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Merry Christmas to you and your family Cemetary, and hope 2024 is a good one for you.

Continuing with my articles on fanciers from the past; I came across and article done by Dale Newcombe of Mackmerry, which he called ‘A Royal Occasion’. He wrote; After appearing five times in the first five SNFC race results, I have finally made it, ‘Lady Diana’, with her wing flight perfect, homed to her chipping eggs t win Scotland’s Blue Riband Race, Rennes 1981. The race as it turned out was a complete test of courage and stamina with 22 out of a liberation of 6412 birds clocking on the day. Everything seemed to be against birds making it on the day, North East headwind, moderated too strong. 05-45am liberation, overcast and cold at times, but as was mentioned in this article earlier, 22 gallant birds made it home on the day, in my case 543 miles. I offer credit and congratulation to the fanciers involved. ‘Lady Diana’ rewards were 1 st overall, Car Nom, £1500,00 pools and prize money plus a grand collection of trophies. I can’t explain the excitement I felt as ‘Lady Diana’ flew past me into the loft, and after clocking I felt that she would be well in judging by the aforementioned factors. One can only guess how I stove to keep calm as later that evening and early next morning the ultimate prize in the SNFC Race Programme was slowly becoming a reality as other times filtered through. Living in the shadow of my father ‘Eddie Newcombe’ either makes or breaks a fancier. I was determined to be one of those that made it. I set about building my team in the year 1969 with the acquisition of my father’s blood. I shopped around and it was obvious that quality blood lay on my doorstep. I have tried various other strains but I met with little success. My SNFC results in the early years were up and down but encouraging, meanwhile my father’s loft was turning out supreme performances, 2 nd open Rennes 76; 1 st open Rennes 79; 1 st 2 nd 3 rd Avranches (2) 1980, Those results acted as a spur and challenge to me because undeterred I soldiered on until I had achieved consistency. With a few near misses for the No 1 position, this along gave me a tremendous boost, as this was the reward for the hard work and endeavour I had applied to my team. Then along came ‘Lady Diana’, flown out to the young bird national, all the way to Dorchester as a yearling, over to Rennes as a two-year-old. 121 st open, then on a similar race programme as a three-year-old to record the success of my career. I could fill a book on feeding and methods I have tried, but at the end of the day tested bloodlines, sound corn coupled with hygiene and training, are enough to prove to a fancier if his methods are ideal. A constant study on the threads of breeding with the aid of his loft log book should obviate any necessary corrections. Although I must admit that finding a good breeder is far from simple, but the search can be simplified if a fancier acquires the best blood available, his chances of finding a top producer are greatly enhanced. I have always believed that to compete with the best you have to fly the best. I am a stickler for quality, and ‘Lady Diana’s’ pedigree strengthens my view with such factors as forty years of trying and testing with a host of top performers contained within. Either as breeders or racers, or both. My father’s 1979 Rennes winner ‘Festival Live Circuit’ another hard day winner, also contains similar bloodlines of stamina, endurance, also speed on the fast days, three factors which I believe Scots pigeons have and must have in abundance to combat the ever changing weather and geographical condition which they encounter during their 500/700-mile ordeals. My type of pigeon is simply a family that handles well, looks well and performs well, being of medium size. The birds must show durability to a high degree also the vital factor, intelligence. With those traits in hand and blended throughout the colony, one can stand at the loft on liberation day s with an above average degree of confidence, letting nature and the weather take over, good birds will adjust. As the National Results prove when you see the regular appearance of the back garden or allotment fancier pushing and beating the established men with the aid of their own personal champion. I consider myself to be a grateful contender with regard to the fierce competition that surrounds me and I offer sincere congratulations to keep the pressure on. I hope you have enjoyed this short story on Dale, and I agree with what he says regarding racing pigeons, they must be bred from proven winners which have been tested at 500 miles and their offspring will either breed good racing pigeons or breeders of good pigeons. Joe M Special ‘Doo’ & ‘Good Friendship’ Received an email Angus Orr & son