Keith Mott

Writes about winning fanciers past and present

Bill Edwards of Hounslow. 

When I visited Bill Edwards of Hounslow it was early December and it was a whole new thing to me as it was my first venture into Middlesex writing wise, and my first ever loft visit to a  north road flyer. After my lengthy visit to the Edward's home, I was convinced I had started with one of the best. One of the main targets in Bill's sights had been to win lst North Thames N.R. Combine, having come close many times, none so close as 1976 when he was 2nd Durham beaten by decimals. He must have been choked but he's not the type of man to let it get him down. He said he's going to win it the following season and judging from the gems I handled on my visit that was no ideal threat. This man was so dedicated that he said when the birds are racing he can't sleep at night.

Bill was a brick layer by trade, so quite naturally his loft was made out of brick and was ‘L’ shaped, some 32ft long and 3ft off the ground. The birds were trapped through open doors. Bill was dead against Deep Litter as in 1973 he lost his team of 30 youngsters with Pigeon Pox and he blamed the deep litter he was using at the time. The birds were raced mainly on the natural system with a selected few on widowhood. One pigeon which was flown on the widowhood system was a Dordin blue cock, 74 D 73851, which Bill rated as the best pigeon he ever owned. This handsome cock was medium and deep in the hand, and had won racing, 1974 – lst.Club & 14th. Federation (1,708 birds) Doncaster; 1975 - 2nd. Club, 32nd. Federation (3.990 birds) Nottingham; 1976 - 2nd. Club, 25th. Federation (3,690 birds) Nottingham, 1st. Club, 19th. Federation (3,784 birds) Doncaster, 1st. Club, 17th. Federation (2,332 birds) Pontefract, 1st. Club, 1st. Federation (2.021 birds) Pontefract and was the sire of winners including the 2nd. Combine winner. The nestmate to 73851 was 73852, a blue hen, and she has won 2nd. Club, 16th Federation (1,708 birds) Doncaster plus lst Two Rivers 2-B Club Darlington.

The main familv which were introduced in 1973 were Dordins obtained from W. Grodon and Louis Massarella. Other families kept were Van Reil and Sion. The founder bird of his Van Reil familv was a nice dark chequer hen, 70 H 19636, and she had won twice lsts. and one 2nd. racing and was dam of many winners. One of Bill's best youngsters of 1976 was a blue hen, 76 N 91154, which was pur­chased for £5 at the New Hampton F.C. young bird sale. She was bred and presented by Bennet & Bennet of Sunburv and had since won 1st. Club, 8th. Federation (3437 birds) Nottingham, 1st. Club, 10th. Federation (3,259 birds) Nottingham, 3rd. Club, 57th. Federation (1,692 birds) Durham (beaten by two loft mates).

Bill started up in the sport in 1956 and was a founder member of the Ashford S.R.F.C winning his first race that year from Dorchester. He joined the Hampton S.R.F.C in 1960 and turned north road when the club did in 1972. The club changed its name to New Hampton F.C and Bill had been top prize winner three times, always being in the first three top places. He was top prize winner in the New Hampton in 1976 winning seven times lsts, five times 2nds, four times 3rds, plus several premier trophies. Bill won twice1st. and two trophies in the Thames Valley Federation. Bill said he lost one of his best ever hens in 1976, from Thurso, and what he wouldn't have give to have her back. She was the Sion red chequer hen, 70 H 5679, and she has to her credit 1971: 2nd. Club Berwiek. 1972: 5th. Club Morpeth, 6th. Club Perth, 1st. Club Thurso. 1973: lst. Club Thurso, 1974: 11th. Club Thurso. 1975: 9th Club Thurso, then was lost from Thurso in 1976. Bill said when you own a great pigeon like the ‘Red Hen’ you tend to over do them and push them once too many.

The birds were fed on a good mixture of Beans, Peas and Wheat and were trained once a week from 20 miles when Bill thought the birds need it. They were given an open loft on nice sunny days. The youngsters were raced right through the card and slowed down as yearlings. Bill liked the young hens to race right through because as old birds their careers were limited due to laying eggs, etc. Bill wasn't a big team man, housing 10 pairs of racers and 2 pairs of stock birds but liked a fair team of youngsters, about 40 each year. In Bill's young bird section we looked at many outstanding pigeons including the 1976 star bird, blue hen, 76 T 23850, winner of 1st. Club, 1st. Federation, 2nd. open Combine Durham. These outstanding pigeons always seem nice when you handle them and know what they have recorded on the road. But, this hen really was nice in the hand being medium apple bodied with a nice dark eye. Another out­standing youngster we looked at was a Dordin blue chequer hen, 76 T 23851, and she had won 1st. Club, 28th. Federation Doncaster and 2nd. Club, 18th Federation Durham. Bill's Dordin family were handsome looking pigeons with nice rich dark eyes and wonderful balance in the hand.

Bill thought 'Eye-Sign' was rubbish and said guts and a big heart was the thing to look for not 'Eye-Sign.' His advice to novices was don't get too many families and buy from a top winning loft or from a stud farm as they seem to give value for money. Bill looed up to the late Nip Healey of Feltham as number one fancier and said he was second to none.  The Edward's had a nice new house and Bill told me he built it himself!

TEXT & PHOTOS BY KEITH MOTT.