Stonsey

A belated thank you for the birthday messages.

After going through some of the 'pigeon racing news and gazette' collection that my granddad has, every issue from the mid 60s to early 80's (I think) it's fascinating to see how it used to be. What magazines either monthly or weekly are about now? Or is it all in the digital age,where in 40 years time nobody will be able to go through an old suitcase reading musty smelling magazines, just like I am now! Some nice old lofts

Welcome from another fancier in his mid 20s!

Well after extensive refurbishment of the 45+ year old loft, purchasing of feed, drinkers and new troughs, it is finally ready for pigeons. Does anyone have any latebreads or stock birds for sale in the east anglia region. Thanks in advance, mark.

Thanks for the well wishes, been terrible weather down here this weekend, so not had much luck with doing anything to the outside of the loft, plus I've not felt 100% I did however make a 2nd Sputnik this morning, I have sanded the front sharp points of the drop in bars down, but I forgot to get a photo. It then got painted white, then the inside of the loft got mesh stapled over the rear vents and a fresh coat of paint, but it'll need a few more coats before it's good. The far right wall needs another sheet of ply over to make a flat wall. Below the vents, I'm going to make box perches and put laths up from the top perch to the ceiling to stop the young birds flying up there. Bearing in mind the loft in total is about 26ft long my grandmother still thinks he is getting 2 pigeons! Two will multiply very quickly, he has 16 breeding boxes, and space for yb's as well. Just need the weather to dry up and finish early from work next week, may be able to get a fair bit done then! ATB Mark.

Hello, 2 new members here, one old and one youngish. A quick story. Stanley Prest now an 80 year old grandfather and great grandfather kept pigeons since the age of about 12, he originally flew with the queensbury and district club back in the 60's. He then moved to east anglia and was part of a group who formed the diss and district club back in the 70s. He had to give all his birds away about 20 years ago due to family issues, But he kept his loft, he just filled it full of off cuts of wood and other junk, kept his baskets and clocks and has a suitcase of pigeon magazines back from the 60s and 70s. Now is where I come in, His 26 year old grandson, I have somehow convinced my grandmother to allow him to get some more pigeons, but first we need to start on the loft, after 3 trailer loads of wood and other junk was removed through the small door into his loft, nearly falling through the floor in several places, completely rebuilding the front, half of it 5 years ago, and the other half now. Building a decking out the front of the loft, cutting down a conifer tree and trimming the hedge, moving the compost heap, clearing the plants and flowers that had been left to grow themselves and trying to keep my grandmother sweet. It is finally taking shape, we are still not finished but getting there, still got a lot to do, make a second sputnik, fit the boards, and paint the inside of the loft, put up fencing and finally get the pigeons. He knows of one local fancier, who is in his 90s, who he gave some pigeons to 35 years ago, who will hopefully give him some late breds, or a few stock birds. I've included some pictures of our progress so far. Starting out Deck Rebuild New end, window and door Pondering Removing previous hard work and another new window First Sputnik in place This is our progress so far, more to do today so must crack on!! All the best, Mark.