of Brighton’s which is near Falkirk which goes like this; Hi Joe, I wonder if you would like this short story for your weekly column. It’s about a very special ‘Doo’ and the The Joe Murphy Column 2 making of a good friendship’. The year in question is 2013 and on receiving our weekly edition of the BHW we were drawn to an advert selling young birds of the Soontjen Strain. We duly contacted the purchaser, who was an elderly chap, residing in a small English village. My partner and I decided to drive South and collect the birds in person, so after several hours of driving we arrived at our destination. Our welcome, I will never forget: ‘Nice car, I should have charged you more’ and ‘Alex Salmond, I would shoot him’. Not exactly the welcome I expected! However, we started to make our way through the rear exit to the garden and on walking through the porch, I noticed a basket containing a few young birds, which did not look in the best of health. So, I asked why they were there, he answered saying that they had been poorly, but he was treating them to give to a new start. At this point, I thought what the hell have I done! Moving on, we made our way to the loft, basket in hand, he entered the loft and after a bit of clattering around and grunting, he came out with these youngsters that looked old enough to go to the first race. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement, all the time spent driving and here I was with youngsters far too strong and unlikely to settle. So, I headed homeward, back up north and put the young birds into the loft with a wire cage open to allow them to get their bearings. After a few days, I decided it was time to try them out and within five minutes they were in the heavens and gone. At least that is what I thought, until my neighbour alerted me that a pigeon was sitting on bedroom windowsill at 6pm. When I went to have a look, I was shocked to find it was one of the blue young birds that had gone out at 8am. I called to him, and he instantly flew over to the trap and entered immediately as though he knew exactly what he had to do. From that day he never looked back, he flew all young bird races, scoring on his way to the SNFC young bird national, from Leicester (256 miles), where he timed in winning 2 nd second region D, 42 nd open and beaten by 3 yards for winning the section. He was awarded the Scottish Homing Union, Unikon Trophy for exceptional performance Young Bird. He also won Young Bird of the Year in the federation; it was only fitting that he be named ‘Unikon Lad’. 2014 started well for ‘Unikon Lad’ scoring again on his way to recording 260 th open SNFC Maidstone national (a distance of 374 miles). The following season, 2015; ‘Unikon Lad’ scored again on his way to recording 313 th open SNFC Portsmouth (372 miles). Moving onto 2016, when unfortunately, ‘Unikon Lad’ returned from a hard federation race, dragging his wing which was a huge disappointment to say the very least, as I am sure he would have gone on to win an SNFC award. He did appear to recover and started exercising and training with the cocks, so we decided to try him again, unfortunately he failed to return from his next federation race, which resulted in sleepless nights thinking we had made a mistake and was he not 100%. Weeks passed by and hope had now faded of ever seeing the blue cock again, his closed box just a reminder of the wonderful pigeon that once occupied it. Then the unthinkable happened, a letter arrived in the post to say he had been reported in the northeast of England, by the well-known and successful partnership of Hall and Foster from Prudhoe. Syd recalls; ‘When he first handled the blue cock, he knew instantly he was a good one and someone would be looking for him’. I could not get the phone quick enough to phone Syd and just to hear that he was safe and ready to be returned was one of the most special days to date. A good friendship was formed, and we talk pigeons on a weekly basis. The blue cock now has pride of place in the stock loft, where he has produced birds to win at club, federation, open and one loft races. He has also responsible for the following SNFC prize winners: 2 nd section D, 34 th open Upper Heyford; 2 nd section D, 42 nd open Leicester; 2 nd section D, 39 th open Buckingham; 3 rd section D, 14 th open, Huntington (‘Pitstop’ gifted to Syd Foster) 4 th section D, 32 nd open Alencon Gold Cup (a distance of 546 miles) longest flying pigeon on the day of liberation being 15 hours 45 minutes on the wing. The moral of this story Joe; is that pigeon racing can bring people together and create friendships to last a lifetime; Angus Orr & Son of Brighton’s; whom I thank for his information. Feedback on Column Received an email from Brian Donnelly which goes as follows; ‘Hi Joe, hope you and Margaret are keeping well. I have