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NEWS FROM SCOTLAND Annie Ross Bowes Trophy - Scotland’s Pigeon Fancier’s Fancier of the Year 2007 Report by Joe Murphy Last year 2006 was the first time I have been involved in the organisation of the above trophy in collating the nominations and then the presentation to the winner of this wonderful trophy who was Bob MacDonald of Fraserburgh. This trophy is awarded to a fancier who has done tireless work in promoting the sport of pigeon racing during their time within the sport and Bob was a great example of this. The criteria for the nominations have nothing to do with a fancier’s achievements with his or her pigeons, it is all about helping out their fellow fancier. This year I again received 5 nominations for this award and the letters highlighted these dedicated fanciers who have worked vigorously for the sport up here in Scotland and, I must stress, with no financial rewards involved. I typed out each letter and deleted the name and called them Fanciers A, B, C, D & E. This way there was no favouritism and you can read the letters sent out below. These nominations were sent to my International Quiz panel David Black, Chris Gordon and Brian Shepherd who selected their choice.
The late Annie Ross Bowes with her son Ross. Fancier A I would like to nominate our federation president Fancier A. This person has been a credit to the sport of pigeon racing and the work done on behalf of the Pentland Hills federation and Danderhall members has been outstanding. Fancier A has, through contacts, supplied the porta-cabin, Lorries, cranes, labour etc with no charge to the club. This was indeed a noble gesture by this person and their contribution on taking the federation forward has been outstanding with tireless work. Fancier A is there 24 x 7 to offer help and advice of any matter and it does not have to be about pigeons and they are of coarse one of the most respected pigeon fanciers in Scotland with outstanding results winning one of the most sought after trophies in Scotland. Unfortunately a fox entered Fancier A loft and killed most of the pigeons, which is a set back for anyone this did not deter this person and they hardly mentioned it and just get on with the job of racing their pigeons and taking the federation forward. I have great pleasure in nominating Fancier A for the Annie Ross Bowes trophy to show appreciation for a job well done, and all the tireless work should not go unnoticed. Fancier B This person started working with the SHU in the winter of 1998 as a full time assistant in the Bathgate office before the move to Hamilton where the computer system was installed in 1990. During this time Fancier A streamlined the office procedures and introduced many changes to forms and paperwork to make it simpler for clubs and federation secretaries to deal with the office on behalf of their members. They changed the method of accounting to a simple weekly cash book system cutting down on the work of the Auditor and produced forms and booklets ‘in house’ that had previously had to be professionally printed, all cost saving measures. Fancier B drew up a new format for the measurement system when it was brought into the SHU office in mid 90s that dramatically speeded up the process for supplying distances to clubs and members. When the Council of the Union approved the formation of the SHU Trust under President Jim McGhee and later George Kelly, Fancier B was an enthusiastic supporter of all their projects to support the sport including the Wonderwest Shows where Fancier B helped organise many aspects, from the children’s art competitions, to raffles, to taking bookings for accommodation and show bird entries. Later Fancier B was very involved in the one loft race and lent practical support to the Dunoon International Show. Fancier B was also secretary of the Newmains Pigeon Club for a spell at this time. In 1997, after 8 years as full time assistant, Fancier B became heavily involved with the SHU raptor campaign first at Westminster and after 1999, at the Scottish Parliament. Fancier B played a pivotal role in the collecting, collating and analysing the date for the SHU Survey Book, ‘Attacks on Racing Pigeons by peregrines and sparrowhawks’. As a member of the Save our Sport team, Fancier B attended many shows and events to publicise the campaign, selling books and raising funds to help the SHU meet the costs. Fancier B attended scores of meetings with pigeon fanciers and other interested parties including farmers, landowners and gamekeepers who shared the concerns of fanciers about the large numbers of birds of prey and decline in small bird populations. Fancier B formed a network of these interested parties and provided them with press cuttings and information to counteract the misinformation from protectionist bodies such as RSPB. Fancier B was part of the original group that formed the Save our Songbirds organisations, now a powerful lobbying group covering both England and Scotland and attended their inaugural meeting at Malvern in the late 1990’s. Fancier B has represented the SHU members on the Scottish Parliaments Animal Welfare Committee and at SEERAD meetings dealing with Avian Influenza restrictions and licensing procedures. As a member of the Animals in War Committee Fancier B has provided practical support to help bring about the erection of the animals in War Memorial which now stands in London’s Park Lane. Since the Royal British Legion granted permission for the National Pigeon Service to be represented at the Remembrance parade in London, Fancier B has attended each year, representing Scottish Fanciers at both the parade and the House of Commons Dinner. Fancier B has promoted the sport and