TERRI

Ian I am so pleased to see what response you have received with your enterprise, again I salute you, I have copied and pasted some bits of posts I wrote early January, they seem very appropriate here on your thread as many others, we both see the benefit of school participation and involvement. Why doesn’t someone invent a new concept, start a pigeon club one in each county, a secure, well run pigeon club, where instead of each individuals owning their own plot, every person contributes to the whole. As already identified, young people, particularly ones who have no pigeon background, find it so difficult to get started, lack of experience, stigma, finance, support etc etc. In this way young people can enjoy the sport, participation, socialization, satisfaction, embrace its rewards etc etc, learn the skills, have the support, and ultimately promote the sport in the way we all would like to see. I feel the best way to communicate with the young is via a computer, maybe an imaginative computer game, backed up by a block buster film, where the pigeon saves the day would be a good starting point. It would be no use, basing the story around how the pigeon saved Granddad in the war though-----kids wouldn't relate to that. but they would relate to when the entire NETWORK and COMMUNICATION SYSTEM went down, and the only way it could be rectified, was by getting an important message through to someone hundreds of miles away, which was impossible because of the conjunction on the roads with the chaos caused by the faulty traffic light system------------yes the smart pigeon, would save the day once again. In the case of the teenager upwards, they would relate to Granddad showing young Jimmy how to look after and race his birds and explaining to his grandson how he was saved by a pigeon during the war, and what better platform could there be than those addictive soaps, East enders, Corrie, Emmer dale etc etc. When I was at School we learnt to read, with the compulsory material provided-------Janet and John books-------volumes of them. Did Janet and John grow up with a Granddad who kept pigeons,------I think not. They must be in their 40's by now, maybe someone could get them interested,----------anything is possible Good look Ian, I shall follow your progress. TERRI

