Walter swanston

In Lockerbie we have 11 lofts and 15 members.I would estimate the average of the members to be around 55.I have thought for some time that it would not be a bad idea to try and attract some of the newly retired guys with time on their hands into the pigeon racing scene.Some of these persons are reasonably affluent with fairly reasonable occupational pensions and many will have time hanging heavily on their hands.

You make some excellent points Roland,I personally never get too involved in the technicalities of pigeon racing as I am reluctant to display my naivety.however I have some small expertise in the administration of pigeon organisations painfully gained I might add.On reflection Dickens and Scott and many others wrote under sobriquets so maybe you make a valid point.

Always impressed by your posts Roland,but not so sure about this one.I believe that you should be upfront with your name when you state an opinion but as I have said I have been down this road before and I know it is a minority opinion but none the worse for that.

Newsletters are defineltly part of the answer to all this.The best way to do it is to publish regular newsletters on the organisations web site

I suggested some years ago that all members should use their proper name on this site.The response blew my suggestion out the water

Fast by an ingle bleeding finely Wi'reaming swats that drank divinely And at his elbow Souter Johnnie His ancient trusty drouthy cronie Tam lo'ed him like very brother They had been fu' for weeks the hither.

Why is everyone so downbeat,pigeon fancying and racing is the most fascinating and all enveloping activity I have ever been involved in during my long and not uneventful life.As long as there are thouroubred pigeons to be kept men and women will continue to keep, observe and breed these fine birds.I have no doubt at all that pigeon racing will survive maybe not in its present form but the sport will continue to attract mankind in all its disparate character. Sorry of the above seems a bit highfalutin but the future ain't all gloomy

I think they might be bronze

OK here is where I get slagged off by the experts.After about 5 years of doing things the proper way with the very best of advice on pairing up I.e. Cocks locked in boxes ,fronts securely fitted,hens introduced after great preparation etc.etc.I have reverted to the way which was most successful for me in the past pigeons chose their own mates and build nests all over the place, corridors, corners even one or two in nest boxes absolutely haphazard.I know this is frowned upon by serious fanciers but the doos seem happy and so am I."

They are a sort of yellowish gold or maybe goldfish yellow

I tried online with the Racing Pigeon for a time could not get used to it at all and went back to the paper version

Difficulty solved Andy,the SHU sent out forms to at least two club secretaries in the Solway which should have gone to Fed secretaries only.

No,not that one Andy, that is the one I have worked with for the last 20 years.

Yeah, well the form I have shows Ring Nos. (ok with that) then club name and then sec. Name and phone number no headins for loft name or details etc.

Has anyone seen the ring allocation sheets that the SHU have put out this year.I have had several phone calls over this,they are a departure from previous years,no one seems to be clear on how to complete them I am going to phone Linda in the morning, in the meantime does anyone have a clue or two

Great article,excellent reading

Yeah well remember folks we were feart in 2014 but we will no be feart again

May I take this opportunity to wish all pigeons basic members a happy new year and all the best for the 2015 racing season

May I wish everyone on Pigeons Basics a very happy Christmas and a prosperous and successful new year.

All I can think of is that they seem to need two club officials plus one member and the number of that members clock.I think I may have cut corners by putting myself in as the the third member

To all club secretaries.I got the paperwork in this morning from Unikon for the 2015 season,may I take this opportunity to advise all secretaries of clubs using Unikon to be careful in completing the club form as last year I did not fill it in to their satisfaction and they cut me off from the system in the middle of the third old bird race.