Pompey Mick

On Saturday the Milton Homing Society held its Prize Presentation at Club Headquarters, The 'Old House at Home' Portsmouth. This was the first time we had held it in the Pub, our Landlady & President , Linda closed the Bar to the Public to give us the full use of it and produced a lovely hot & cold Buffet which went down a treat. All proceeds from the Raffle were given to Linda for her locally run Charity Fund, a total of £185.00 which was gratefully accepted. The night was a great success for everyone concerned and it looks like it will be repeated next year. Brian Wall of Gem Supplements presented the prizes as well as generously donating some of his products for the raffle. The photo is the trophies on display.

The 1984 loft was a foot off the ground and had two floor grilles for added ventilation. We were 'Old Hand' fans. The left-hand half of the loft was utilised when I had to hurriedly transfer the birds to my address when Dad died. We had just had that years crop of YBs out for the first time so time was of the essence.

In 1965 we were relocated due to Council redevelopment (Slum Clearance) to a house with a 60ft garden with open space around, Heaven. It didn't matter that the council tip was only 50yds away. It got filled in and grassed over eventually, the loft was to remain here until 1984 when the untimely death of my Dad caused the birds to be moved to my present address.

I was looking through some photos and thought it would be a good idea for members to post any photos of their first loft. Here's a couple of photos of my first racing loft built 1962 in the back yard on top of a double ,brick-built ,air-raid shelter half of which was in my Aunt Jessie's back yard. It backed onto a coal merchants yard a proper inner-city set up. I was a fifteen yr old urchin in those days.

I see that there is only one race programme been submitted to the NFC AGM (with a North Road backup) for voting on. What happens if this gets defeated, does the Committee pick the Race Programme or does it revert to the Status Quo (2006 planned race points.)

There is a K&J Zerafa racing in my Club, the Milton H.S. Portsmouth. There is more info in the Milton H.S. Club site on pigeonbasics and a photo of his loft is in the Members photos section, Small City Backgarden lofts. If you need to confirm that this is the fancier in question send me a PM with more info and I will pass it on to Kevin & John.

I buy Human consumption quality peanuts and I feed them 50% pigeons and 50% me, rising to 75% me on the longer races.

They are extremely keen fanciers and they are a credit to our Club, they are also encouraging two young Grandchildren in the Sport, Georgie Tribble and Tony Male, who's loft I shall be photographing next week for inclusion on this Thread.

Your wish is my command Craig, here's a photo of Chris & Danny Willett (Bros) loft setup in Southsea, Portsmouth What your looking at is the bottom of the small garden it is the full width, a very tight location which backs onto the White House Public House (Very handy)

Just listened to Peter Bryant on my local Radio station , Radio Solent, and he gave a good, accurate, responsible account on how Avian Flu is affecting our sport. Any other members heard him on their local radio station? At least he seems to be doing a bit of a P.R. job, getting our views across.

Easy, My name's Mick and I'm a Portsmouth supporter. PLAY UP POMPEY

Whilst fully agreeing with Peter Bryant on his reasoning behind the propsed restructuring of RPRA fees I feel that the RPRA should look at their sums. Dont forget that RPRA fees are levied per RPRA member i.e. partnerships will pay £10.00 per partner. Knowing what some fanciers are like I think we will see a big reduction in family and historical partnerships such as Mr & Mrs and Sons or Daughters no longer showing an interest in the sport. If this happens then the expected rise in revenue will not materialise. Perhaps a further restructuring could be envisaged such as paying a realistic fee through the RPRA code No. with a surcharge for each partners if applicable.

I am hoping that even if refuse to drop the Isolation rule they might modify it so it doesn't come into force until we are racing more than 200ml over French territory say around the Saintes distance, then it wouldn't be too much of a problem. But we need to know.