Hi again Gemma, richard and all members, Thankyou richard and gemma for you PM and everything you have done for us, we had no prior expectations so you can imagine how touching and emotional this experience has been. I am posting this letter I have emailed to our local magazine editor and the same info has been emailed to those news papers that follow and cover our story. I hope its content shows how the various pigeon websites take collective responsibility when people experience difficulties, and rather than being in competition with each other at times like this, join forces and support its members in such a way, that it should be acknowledged, commended and celebrated by all. I wonder what could be achieved in the long term with a concerted joined force, addressing the fundamental issues and necessities we debate quite often on all such sites.I mention two web sites in particulary that have given help, but many were interested and showed their concern, too many to keep in touch, but I thank them all for their concern Hi Sheila, I rang you recently to ask if you would cover "our story" in your magazine next month and said I would send you all the relevant details, thank you for your interest and concern. On Christmas Eve 2008, in the early hours of the morning four fires were set alight on the Castle Farm Allotment plots in Conisbrough. We received a telephone call saying ours and three other pigeon lofts were ablaze with approx 300 pigeons trapped inside. We were devastated, my husband Peter and some of the others had flown pigeons for 40 yrs, it is a love /passion /commitment that only a pigeon man/woman can relate to. We and others arrived to discover the lofts were already burnt to the ground and our poor defenceless birds had been cremated. the fire brigade could do nothing but attempt to control and then distinguish the raging fires Allotment Sites have experienced many such attacks recently by the nocturnal individuals, who prowl our streets and appeared to go undetected by the Police and the general public at large, and to date no one has been arrested for this heinous crime. After the initial shock and the entirety of the situation was apparent, I posted a letter on various pigeon websites, asking for advice of how to come to terms with such an incident, moved on and find the strength to rebuild what you had lost under such tragic circumstances. The response from two Sites in particular namely, THE PIGEON CHAT website and PIGEONBASICS.com was overwhelming and these people who offered us their unconditional support will, stay in our hearts and minds forever. The PIGEON CHAT website, offered advice, concern and condolences and then told us they were going to start a fund for us by organizing an auction, members donated birds and then these birds were later bided for by the same members. The Fund raised £10.000 in approx three weeks, such was the empathy and generosity amongst the fanciers. This money has now been used to buy us all a new top quality loft, 30ft by 8ft, which has been made and erected for us by Parkhall lofts, each of us then received a check for £200 to help with the costs of materials needed to furnish the insides. Consequently because of THE FIRE FUND success it was decided that this newly established fund would become a permanent venture, to help others, who God forbid, may find themselves in a similar situation, at some time in the future. Graham and Pat Burton, the Conisbrough and Denaby Homing Society Secretary also put a post on THE PIGEON CHAT website asking if anyone could help and then referred the donations to the sites FIRE FUND, their help will always be cherished and we would personally like to them Publicly for this. Thank You so much Graham and Pat. My sister also spent many weeks responding to the overwhelming response, and was amazed, in fact reduced to tears, when the offers of help began to arrive, she was, as I acutely aware, these offers were from total strangers which made it all the more poignant The PIGEONBASICS.COM website, although aware of the help from the other Site and because of the enormity of our loss, gave the same emotional and unconditional support and then persuaded us to apply directly to their already established FUND for help. the allocation of money from this fund was not guaranteed, but judgement was based on an individual basis and allocated accordingly. We have just this week, each received a substantial check to help with the costs of re establishing ourselves in the pigeon community, and a letter with their regards saying, how shocked they were, on viewing my pictures, to see the amount of devastation they depicted. I cannot put into words just how much this support has helped us cope through this difficult time and how proud I am of the members for such an achievement. I speak not only from a personal view point, but refer to the many charities around the world, these very same pigeon men and women, donate so much of their time, efforts and money too, regardless of publicity or acknowledgment as is the case in some instances. The only expectation I had held on my first contact to these sites, was to receive some comforting, emotional support and advice from anyone who had experienced such as us. To find the words to express exactly how we feel of the response, support and kindness offered is impossible, but our thanks, appreciation and gratitude comes in abundance and is offered directly to these very special, unique people of the Pigeon Brotherhood. We had everything and then had nothing, many people who had nothing gave us their everything, this we shall never forget and they will stay in our hearts and mind forever! The GPO (General Post office) also heard of our story and offered their help by way of a community project, initially they intended to help clear the remains from the fire, but the allotment holder themselves had already to their credit, collectively helped to clear this away. After discussion with the Allotment committee, it was decided that the two days allocation of GPO workers, would be spent, repairing the access routes and helping the elderly members to bring their gardens back up to standards, that could easily be maintained. The committee are also applying for grants to help ensure the long term future of the allotments and plans to try and attract more families to it and hope to capture the local schools etc attention and involvement in the near future.Any constructive suggestions or advise is welcome. At present I am in consultation with my local councillor and neighbourhood committee, regarding the security issue of allotments and the Police are actively helping these talks. I have asked if some old lights can be replaced so we can install we can install adequate CCTV equipment and burglar alarms to ensure, should the nocturnal individual /or 's decide to revisit, he/she/or