represented the views of the fancy in the press, on radio and on national television. Fancier B has attempted several times (as yet unsuccessfully) to have pigeons included in special stamp editions with Royal Mail. Fancier B has provided information to official bodies to help have pigeon racing recognised as a sport. Fancier B has appeared in court in defence of members of the Union who have faced victimisation by neighbours who don’t want them to keep pigeons in their gardens. Fancier B proposed the publication of the SHU Centenary Book and was instrumental in encouraging members and clubs to support the venture and compiled and edited stories and facts for the book from all over Scotland and the UK to mark the Union’s 100th year. Fancier B applied for and secured a lottery funding to help finance the project. Fancier B has worked most recently to support the Centenary Committee, a small team of SHU members and officials that have worked tirelessly and pulled out all the stops in support of the Union, their efforts have raised many thousands of pounds to fund the striking of a silver Centenary Medal and the publication of the Centenary Book as well as a special centenary dinner to celebrate the 100 year milestone. Fancier B believes that their role is to fully support projects that lead to the betterment of the sport and the raising of the status of the sport of pigeon racing in Scotland and I feel that everything they do is for the good of all Scottish pigeon fanciers. I hope what I have put here is suitable for you to consider Fancier B for the Annie Bowes Trophy. Fancier C He'd read your article in the Homing World and was especially interested in the section about the A R Bowes Trophy for Fancier’s Fancier of the Year award. I would like to nominate the following fancier for this award; This fancier has for many years been the Secretary for East Calder Homing Society, is the Secretary for the Almond Valley Federation and is past Secretary for the Central Federation. Works tirelessly in everything to do with the sport as Secretary to the Scottish Central Combine they gave their all working hard to ensure that all fanciers received fast and accurate results, not easy, as I'm sure you will know Joe. I don’t know how many countless hours working for the fanciers they have done; which is something that I feel has gone unnoticed by many people. This year again another project was undertaken by doing the tiresome paperwork, (of which there is always plenty) in the involvement in the SHU one loft at Kirknewton Another task undertaken was the arrangement and delivery of the youngsters, keeping owners updated on their well-being, spending many hours on the phone and computer updating the results and at the same time still managing to find the time to attend to own pigeon’s. I feel that this person deserves some sort of accolade for all the hard work and as I said many fanciers do not realise the sheer hard work that people like they and you Joe do year after year. Indeed without their likes our sporting game would ground to a halt. Fancier D I would like to nominate the following fancier for the AR Bowes trophy they are not only first class pigeon fancier, but have held many posts within club, federation. Being a past president, organizer of breeder / buyer sales, coordinates the federation show and acts as auctioneer to raise money for worthy causes. Give help to old and new starts within the sport; at times giving direct from his best birds which has resulted in personal performances suffering as he refuses nobody. This person has never sold a bird and the calibre of birds gifted is up with the best in Scotland. Again advice is given freely regarding any aliments with fancier’s birds and the vast knowledge is appreciated by fanciers from near and far. I cannot speak to highly of this fancier and to my mind and many others is that they are a great fancier, nothing is too much trouble for them. The Aberdeen federation and the Aberdeen and district racing pigeon club and many others from all over the UK are indebted to this fancier. What they don’t know about pigeons, pigeon diseases, fancier’s needs for pigeons, advice and most of all Friendship you could write on the back of a stamp. When my partner was sick this person was always on hand to give me help and advice and I have great pleasure to nominate them for the A R Bowes trophy for Fanciers Fancier of the Year. Fancier E It was while I was reading your recent request for nominations for the AR Bowes trophy and Fancier E came to mind. I thought that they would be a suitable recipient for the trophy. They started keeping pigeons away back in 1938 and continued with pigeons during his time in the Army 1951 - 1953; during this time they bred a pair of pigeons who in turn were grand parents in November the same year as their own birth; now how’s that for breeding? Within 10 minutes of attending their first federation meeting Fancier E was elected as the federation delegate. This person has also been local press officer for the club federation and combine; since 1958 when he endeavoured to gain publicity for their fellow fancier’s achievements. Joe you know the work that goes into compiling your SNFC reports well Fancier E was the first to cover Country Wide Interviews for the Gazette and they highlighted the performances of Scottish Fanciers. Needless to say they have done a lot for the fancy in general, being a scribe for the BHW for nearly 50 years, a liberator of birds since 1946 (when the birds were transported by train and the baskets had to be manually lifted off the wagons and placed on the platforms. Fancier E was always there with sleeves rolled up nothing was too much bother to them) this has continued