been enjoying your articles on good Scottish fanciers. Reading your article in the BHW issue of 1 st December, 2023 you make reference to a friend of mine, the late Fred Leggatt of Dundee. This has The Joe Murphy Column 3 prompted me to forward you the following; You mention that Fred scored in the first SNFC channel race of 1981 from Avranches with his single entry, this being the first of several good performances by this bird. This 1979 bred blue chequer hen was named ‘The Wee Hen’, and turned out to be a very reliable pigeon from channel races. When she scored 76 th open from Avranches, she was actually found wandering about in the garden at around 05.30 am on the second morning. She was then doubled back into SNFC Sartilly race [again, a single entry] and she was clocked on the day to win 48 th open. The following season, she was timed on the day from SNFC Sartilly [1] race to win 153 rd open, again she was doubled back into Sartilly [2], despite being clocked on the day, she missed the result. The 1983 season, with no channel races, she was timed from SNFC Dorchester race but missed the result. In 1984 she was entered in the SNFC Nantes race, birds were liberated at 05.45 am and at 11pm, and no sign of ‘The Wee Hen’ Fred retired to bed ready for an early rise next morning. Whilst lying in bed at the back of 11pm that night, Fred thought he heard a bird landing on the house roof? He went outside to check, and sure enough it was his hen from the Nantes race, he managed to coax her in and timed her at 11-25 pm in total darkness. She made the tail end of the SNFC result, winning 47 th east section, but never the less a very commendable performance from a game little hen. She was bred from birds that were purchased locally - Willie Peet x Alec Mitchell of Falkirk bloodlines, [via Bill Handy]. Although she didn't produce any direct offspring to score, she was the grand dam to a very good blue hen that was timed on the day, to score prominently from 1991 & 1992 SNFC Rennes races. Incidentally, the blue hen had a cross of Edmund Johnston [ an-other fanciers mentioned in your article] bloodlines in her pedigree. Perhaps the above would be of interest to your readers? Kind regards Brian Donnelly. Request For Help I received an email from Alan Johnson who wrote; ‘My brother read one of your write ups in a previous issue of the Homing World, it was around April/May/June 23 and it was a write up about a guy in Scotland that has done well with the Hassell Donk family of pigeons. If possible, could you give me any contact details to get in touch with him as we are interested in buying off him. I look forward to your reply, kind regards Alan Johnson’. I wrote back to Alan asking for the date of the Article as I have gone over a couple of them, but with the time I’m spending on my book I did not have too long to look, So if anyone can help Alen out can they please get back in touch with me via email or phone, cheers. Joe’s Joke A husband is at home watching the football match when his wife interrupts, ‘Honey, could you fix the light in the hallway? It’s been flickering for weeks now’. He looks at her and says angrily, ‘Fix the light now, does it look like I have ‘Powergen’ writing on my forehead? I don’t think so! ‘Fine says the wife who then asks, ‘Well could you fix the fridge door, it will not close right’. To this he replied ‘Fix the fridge door, does it look like I have ‘Frigidaire’ written on my forehead’. I don’t think so’. ‘Fine’ she says, ‘then you could at least fix the steps to the front door as they are about to break’. I’m not a carpenter and I don’t want to fix the steps. Does it look like I have ‘Taylor Woodrow’ written on my forehead? I don’t think so! I’ve had enough of this. I’m going to the pub! So, he goes to the pub and drinks for a couple of hours; then he starts to feel guilty about how he treated his wife and decides to go home. As he walks into the house, he notices that the steps are already fixed and the hall light is working; as he goes to get a beer from the fridge, he notices the door closes properly. ‘Honey’ he asks, ‘How did all this get fixed?’. She said, ‘Well when you left, I sat outside and cried. Just then a nice young man asked me what was wrong and I told him. He offered to do all the repairs and all I had to do was either go to bed with him or bake a cake’. He said ‘So what kind of cake did you bake?’ She replied; ‘Helloooo, do you see ‘Mr Kipling’ written on my forehead? I Don’t Think So! Please continue to keep the news flowing; to Joe Murphy Mystical Rose Cottage 2 Flutorum Avenue Thornton by Kirkcaldy KY1 4BD or phone 01592 770331 or Email to joejmurphy1@gmail.com REMEMBER THE J IN THE MIDDLE or log onto www.elimarpigeons.com www.fancierchat.co.uk www.pigeon-chat.co.uk who wish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland.

