Pawns

peter pandy · October 16, 2015

Reading of the passing away of Roy Ryals brought back forgotten memories in 1982. I may have elaborated on this theme in the past and if so my appologies, However their may be new members on Basics and my utterings might elaborate on the missgivings of the vaccination programme we have had to endure.

In 1982 I was reading the Daily Telegraph when an aquantance who was a small holder farmer asked if I had read the Farming Page and possible consequences that could develope.

The article stated that it was the intention of the French Poultry industry which was heavily subsidised by the E.U. to flood the British market with their produce which in affect would cripple the British Poultry industry which was not subsidised in any way. The result being the MAFF introducing Paramyxovirus. It would appear Mr Ryals accepted with MAFF officials that Racing Pigeons would be declared Poultry and a vaccination programme was started. This in effect stopped the French in their tracks with their poultry not being accepted into Britain unless it had been vaccinated which in turn made it exempt to the British food chain as the vaccine remains active for 1 year. One of the reasons we cannot use La-Sotto ? [short life span] in the drinker.

It would be quite easy to assume we the Pigeon Fancier are only Pawns on a chess board as our racers are Poultry to DEFRA when it suits, BUT NOT Poultry to DEFRA when the RSPB are involved.

I never knew Roy Ryals was in consultation with MAFF back in 1982 although I had sent letters to the Racing Pigeon and British Homing World editors outlining what was happening to our sport and the RP published it immediately however Ernie Harbourn [editor of BHW] refused until brought under pressure by the late Jim Renwick, By then it was too late. It would have been enlightening if Mr Ryals had admitted his part in this but to my knowledge not even the Confederation was informed.

My only wish as a fancier is to win the lottery and employ Mr Michael Thomas QC to investigate our predicament against raptors and DEFRA's stance. They cannot have it both ways.

philg50 · October 17, 2015

Yes its a pity ,why tell me why can't the SHU ,RRPA,IHU all pull resources and take this fight on ,this vaccinations angers me every year .But that was a enlightening bit of info .

just ask me · October 17, 2015

Nothing will ever change all the raptor alliance are trying to achieve is a licence to move bop from one area to another so just move the problem into someone else's back garden as regards having the the status changed on racing pigeons its only fantasy land as far as I'm concerned