they, would at last be arrested, prosecuted and hopefully punished accordingly. The local and regional news papers have done a marvelous job of covering "our story" not once, but numerous times, in particular I would like to thank the South Yorkshire times, Free Press, the Doncaster and Sheffield Star for their contribution and concern. Some friends of ours Colin and Yvonne Rufus have arranged to do a STARS IN THEIR EYES concert the 4 April to help with fund raising, it was arranged initially for 14 Feb but had to be rescheduled because of its popularity and demand, we thank all involved for this. The reason I ask you to cover our story, is to not only celebrate and honour what has been achieved in such a relatively short time, by so many. It is to Promote and raise awareness of our Sport, highlight the difficulties, share its achievements, create, attract and inspire new recruits to adopt / participate in this rewarding Sport and Lifestyle. To show how people come together when faced with adversity, and how each individual person inspires the other. Through events we have witnessed both end of the spectrum, extreme cruelty and unimaginable kindness, I personally have not only improved my computer skills, I have learnt so much from this experience and the one thing that is abundantly clear is, there are more good people out there than bad, philosophically speaking I feel we have gained much more than we have lost and I would like to thank everyone who were involved. My intention now is to do something for those members by raising awareness for our Sport/fancy and highlighting the moral commitments within The brotherhood itself. This is my original letter and that of Graham and Pat Burton. Conisbrough Allotment Fire Christmas Eve by TERRI on Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:17 pm Hello members, this is the wife of Peter Thompson who appeared on Calendar News tonight speaking of how devastated he and other members of The Conisbrough Homing Society feel after their pigeon lofts were deliberately burnt to the ground, inclusive of approximately 300 birds and two canaries in total, on Christmas Eve. I am sure you have already read the related letter submitted recently by Graham and Pat Burton. Graham being the president and Pat the secretary of the Denaby HS and who both know each individual member personally and can empathize with our loss. My husband and his twin brother Eric have flown pigeons since the age of 13 yrs old and fly as Thompson Brothers. They have won many races and have many accreditation's to their name such as, when they were awarded First Prize in the Yorkshire Federation Amalgamation Race with one of their prize birds. Incidentally this bird was later stolen in the same year, we suspect by the same person, who set the lofts alight Christmas eve. As the wife of a pigeon man it has not always been easy to support my husband in the pursuit of his hobby and as a family we have made many sacrifices. However, even in the early days I was wise enough to recognise that a true pigeon man loves, lives, and breathes pigeons, so consequently I have encouraged and supported my husband throughout. My husband and his brother have not only lost their lofts, birds and material possessions, they have also lost treasured symbolic items such as our 22 year old sons first pair of wellies, bought when a child . An antique mirror given to him and his brother, by his now, deceased Grandmother. A workmate bought for him by our daughter, when she first qualified as a nurse and many drawings that were done throughout our children’s school years. I hope to post the beautiful photographs taken last summer of my husbands and his brothers allotment, some taken in the aftermath of the fire and although gruesome and extremely difficult at the time for me to photograph, some photos of those poor defenceless birds that perished in the fires of that night. This callus incomprehensible act has not only robbed my husband and others of 40 years of their life, it has taken their heart and sole. I have no doubt many of you members will have experienced similar situations and I would appreciate any good advice on how you came to terms with it and found the strength to start again. I shall keep you posted on any developments TERRI loft arson by graham burton on Fri Dec 26, 2008 4:28 pm early morning on christmas eve our local mindless scum of an arsonist stuck again, this time burning down three lofts on the castle farm allotments gardens lane conisbrough completely destroying the lofts of dave samson, Shaun cartwright & peter & eric thompson who have all got nothing left at all, carl davis & young daughters who are actively involved with the pigeons had their loft fire damaged and lost some of their birds, thompson twins have flown on these gardens for nearly fifty years, a lifetimes work destroyed, pete hobson,s lock had been bolt cropped as it would seem that his loft was the next to be targeted, in the last 18 months seven lofts have been burnt out, some more than once plus recently reg Benton who has been top prize winner in denaby h.s for many years had someone break into his lofts and strip his RACE TEAM of their flight feathers, how long can this go on, the police don,t seem to be able to do anything about it, if you watch calendar on the 27th DEC you will be able to see the devastation for yourselves, we are hoping to set up a fund for these ordinary working class lads who will struggle to get back up and running again, we are also going to approach south Yorkshire region and the r.p.r.a,we would be grateful of any help in whatever shape or form from anyone, any where, the way we see it if they are allowed to be forced out of the sport because of these purely evil deeds then the perpetrator will have won, please if you can, help us not to let this happen Pat & Graham Burton Shelia I will send you a link to the , "Before and after " photo's and one of the more recent, those of the new loft, if you need anymore info, pleased contact me via email. TERRi Hi again members, I am posting this letter I have emailed to our local magazine editor and the same info has been emailed to those news papers that follow and cover our story. I hope its content shows how the various pigeon websites take collective responsibility when people experience difficulties, and rather than being in competition with each other at times like this, join forces and support its members in such a way, that it should be acknowledged, commended and celebrated by all. I wonder what could be achieved in the long term with a concerted joined force, addressing the fundamental issues and necessities we debate quite often on all such sites. I mention two web sites in particularly that have given help, but many were interested and showed their concern, too many to keep in touch, but I thank them all for their concern

