Walter swanston

Of course. How could I not !

It really is a problem George, how to persuade thoughtful and helpful fanciers to become involved in the administration of pigeon organisations.Sometimes in the pigeon world the expression which includes the words two short planks comes to mind..Of course this does not apply to the imaginative and erudite contributors to Pigeons Basic.

Yes I get where you are coming from Paul, unfortunately there is no easy answer here you cannae just dragoon guys into these posts.

Thank you Steven

I attended the AGM of the Solway Federation this afternoon and against my protests I was persuaded to accept the position of Vice President.I felt that after having served seven years as President I had done enough for the pigeon fancy in the Solway.However despite my reluctance I will do the best I can for my fellow members.What I have problems with is the fact that I have never claimed to be other than an old guy who likes racing pigeons ,I have no big wins to my credit.I have always wondered why so many experienced and talented fanciers will run a mile rather than accept positions of reppnsibilty.

He looks awright to me,glasses,trim beard.obviously the intellectual type of fancier whom we are all accustomed to on Basics.

Great post Mr Wright ,down here in Moffat I have got in many many strayed pigeons over the last twenty years.Without exception I always try to unite these birds with their owners and have travelled many miles to liberate birds closer to their home lofts. However I have to relate that not every fancier takes the same responsible attitude that you do and several times recently I have felt that I am releasing a pigeon to an uncertain fate and I got to tell you it p***** me right off.,

The point I was somewhat laboriously trying to make is that all the effort presently being made by the RPRA in encouraging their members to contact their individual MPs, although laudable is going nowhere..I regret being so negative about this matter but unless there is a major shift in public opinion I fear the legal route for the control of raptors is closed to pigeon fanciers.

It is reported on the BBC news today that Scottish Natural Heritage has been successful in removing a general licence granted to two estates one I the Borders and one in Stirlingshire to control the depredations of raptors..If this can be done with apparent impunity it is apparent that pigeon fanciers have no chance in acquiring such licenses.The situation in Scotland is that the control or otherwise is reserved to the Scottish, I know this because I have addressed a committee of of the Parliament on this matter.The situation in England appears to be that fanciers are being encouraged to approach their local MPs in the Westminster Parliament hoping for a change in the laws as they apply to England so that licenses to control birds of prey can be granted to individual fanciers.I am sorry to say this but it is fantasy and going nowhere.p

The only social media site I am on is Pigeons Basic.My younger relatives are very contemptuous of the fact that I am not on Facebook, Twitter etc.I tried to join Facebook once and somehow or other they added e as a supporter of Celtic Football Club. Took me years to recover from the shock!!

Watch yourself Pete they do not like this sort of thing here, confine yourself to non controversial remarks on racing pigeons.I speak from experience.

Come on Scotland Wales and Ireland

On the stone that remains Carved next to his name His epitaph plain He was only a pawn in their game Bob Dylan

If you are elected to lead a pigeon federation one of the most important things is to develop skin likes a rhinoceros.

I have no problem in believing that

My own Federation usually in the region of 50%, my club 100% , the SHU AGM can only be described as lamentable.I might mention that I was once informed by a very respected fancier that taking senior office was like a condemned man walking into the gas chamber.

This matter has always interested me,maybe because I am better at pigeon politics than pigeon racing, sad to say. However I have to make one point I have wondered why talented and successful fanciers refuse office in federations when they would be able to make a significant contribution Fanciers have absolutely no need to be intimidated by loudmouths and bullies at meetings

I know of several opinionated and intelligent fanciers who never turn up at Federation AGMs , I have never even able to understand why.I have heard all the arguments before in favour of a system of postal votes,but such a system is open to abuse and difficult to implement.I am sorry to disagree but I believe that all fanciers should make the effort whenever possible to attend the AGM and to be prepared to defend or oppose the motions.I have been at too many meetings where when asked to give opinions or fill vacant positions pigeon fanciers find it necessary to make a close examination of the floor near their boots.

Unikon will service systems and replace batteries and charge the fancier quite highly.The other guy will do the same job more cheaply, it is not strictly accurate to say that the SHU recommend the independent guy as there is a proviso that the fancier must be aware that if anything should subsequently go wrong Unikondo not want to know.

Congratulations a dwell done to everyone in Ecclefechan which is an Exceptionally well run and friendly pigeon club

Thank you for your reply Roland, I know this is supposed to be a pigeon site and I do not want to attract the attention of the site invigilators but you are correct in what you saw I have spent my life making an amateurish study of the histories of the countries in these islands (not too strong on Wales).I have always despaired of the anti English views of some of me fellow countrymen.I have two English nephews who are confused in their loyalties but are encouraged by me to stand up for England their birth country.

Yes you are absolutely correct Roland in everything you say I suppose it's just a natural reaction to a life time (82 years) of being patronised.

Yeah the supposedly neutral commentators on the telly kept enthusiastically telling us that!!

Scotland two matches two wins,England in danger of leaving early.