Roland

Tealeaf

Nor Mine ................

Thanks to the Alberta classic for reminding us! 24 September 2010 Last updated at 15:58 ET Share this page Facebook / Twitter Share Email Print Wartime hero pigeon Paddy honoured with fly-past Paddy was born and raised in Carnlough One of Northern Ireland's smallest World War II heroes has been honoured. Paddy, a messenger pigeon who served with the RAF during the Normandy operations in June 1944, was remembered in his home town of Larne on Friday. PDSA, Britain's biggest veterinary charity, awarded Paddy the Dickin Medal, dubbed the animals' "Victoria Cross", 65 years ago this month. He received it for being the first pigeon to reach England with a coded message from the battle-front beaches of D-Day. The brave bird brought back vital information about the Allies' progress, flying 230 miles in four hours 50 minutes - the fastest time of any of the messenger pigeons involved in the mission with an average speed of 56mph. PDSA spokesman James Puxty said: "Paddy's contribution to the D-Day operations was a credit to the thousands of messenger pigeons donated by the racing pigeon fraternity for service during World War II. "He was one of 32 brave, feathered heroes that received the PDSA Dickin Medal for their life-saving flights during the war, and the only recipient from Northern Ireland." Local hero Paddy was born and raised in Carnlough and joined thousands of other racing birds who were trained and drafted to RAF Hurn in Hampshire for military service. Impressing military brass with his flying in the Air-Sea rescue units he was seconded to the United States First Army for undercover missions during the Normandy Landings. In the face of poor weather conditions and the threat of German falcons, deployed to intercept Paddy and his comrades, he delivered his message to his home loft at RAF Hurn. After the war Paddy returned to Carnlough and lived out his days with his owner Captain Andrew Hughes, until his death in 1954. A memorial to the winged hero was erected in Carnlough harbour. The Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 A feathered fly-past of pigeons formed part of the Paddy Memorial Day event held at Larne Museum and Arts Centre. Larne Borough Council and the town's historical society were joined by guests from PDSA and the owner of Paddy's PDSA Dickin Medal, former Irish Army officer Kevin Spring. Younger guests were entertained by Gail Seekamp, the children's author, who read from her book "Paddy the Pigeon". The Dickin Medal was introduced in 1943 by Maria Dickin, PDSA's founder. She wanted to recognise the gallantry and devotion to duty of animals serving with the Armed Forces and Civil Defence units during WWII.

Cold & Wet

Phew...!!! Brave man that!

Earth from above http://justpaste.it/3ky

Pigeons kept like this…………. http://88.198.15.238/files/justpaste/image28.jpg

A Million Needed

North Wet

Sticky

Ditto.... have to say these last imports I have viewed a mite differently though, first time ever!

Not with Sapper

Banned here

chewy

No flipping Chance

Wine

Just Wet!

Doesn't matter a jot whether they were here before or - Though they obviously were- The goverment ruling is once here their youngsters are then legally classed as 'Native Birds' and as such are entitled to the full protection of the law! Now no one can prove that they were - or weren't bred within our boundries.... Likewise any bird. However it is in the interests of the RSPB to try and ensure none are bred here.... Why a 1000 released woiuld mean a flipping good chance of suceeding lol.

Thirsty?

Buddy Holly!

Your Spare Pocket! (You never carry any money in them lol)

Now I’d urge you all to email Edd Milliband and your MP'S! Why!!!? To tell him / them there is a great sorrow at the demise of the Country hedgerows. Concerns of the plights of our feathered friends at well over 18,000,000 die to feed Sparrow hawks alone! Nearly as many again are losing their’ lives to the B.O.P. such as the Peregrine and co. etc. Figures that no matter how spiced up are far too high a price to pay. Paying to see the demise of such lovely enjoyment in our back gardens and hedgerows! Explain that country ALL life to valued via most of the general public! That it is a cost that our countryside needlessly pays to this RSPB moneymaking machine and many are quite rightly are taking a stand. Indeed many more are, and no doubt will each day in order to help and preserve. So this must be a vote winner in a much sensible restriction of the B.O.P. to be curtailed in order that ALL birds of ALL species have the right to live, and what’s more, us and our children, their’ children’s children will be able to see the wonders in birds life’s for real and not just in old films newsreels of the archives. And further with a little forethought will soon see what a good ‘Vote catcher’ this will indeed turn out to be. Another wagon to unite the masses of working and middle classes.

Sorry to say – brag – But I did tell all and sundry to get a few quiddies on ED Milliband a few weeks back at 3 – 1 for the Labour party Leadership. Yes the price was even longer for those that asked for better odds. Was as I quoted as ‘Near as a Certainty’ that there has ever been. Now I’d urge you all to email him and tell him there is a great sorrow at the demise of the Country hedgerows. Concerns of the plights of our feathered friends at well over 18,000,000 die to feed Sparrow hawks alone! Nearly as many again are losing their’ lives to the B.O.P. such as the Peregrine and co. etc. Figures that no matter how spiced up are far too high a price to pay. Paying to see the demise of such lovely enjoyment in our back gardens and hedgerows! Explain that country ALL life to valued via most of the general public! That it is a cost that our countryside needlessly pays to this RSPB moneymaking machine and many are quite rightly are taking a stand. Indeed many more are, and no doubt will each day in order to help and preserve. So this must be a vote winner in a much sensible restriction of the B.O.P. to be curtailed in order that ALL birds of ALL species have the right to live, and what’s more, us and our children, their’ children’s children will be able to see the wonders in birds life’s for real and not just in old films newsreels of the archives. And further with a little forethought will soon see what a good ‘Vote catcher’ this will indeed turn out to be. Another wagon to unite the masses of working and middle classes.

Toilets too far

Just because