Received a photo from John Barlow who wrote; ‘Hi Joe, found this old photo and thought it might be of interest for one of your articles. It consists of George Corr, Johnny Currans, Ian Mac Donough, Tom Gallacher and George Campbell. This photo was taken at Chryston & District Homing Society prize presentation. This is the only club in the West of Scotland to have 2 SNFC Gold Cup winners since 1945. I reckon this photo was taken in the early 1980's; sadly, all the fanciers in the photo have all passed away now. I also came across this recently; it was my uncle George's 1965 diploma signed by Robert Cormack. It was from the Scottish Central Combine race from Dol. Best wishes and keep your column going as you are promoting our sport up here in Scotland yours John B. Phone Call Received a phone call from Billy Brown of Orkney who is 84 years young and had kept pigeons during his life time. Billy enjoyed my story on Bert Stewart and he remembers going down to visit him away back in 1959. As he wanted to purchase some young birds. He had a look at the birds and every dark one he selected was not for sale, as they were connected to ‘Betty’s Delight’. He did have some reds, mealies and blue bars and these were £15 each and Billy bought 6. He trained them from Stromness which was is a distance of 40 miles regardless of the weather. As they have to learn to come over it if they want to get home. He raced them as young birds and through time had sent some of them to Hastings and 2 red cocks’ home on the 3rd day from the 597-mile race point. Billy was a great ‘bean’ man and fed beans, beans, and more beans with barley added to it. He also remembers speaking to a man who wished to view his pigeons, and he remarked that the pigeons had excellent silky feather quality and this would help them when flying from distance racing. From a Hastings race the birds were liberated at 07-45am and they were timed on the Monday. ‘Recollections from the Past’ Continuing with my I came across an article written by James Aitchison of Tranent who wrote in the 1982 issue of the BHW Stud Book which was called ‘Oh! So Near’. James was the winner of 2 nd East section 2 nd open SNFC Rennes and he wrote; ‘Liddle did I think I would ever have the opportunity of writing an article for the BHW Stud Book, and I would like to thank the editor for giving me the great honour of doing so. (This was Ernie Harbourne). Jimmy starts; ‘Like most pigeon men, I could talk ‘doo’s’ for a week, but when it comes to writing, it is a different story. It is a long time to think back but I will do my best. I was one of the founder members of the Bellshill Club in Lanarkshire; my friend, Dick McGowan and I joined as McGowan & Aitchison back in 1920. I was 16 years of age at the time, and I remember that Dick and I would gather coal from the Pit Bings and sell it in order to feed and race our birds during the miners’ strike in 1921. The year 1922 brought more members into the club and we were able to buy small cups and gold medals for average prize, and I think at the time the medal cost £2-50. We managed to win the old bird average that year, as we had the only bird time in on the day from Bristol. We continued to fly until 1924 when my parents decided to move to the east as we were only getting employment for 3 days a week in the pits and no buroo money- (unemployment benefit) In April 1925 the family moved to Newcraighall, and I started to build a loft straight away as I had been promised youngsters from Bellshill. My friend Dick McGowan moved to Newcraighall to be with us. There was no club in Newcraighall at that time, so we joined the Edinburgh Club as McGowan & Aitchison- that was when we won our 1st Norman Rhead Art Vase. In 1928 we formed a club in Newcraighall and joined the East of Scotland Federation. The club was a great success from the start, the whole village was behind us in everything we tried, and the event of the year was the presentation night when all the young women had to have a NEW DRESS, FOR THE Doo Dance. I was married in 1926 and took on the job as secretary of the club, and we joined the Midlothian federation when it was formed. The Joe Murphy Column 2 One of the birds I got from Bellshill was from W Kennedy. It was a late bred black cock, ‘Mason’s 1210’ blood, which he got from Landles Brothers in Calderbank. This bird won us prizes from Rennes and Bournemouth. White & Dickson of Paisley had a sale in 1931, and Dick McGowan and I bought 2 hens, one from Matt’s White ‘Lady Lane’. We mated her to the black cock and they bred 2 light cocks, who won repeatedly for us. One of them; SHU34E1135, was known as ‘Lothian Lad’ won prizes from Dol 514 miles in 1936 & 1937. In 1938 he was 1st club 1st federation 3rd open from Dol, from the East of Scotland Combine. The war put an end to his channel career, but he won 1st twice from Bournemouth with the Craigmillar Club. The war also finished the Newcraighall club, and my partners, Dick McGowan moved back to Bellshill. My brother-in-law, Jock Sheriden then came in with me to give a hand with the birds. In 1940, thanks to another old friend of mine, Jim Brown, we moved from Newcraighall to the Wisp Cottages, and I joined the Craigmillar club where I raced successfully all during the war. After the war, for family reasons, we moved back again to Newcraighall, and around 1950 I was invited to join the Millerhill Club. These turned out to be our happiest days since I became a fancier, we had weekends at Blackpool and days at the coast with our families. I’m sure Charlie Graham and his wife May, will agree with me. I was president of the club and Charlie was the secretary. It was one of the strongest clubs in Midlothian and you had to be on your toes to win, with such men in the club as, J Williams & son, William Balloch, George Bain, Innes Brothers, and of course, Charlie Graham and his son’s Jim & Bobby, R Robertson & son, Lesley Ross, A Kerr and Elms & Hilton- some of these men later won National Races, Bobby Graham & his wife won 2nd Rennes. While I was in Millerhill club I had many successes but I also had very many disappointments. My best year was 1956 when I won the Gold Cup for the best average in the Federation for last 4 races. I also topped the federation from Christchurch that same year, and I was 1st & 2nd in the open Wigan young birds. Dol was my favourite channel race then, and I was quite content if I got one channel race with the East of Scotland 500-mile club. In 1956 I was 46th open, and in 1958 -10th open, and 1st federation winning the feds canteen of Cutlery. In 1960 the same bird (SURP53N2401) was 35th open. I bought him as a young bird from Jock Hill of Avonbridge. The Danderhall members broke away from Millerhill club and formed the present Danderhall Club. This left 7 or 8 members so we moved our quarters and started the Newcraighall Club up again. In 1969 I retired from the pit, and moved to Tranent as the national coal board, decided to sell of the village of Newcraighall to Edinburgh District Council. Before I moved, I bought grandchildren of ‘Trellis’ from Jock White of Gilmerton, 2 mealies and a blue. I mated one of the mealies to a red hen which was 139th section Rennes in 1970. The produced a red cock (SU73E 4541) who flew the channel several times. I then mated 4541 to a red hen from William Roberston of Tranent and they produced a red hen (SU74E1128). She won 105th open, 85th section in the YB national. Her other achievements were; 1976- 85th open 70th section Avranches, 1977- 266th open 141st section Rennes; 1978- 134th open 120th section Avranches; 1979- 293rd open 173rd section Rennes; 1980- 12th open 12th section Avranches winning a SNFC GOLD AWARD. This year (1981) from Avranches she was 60th open 48th section, and she was also timed in on the night from Sartilly but just out of the prize list. 1978 was my best year since coming to Tranent, winning several trophies including the Social Club Average- we had over 50 members at the time. In 1980; I was 11th open 11th section Avranches with a red hen (Su78E 2472) bred by W Robertson, and 27th open 23rd section Rennes with ‘Wee Lynne’. I have had a good year club racing in 1981, but the best performance was from Rennes, winning 2nd open 2nd section with ‘Wee Lynne’, although those of us who race the nationals with 2 or 3 birds must have ‘wee man’ on our shoulder along with good birds. I would like to take this opportunity in thanking William Robertson, D Thomson, J Robertson and old Jimmy Robertson for the help which they have given me in training my birds for the national- they were The Joe Murphy Column 3 taken away every morning for a fortnight to Yetholm until 3 days before marking. (Yetholm is south of Kelso and east of Jedburgh) I have been exchanging birds with Manson Brothers of Hartlepool and it is them I have to thank for my winner. They sent me a blue white flight hen in 1975 and a young mealy cock in 1977. I mated them in 1978 and ‘Wee Lynne’ was the outcome. She flew