during lorry transportation until recently when they became unfit. However they have continued as a "line of flight forecasts" for the past 50 years when they first obtained their Perfect Liberators Licence in 1958. I believe that at that time the Wick and Thurso clubs may have had their birds liberated by Fancier E at Arbroath which was one of their Race Points. Fancier E still assists the London North Road Combine, Welsh North Road and the North Road Championship Club to this day. Other North Road Convoyers/Controllers used their line of flight weather reports when they were flying from Fraserburgh, Thurso or Lerwick. Fancier E has also attended to private individual (fanciers and clubs) birds prior to liberating them to fly home to Dorset when 22 birds arrived on the day from an entry of 27 with 4 the next day and the other 3 have not been seen since however you must agree a fantastic achievement from this near 300+ mile event. Fancier E has taken club birds in a van to race points to make sure that fellow members had a race prior to the race programme beginning. In recent times things have not been all plain sailing by any means but as their own health problems have been quite horrendous this has never come through in articles and they are as cheerful as ever. Fancier E has also been 24 x 7 stray services to the fanciers and public at large as everyone knows that they will assist with returning a stray bird. Fancier E has also done tremendous work for the Intensive Care Department at Nine Wells Hospital donating hundreds of pounds from charity events they have held. At one time Fancier E was a much sought after Eyesign judge and travelled the country carrying out this task even as far a field as Tottenham in London. I must confess to having little more to add to what I have already written. It is nigh on forty years since I last saw Fancier E when we made a stop at the family shop to buy a feeding bottle for our then baby. As normal this person was always very hospitable on these occasions and I was an avid reader of their column at that time.....viola tricolour, etc. etc. Views on moon and tides made interesting reading and could stimulate a debate very easily. A great character in the nicest possible sense and I have great pleasure in nominating Fancier E I leave it very much to yourself Joe whether you feel it should be included, I'm sure you know their qualities much better thanI do. The Winner The choice of the selection committee was Fancier E who was none other than our own Jim George (Round O), scribe for the BHW. To say Jim was happy would be an understatement as when I phoned him to tell him he was speechless. He didn't even know he had been nominated and wondered who had done so and it was Herbert MacKenzie of the Highland Federation. Jim told me that in 1992 he visited Willie McApline who won this conveted award that year. Willie was so proud and when showing it to Jim he said ‘Maybe someday laddie you will win this’. Jim's reply was, ‘No not me Willie’. Well lo and behold here we are 15 years later and the man himself wins the Fanciers Fancier of the Year Award.
David Black presents the A R Bowes trophy to Jim George with proud Mrs George looking on. The next morning after I had told Jim my phone went at 07-30am I wondered ‘who the hell is this at this time of the morning’. 'Hi Joe', says the bold Jim, 'do you know I have not slept a wink of sleep all night thinking about you telling me I’m the winner of the Annie Bowes trophy.' This wonderful trophy was presented to Jim at the SHU Centenary Celebrations in the Hillcroft Hotel, and I have to say that it could not have happened to a nicer man; the ovation he received from the 200 strong company nearly brought the house down. Afterwards you could not get near Jim or his good lady Edna as I think the whole company came forward to shake their hands. One of the most important aspects of our sport is when you win either a pigeon race, show class, trophy or even a national race. The most important thing is to appreciate it and believe me Jim George recognizes the value of winning the Annie Ross Bowes trophy. The other nominations were Fancier A Willie Dunsmore of Pentland Hills Federation, Fancier B Linda Brooks of the SHU, Fancier C Jimmy Young of Almond Valley Federation and Fancier D Dave Pirie of Aberdeen. Each of them very worthy nominations for this award. However, this was not up to me it was left to the panel of judges and it was their choice. David Black told me that along with his family he sat round the dinner table and they all read my letter regarding the nominations and it was a 4 out of 5 for the same person, and David was happy to phone me with his choice. I have to apologies to the fanciers who sent in their letters with the nominations. I did not have time to contact them personally, as I was away on holiday, and then had to work on Dale Newcombe’s sale lists and then the SHU Centenary celebrations. I’m not making excuses but I don’t have any spare time as every weekend was fully booked right up to Christmas and thank God we had that 2 week break as things are so hectic. May I once again thank the people who wrote in with their nominations and to the above fanciers ‘Hard Luck’ but please don’t be too disappointed as one thing is for sure your contribution to the sport has not gone unnoticed. To our winner Jim George enjoy your time with this wonderful trophy, you deserve it. Compiled and copyright Joe Murphy 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 after 7pm week days or my email address is joejmurphy@tiscali.co.uk Or log onto www.elimarpigeons.com and www.Pigeonportal.com for my up to date portfolio on pigeon topics from Scotland. 28/12/07 Report
Stray Pigeons Here |
