Joe Murphy Article 13th April 2024

[sapper756]

Received an email from Bob Carter of Hull who used to be a scribe in the ‘Gazette’ many years ago, he
wrote; ‘Hi Joe, Just to say I enjoyed your recent article in the BHW on Major A Neilson Hutton. Though
no longer active in the sport my brother Roy and I still enjoy reading the fancy press. I have Neilson
Hutton's excellent book ‘Pigeon Lore' published way back in 1962. Did you know that he was an early
‘Old Hand' in the good old Pigeon Racing Gazette? He was apparently given the elbow by the then editor
SWE Bishop (who also wrote under the nom de plume 'Old Hand') after writing that 'a good big' un will
always beat a good little 'un'! I seem to remember you also contributed to the Gazette when I was writing
for it? (I did for a while; but my wife Margaret took over this task’. I also seem to remember that you
lived in the Kirkcaldy area? My maternal grand mother's family were from Kirkcaldy and I can still
remember travelling up there with my mam in the early 70's to visit them. I managed to visit W & D Ree
of Broughty Ferry to see and handle their champion grizzle cock 'High Degree' winner of 1

st open SNFC
Nantes flying 642 miles. I think they got a surprise to discover I was still a teenager and they gave me a
warm Scottish welcome. I even squeezed in a flying visit to the local pigeon club and got my copy of the
Gazette at the high street pet shop in Kirkcaldy! A memorable weekend for me. Hope you find this of
interest, Joe. best wishes, Bob Carter Hull; I have attached a copy of photo of a teenage self - holding
champion 'High Degree' at the Broughty Ferry lofts of W & D Ree.’ I wrote back to Bob thanking him for
his email, his reply was; ‘Hi Joe, Thanks for your speedy reply. I had left the sport by the time you won
the SNFC so a very belated but hearty congratulations! Also, my condolences on your loss of your son
Kevin, it must have been a terrible blow. I would like a copy of your book Joe, please let me know how to
get one. I didn't realise ‘High Degree’ was the first winner of the Dewar Trophy though I knew he had
won it. I am attaching another photo from my visit to Scotland, with me holding ‘High Degree’ and Willie
Ree is (if memory serves me right) holding champion ‘Jackpot’ winner of 3

rd open SNFC Nantes in 1970
(he won 26th open the previous year) flying 642 miles on the day with 3 hours of daylight to spare! Hope
this is of interest, Joe, best wishes Bob’. I wrote and thanked Bob for his email, and his kind words
regarding my article. I remember him writing in the Gazette all those years ago, in fact you wonder where
these years have all gone; My thanks to Bob for the above; and I hope he enjoyed my book on the Dewar
Trophy First 50 Year Winners. I have been having some very positive feedback from purchasers and
posted 2 out today to go to Canada to Brad and Mike and one to Arklow. The Canadian lads did a fantastic
advert for my book with the Front Cover of this month’s book having the Dewar Trophy on the Canadian
Magazine which goes out to the following countries; England; Wales; Scotland, Ireland, Australia, New
Zealand, Netherlands, Italy, Malta, Mexico, Denmark, Philippines, Jamaica, Romania, Hungary, India,
Pakistan, Argentina, South Africa, Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, China, Japan, Taiwan & Thailand;
and has 45.000 readers and counting. So, a very big Thank You to Mike and Brad.

Forfar RPC & Angus Federation

Received an email from David Liddle who wrote; ‘Hi Joe, I hope you and Margaret are well. Below are
details of a joint trophy presentation night which was held on 17th February for the Forfar RPC and Angus
Federation and we also presented the trophies for the Grampian Combine. Unfortunately, our young bird
racing season was ruined last year due to an outbreak of avian flu near Forfar which meant that half the
club members could not take part in the last four races resulting in four of the average trophies not being
won. The trophies were presented by Danny Henderson. The Forfar Club trophy winners were as
follows; Davie Glen - Best average first six races, share of old bird points, share of combined points,1st
Melton Mowbray, 1

st Kettering, Old Bird of the year. Ken Droog & Son - share of old bird points, share of

combined points, 1

st Ramsgate, 2 bird old bird average, young bird average and combined average. Ian

Scott - Old Bird average, best average 3 longest inland races, 1

st Huntingdon, Adam Golicki - Best

average Ramsgate and Wakefield YB. Stewart Donaldson 1

st Falaise. Jim Fraser - Young bird points, 1
st
Wakefield YB, Young Bird of the year. David Liddle -1st yearling Huntingdon. David Robb - 1
st

Darlington YB, Highest winning velocity and the novice trophy.
Angus Federation winners are as follows; C & G Cameron - Old Bird Average, 3 Longest Race Average,
1
st Ramsgate, 1

st Falaise, 2 bird average Falaise, 1

st Yearling Falaise, 1

st Wakefield YB, Kevin J Murphy

Memorial (1st

Fed SNFC Gold Cup) and Fancier of the Year.

D & D Hay won the Young Bird Average and Combined Averages. David Robb won the Ian Gray
Memorial for the lowest winning velocity.
Grampian Combine winners. Mark Young - 1

st Melton Mowbray. John Wiseman - 1

st Kettering. Graeme

McKenzie - 1st

Ramsgate. C & G Cameron - Combine Averages. Regards, David Liddle.

My thanks to David for the above and also for the photographs to go with this report. I asked David if he
was going to continue sending me details of the Federation, i.e.; weekly race results and he has agreed to
do so. Therefore, it is up to the members of this federation to supply David with details of their winners
EACH WEEK. I have given the Federation outstanding weekly publicity ever since Kevin moved up to
Arbroath. However, with him no longer with us, it is up to the members to supply David with this
information. I do my best to help out all federations who wish to be in my column; the least you can do is
supply the press officers with some details on the winning federation winners. This goes for everyone who
sends in their results, not just Angus federation.

Weekly Results

If you wish your club, federation or combine to receive publicity on a weekly basis in my column, then I
require all information to be into me by Monday night. It will take me nearly all-day Tuesday to compile
the column as it has to be into the office for Wednesday MORNING. So, it is up to you!!!!! If you have a
photograph of the fancier or one of the winning birds then send them as well. The more information
supplied the better and the photo will just finish it off. I have been sending my article in since 1976; and at
the present time I’m the only Scottish scribe sending in a WEEKLY ARTICLE; so, it is up to you, if you
wish the publicity.
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.Pigeonbasics.com - Pigeon Racing the Basics! -
thecanadianpigeoninternational.com www.internationalracingpigeon.com Who wish my weekly
contribution portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland?

© Compiled by Joe Murphy