing their white carnations and collecting the "Friendship Race Diplomas".
See details in text above for Friendship Race winners.
Richard started with an apology from Ian Evans the CEO of the RPRA who was the original guest speaker who had to give back-word at short notice with family problems. Richard spoke with commitment saying how pleased he was to hold the position of Development Officer, being the third generation of pigeon fanciers who came into the game at 9 years old. Where he was brought up, many of the children in his neighbourhood got into trouble but in his and his brother Craig's case their interest was with the pigeons, and it is from this base Richard is convinced catching kids at school age can have more benefits than many might think. Richard has been asked on a number of occasions is it an impossable task he has taken on and his answer is No, its a challenge and one we all need to get involved in. He explained many in this room are like himself a second or third generation of fanciers and if we would like the next generation to be able to race pigeon we need to react now. With an ageing membership it's easy to sit back and think the sport will see me out. He was sorry one of our members Alan Bamford from Top Flight Pigeon Feed was not with us tonight as he has done more than most in the form of sponsorship for the schools, and asked all present to raise a glass and toast Alan.
As explained Richard was a school teacher and when he erected a loft at his school sponsored by the RPRA and a donation from Pigeon Chat with 11 pigeons that in their early races won a first prize, soon had all the kids interested in pigeons. The following morning there were 650 children waiting at the school gate to get involved and help with the pigeons. With children who have problems at home with parents on benefits the pigeons at school are a great distraction from daily life. Richard explained how 9 school lofts are racing and from the 79 children on the books of the RPRA this has now grown to 160. Attending shows like the Cheshire Show has again proved a great attraction for recruiting with 20 children enrolled in two days. It's not only children but adults who have retiried early that are in some cases looking for a hobby. These events have not all gone this easy and while attending the Cornish Show had a number of members of the public who were interested in signing up, when Richard contacted the Region Secretary asking could he take their entry fees and email the names address embolic then forward the fees on to him later, the Region Secretary said no, he would have to fill in the membership forms and put them in the post along with the fees. This is from a Region that is struggling for membership more than any other, so as can be seen in some cases we don't help ourselves. Another case occurred in Darlington when a club would not let a school join as they were as they put it in a dead zone outside any club radius so were unable to race. The trend of new recruits into the RPRA is growing and Richard is signing 4 or 5 new members each week, but this is a fraction of the members who are leaving the sport. Richard has been working on publicity for the sport and was more than pleased when Sky News ran a video that had over 26,000 views. Another great story was while in France with a group of Children looking into the D Day Landings and old lady came up and thanked him for the help the pigeons did in the War. Richard finished by thanking the Circle for the invite and for giving him the opportunity to address the function and left us with one thought. We must change the way we think if the sport is to survive, Dig in deep and help change the way other fanciers think, Ian Evens is working hard in an effort to drive this change and all fanciers should help him in the quest.
Peter Latham made the reply on behalf of the members and got to the point realising the evening was going on a little longer than normal with the two great speakers we had. Peter brought out several points made by both our principal speakers who had both given the Circle members and their guests something to think about. It was now the time for John Winstanley to make the reply on behalf of the prize-winners. John explained he had been coming as a guest of past president Bob Smith for 5 year or so before becoming a member this year. He was overwhelmed by the friendship he had experienced at these gatherings, his success this season had been outstanding and from the trophies he had won the Bill Ishmael trophy was the one he was most pleased to have won being as he was only yards away from Bill's farm and remembers him as a true friend. He spoke of his time at Wigan Athletic FC over a 30 year period and 20 years as a director, and finished by thanking a guest of his Geoff Sandland, without whose help, this season may not have happened.
Chris Knowles with Honarary member Brian Smith who ensures the trophy presentation and all involved with it, runs to plan - Phil Allen left, Brian Garnham right, two proud new Honarary Members, and DL(Dave) Jones who has joined the LSC management committee.
See Text for details.
Click the link below for more pics. from the evening.
(Photos by Dave Jones)
Chris Knowles made reference to some great performances by Circle members in the National races this season, before saying thank you to David Newson for providing the Flowers, Brian Smith for getting the trophies engraved and setting them up for the presentation along with Garry Cockshott. All who helped with the room a little earlier in the day and Keith Iddon and Dianne Bonney for their continued support with the transport of the pigeons. Special thanks went out to the Secretary in putting the weekend together, bringing the evening to a close around 11 00pm that gave all a chance to meet with up with guest old and new.
Brian Dearn
Tel. 01254 772515.