Penrith, Lancaster and Leyland as a young bird, 6 races to Dorchester as a yearling; winning 4th open federation Worchester and as a 2-year-old Penrith, Leyland & Stafford then into Rennes, winning 27th open 23rd section. This year she had Penrith, Leyland, and Redditch and then Rennes, winning 2nd section 2nd open, almost 16 hours on the wing, sent sitting 10 days on eggs with 1 ½ new flights grown. I usually winter 14 or 15 pairs of birds and rear about 30 youngsters, although I’m lucky if I have 20 left for racing, the loft being surrounded by wires, but I don’t think the wires take them all. I usually stop racing what I think are my best birds at Leyland 155 miles. My feeding I get from Stewart of Larbert his No 2 mixture with a little maise added at the distance, a pick of Hormoform in the morning and a pick of Redband at night. For the novice, it is hard to tell them what to do, they seem to have too much money to spend on ‘Doo’s’ and they race far too many. I have to shake my head at ‘Marking Nights’ when I see young fancier with panniers full of birds. As regards Eye sign, there might be something in it, but why do the eye sign men keep so many birds? My birds don’t have their liberty as I’m plagued with cats. If there are 20 youngsters left by the time racing starts, they are split into 2 lots and raced alternative weeks. I have been in the game a long time and have seen many changes- and not all for the better. I miss my trips to Waverley Station for National and Federation race marking. There you could meet old friends and chat about the ‘Good Old Day’s’. I remember at one open Bournemouth race, and old friend of mine, ‘Wee Dobbie Moffat’, won of the ‘Old Great’s’ who is still showing them how to race pigeons, asked me, “How many birds are you sending Jimmy” I told him 3 and he replied; “You’re a Mob Flier”. I have made many great friends through the ‘Birds’ and look back with many happy memories, and although I am now 76 years of age, I hope to carry on for a year or two yet and win the national. There is one man who, had been spared today would have been pleased, my wife’s father, Old Dennis McKay. When he was the age, I am now, he would help me carry my basket to Millerhill station 3 miles away, and if was threatening to rain. We would take our raincoats. If the rain came on, I would put mine over the basket and he would say ‘Your Daft’. Well, they say All Doo Men Are Daft. I will close now hoping the readers find something to interest them in my article. I hope readers of my column have enjoyed the above, it is quite funny that some of the NAMES mentioned above are still reported on in my weekly race results within my column, which Andy Miller sends regarding The Pentlandhills federation results. Obviously, some of the present-day fanciers may be descendants of the above and if so; I hope they have had some pleasure from this week’s column Joe Murphy. Joe’ Joke Hot and Cold Sex; After his exam the doctor asked the elderly man; ‘You appear to be in good health, Do you have any medical concerns you would like to ask me about? ‘In fact, I do,’ said the old man. ‘After I have sex with my wife. I am usually cold and chilly, and then, after I have sex with her the second time, I am usually hot and sweaty.’ The Joe Murphy Column 4 Later, after examining the man’s elderly wife, the doctor said, ‘Everything appears to be fine. Do you have any medical concerns that you would like to discuss with me?’ She replied that she had no questions or concerns. The doctor then said to her. ‘Your husband had an unusual concern. He claims that he is usually cock and chilly after having sex with you the first time, and then hot and sweaty after the second time. Do you know why?’ ‘Oh, that crazy of bugger’ she replied. ‘That’s because the first time is usually in January and the second time is in August’. Please continue to keep the news flowing; to Joe Murphy Mystical Rose Cottage 2 Flutorum Avenue Thornton by Kirkcaldy KY1 4BD or phone 01592 770331 or Email to joejmurphy1@gmail.com REMEMBER THE J IN THE MIDDLE or log onto www.elimarpigeons.com www.fancierchat.co.uk www.pigeon-chat.co.uk who wish my weekly contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland

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On behalf of Pigeon Basics thank you for the regular liberation updates, which I am sure, many members benefited from. Your information will be missed. Enjoy your pigeons

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