Old Hand

[Peckedhen]

I just read that the British racing pigeon enthusiast and

author  "Old Hand" passed away. He never used his real name, but had written

many books and articles as Old Hand. His real name was Ken Rawson and he

had a wealth of pigeon knowledge that will be missed by many. He was truly

one the greats!

[Wiley]

yes a true legend,was very inspirational, his books have come to help me over the years was a man full of pigeon knowledge. R.I.P a true legend

[Guest]

Thought the Old Hand was Stan Bishop, and already long since departed?

[Bilco]

THE first, and original "Old Hand" was Major J. Neilson Hutton .  He was succeeded by C.J. Cranthorne and SWE Bishop in turn, even Bob Archer down in Cornwall had a shot at writing some articles. SWE Bishop shouldered the burden from about late '50's onwards, and wrote regularly until late 80's.  I still have a stack of his MSS that he never published. SWEB retired and handed over to me when I returned from retirement in Portugal (due to my late wife's ill health).  I wrote the material under the "OH" title until 1994, and on being made redundant with a three weeks pay packet by the RPRA in December that year, refused to write any further for the "Gazette". Instead I started writing "Old Hand" articles for the Pictorial under Rick Osman, but ceased when the RPRA's then President R.Carlton signed a Writ against me for "Infringement of Copyright" since the magazine's copyright had been sold to the RPRA. I contested the case, having registered the name "Old Hand" as the recognised Trade Mark for Roy Bishop's business, "Old Hand Supplies", still in business today in Paignton, Devon.  The RPRA withdrew from the case and paid my legal costs, along with their own which were considerably more than mine !   The late Steve Spinks of Blackpool wrote a few articles and Q/A pages but did not keep at it very long. The 6 "OH" books were revised in late 80's/early 90's jointly by Roy Bishop and myself.   RIP "Old Hand".  Bill.

 

 

[Guest cloudview]

SO   DID  I  BRUNO   ,  must   be  old  age  creeping  up.

[Guest]

THE first, and original "Old Hand" was Major J. Neilson Hutton .  He was succeeded by C.J. Cranthorne and SWE Bishop in turn, even Bob Archer down in Cornwall had a shot at writing some articles. SWE Bishop shouldered the burden from about late '50's onwards, and wrote regularly until late 80's.  I still have a stack of his MSS that he never published. SWEB retired and handed over to me when I returned from retirement in Portugal (due to my late wife's ill health).  I wrote the material under the "OH" title until 1994, and on being made redundant with a three weeks pay packet by the RPRA in December that year, refused to write any further for the "Gazette". Instead I started writing "Old Hand" articles for the Pictorial under Rick Osman, but ceased when the RPRA's then President R.Carlton signed a Writ against me for "Infringement of Copyright" since the magazine's copyright had been sold to the RPRA. I contested the case, having registered the name "Old Hand" as the recognised Trade Mark for Roy Bishop's business, "Old Hand Supplies", still in business today in Paignton, Devon.  The RPRA withdrew from the case and paid my legal costs, along with their own which were considerably more than mine !   The late Steve Spinks of Blackpool wrote a few articles and Q/A pages but did not keep at it very long. The 6 "OH" books were revised in late 80's/early 90's jointly by Roy Bishop and myself.   RIP "Old Hand".  Bill.

 

always thought you were old hand bill not fancy taken up ya pen again and penning some of them articles by bishop would think there would be value in them for todays novices and old hands ,sorry to hear about the old codger liked his work and yours bill

 

[Ronnie]

I have read whatever i can of old hands articles i didnt realise it was a few different people.Rip buddy.

[Bilco]

LOL.  You'ld be surprised at some of the things I get up to sometimes !  Cheers, Bill.

[Guest Vic]

Bill, I always thought that  "Old hands" nom de plume was passed on to various writers. Could you please  tell me, who was the ghost writer, at the time with the article about hempseed? (in the fifties or sixties). Another great writer, in the same era,  was Brian Thornton from Basingstoke, T"he Story of a Stray" etc etc etc.Good reading indeed! Vic.

[Bilco]

Hi Vic,

 

No, the details are as I have stated Vic. I have just (this minute) phoned Roy Bishop, now 79-y-o (a year older than me) and he confirms to the letter what I have written. He says the name Rawson does not ring any bells.   Brian Thornton wrote short stories, and when he died of a massive heart attack in Nov 1966, I stepped into his shoes and took over the column he used to write ("Hampshire Highlights" and renamed it "Bilco's Bulletin". Stan Bishop asked me in 1967 if I could write a Xmas Ghost Story, and "The Grey Ghost of Rome" was the first of many. It was actually written in my office in the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, and the name of the principal character (Nick Cox) was the name of my RCT Driver, I told he I'd make him famous, LOL.  Brian never wrote "Old Hand" articles either. I do know that a person named Rawson was a friend of Stan Bishop's, but to my and Roy Bishop's knowledge (and I have been with the firm over 40 years now) he never wrote articles.  The article on Hempseed is, I believe, incorporated in the book "Secrets of a Racing Ace" by SWE BISHOP.  Cheers, Bill.

[Guest Vic]

Thanks Bill!      All very interesting stuff, I really enyoyed all the excellent writings  in those bygone days. Happy days indeed. Cheers, Vic.

[Roland]

Well we live and learn and think we remeber, only to live and learn yet again lol. No wonder there is 'Nothing New under the....'

[Guest]

Yep even Scoobie Doo, Barny Rubble & Fled Flintstone have new voices. Who's next, Homer Simpson?  ;D

[Guest CS]

R.I.P Old Hand