We have just been informed by our Committee that we have to submit two programmes for consideration on the Fed meeting on Nov 12th. One South & one North. As a South Road Federation we normally fly all our Old Bird races from France so the Avian Flu restrictions really hit us harder than most. I can't see how we can formulate a Channel programme without some indication from DEFRA on the level of restriction they are going to place on us next year. What do we do if they only allow Channel racing in June & July again, do we race OBs to the 31st July to get the benefit of as many Channel races as possible and where do we race prior to Channel racing starting? If the 7 day isolation rule remains in force this will be a real killer, who wants to race from a 100ml Channel race and then have to stop the birds for two weeks from any racing. A solution to the 7 day rule could be a Channel race on the Saturday followed by an Inland race on the Sunday and back to the Channel the following Saturday and so on. At least we can keep our birds going with this scenario. There are so many probabilities to set a fixed South Road programme is near on impossible, what we need are contingency plans at this stage and not commit to anything permanent until the last moment.

How do you darken to 100% Mike, do you make sure they are all perched up or have you a dimmer light?

I intend to try the Darkness System next season and I would like to know if the birds need access to water whilst they are in darkness. When I darken my loft I shall be blocking off the sputnik trap which holds my external drinker. Will I need to install an internal fountain during this period.

I am sorry to say that if it is left to most convoyers discretion it will ALWAYS be better in the morning. It is a fact that early morning libs have become a way of life since the advent of road transport. In my early years, the Solent Fed liberated for the birds to arrive at approx no earlier than 14.00 hrs, this seemed to work perfectly well, I can't remember vast numbers of holdovers and it gave fanciers that work Saturdays (and there are some) time to get home, see to the birds and have a bit of lunch before the birds arrive home. Early libs have the drawback that when the birds are delayed at a short distance racepoint due to inclement weather you are tied to the loft in case you miss the birds. Also, I feel the earlier the lib the more chance you have of losing YBs because they have anything up to 16 hrs flying on the day and you don't see any of them on the loft the next day.

How could I forget my '94 Hartog cock, still going strong, who bred my 1997 NFC Saintes section winner. He'd never forgive me if he knew.

I wouldn't say a had a breed of pigeons, more like a blend, started in 1962 with a ragbag army of 8 pair of birds, added a pinch of Kirkpatricks in '65 from Johnston of Larne, given a pair by my Uncle, the late Jack Inch of Portsmouth, added some McLaren Southwells from my pal Jimmy Shepherd then I acquired some Alf Bakers including a ten year old cock called 'The Kelly Cock' who bred some lovely birds, followed this with a Van Bruane cock from Jimmy Shepherd again.1984 purchased a yearing Cattrysse Cock and yearling Cattrysse hen from The Natural Breeding Station and in 2000 bought some Roland Jannsen/Seger White Bandits and I have recently got some De Klaks to blend with these White Grizzles. I also have had the odd pigeon from other strains over the years Fauconnier, De Baere, Honeysuckle Jannsen spring to mind. I was checking through my records recently. going down memory lane, and I managed to trace the bloodlines of one of my 2006 Y.B's right back to my first birds in 1962, it was nice to know I still had something of those early birds in my loft even though they weren't the greatest.

Same as a lot of you lads, it's an inherited trait. My Dad and his brothers used to race in the late 40's, early 50's. Dad finished with the birds for about 15yrs but as soon as I was big enough to go to the Club I was 'encouraged' to keep pigeonsi n the early 60's and I've had them ever since.

The advert in last weeks BHW states it is on Sun Oct 22nd, viewing 11.30 Sale 1.00pm at Shotton Comrades Club Friar St, Shotton Coll. Nr Peterlee, Durham

An excellent set-up Greengrass, what difference do you notice between the pent roof and the tiled one? By way I'm just sending for the 2006 SNFC DVD.

Posted Thursday morning,but I don't get to read it till I get home from work that evening.

I've just recently informed my local AHDO that my club will be holding a series of shows giving dates, venue, approx No of birds and Show organiser's details all under the remiit of the General Permit currently in force. They acknowledged my Email and sent me a pile of Bio-security literature to distribute at the show When you attend a Show/Sale the only thing you should see, to comply with the permit, is Bio-security information on display. All other aspects of the permit are behind the scenes so to speak. Disinfecting & documentation being the main criteria.

Does lever 5 control control the take-up spool, releasing the lever enables the paper containg the timing strikes to be removed from the take-up spool which is on a ratchet normally.