Managed four hours sleep last night off to work nowto finish the last of my three 12hr shifts, please click on my link, this is not our new loft, but that of Shaun Cartwright and Malc Davis, one of the other victims, I shall tell you more later. thank you once more, TERRI http://photobucket.com/TERRI_2009

Hi Just Ask Me, thank you for your help, contribution and sentiments, all are appreciated more than words can convey. Paddymack the same sentiments to you also, yes you are so right, as with all you members, Richard and Gemma deserve all the credit, recognition and publicity that comes from what has been achieved so far, and this has come in abundance, as you will hear tomorrow. I pm'ed them both immediately to thank them personally when the check arrived. As when I posted Richard the original information so too will I post my heartfelt sentiments and outcomes of just how much has been achieved from kind, sympathetic, committed people such as Richard, Gemma, yourself and others, and will once again send the information that can be used in any way to promote our sport or celebrate the entirety of how much pigeon men/women do for their own and many, many others that often goes unrecognised by many in the general public as a whole. In my own way I have tried to bring such occurences to their attention by way of news paper coverage or such, particularly with what happened in our case and the out come, this alone should be celerbrated and acknowledged and pigeonmen/ and women have so much to be proud of, Once again I thankyou all and shall get back to you tomorrow with full details. RICHARD AND GEMMA THANKYOU FOR YOUR HELP ADVICE, CONCERN AND CONTRIBUTION, YOU AND ALL YOUR MEMBERS WILL FOREVER BE IN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS. TERRI

Hi Members, each and everyone of you, this is the wife of Peter Thompson, who told you how our lofts and three others on the same plot,were burnt to the ground Christmas Eve, inclusive of hundreds of birds in a cruel, vicious arson attack. You immediately offered your help, advise and assist, for this we are eternally grateful, and cannot put into words just how much this has meant to us and helped us through a difficult time. We have just received a check from your fund to help us rebuild our lofts and I just want to say THANKYOU to everyone of you, you will stay in our hearts and minds forever. I have so much to tell you. but it has been a difficult time also for numerous reasons. On Monday when I have finished my 12hr shifts I shall try and tell you all about what has been happening, tonight I just want to say THANKYOU to you all. TERRI

Hi Ian, I have looked all over for this thread, I remembered reading it sometime since, and being very impressed with the idea, but didn't reply as I was quite busy. I just want to say I salute you and wish you all the success in the world with your enterprise. I will follow your progress with interest. As you are aware at the moment we are not in a position to offer any birds as yet, but if we can help in any other way, you only have to ask. TERRI

What a brilliant thought, no doubt you have read my post and post from my sister angel, we are quoted as saying, we feel we need to raise public awareness of the brotherhood of pigeon men around the world and the problems they are experiencing. So why not celebrate and share the pleasures of being part of that brotherhood, at an age where a child is open to pursuasion and willing to learn the skills and values associated with homing, breeding and racing pigeons and skill that will help them in later life. I once worked at a school with children who had Autism, one of the obvious pleasures in their daily routine was when it was their turn to visit the stables or one of the workers pigeon lofts situated near to the school, you could see they loved every minuite of this precious time, interacting with our feathered or furred friends- go for it and start with the children as young as possible, I feel sure you will needed to have a police check, but that shouldn't be a problem, think you can do it on line. Let me know what you decide and how you go on. TERRI

Hello all members and happy new year,this is the wife of Peter Thompson one of the brothers who up untill Christmas Eve used to fly under the name of THOMPSON BROTHERS. I am new to this site but I know my sister Angel has told you of what has happened and I want to thank you all so much for your interest coments and concerns and just introduce myself.TERRI HI