Lancashire Social Circle

Following the move to a new location at St Anne's-on-Sea, The Lancashire Social Circle held their second Gathering at the Inn On The Prom for their Autumn Gathering. The whole weekend went remarkably well with all members and guest applauding the location move from Southport. I have to say all this was on the face of things, but as the event organiser the smallest of items that don't go to plan always give you sleepless nights, and this event was one of those. It started some months ago when the hotel asked for booking as the hotel was getting fully booked which I thought was a good thing proving we had made the right decision to re-locate.  Looking at the numbers from the last two Gatherings I felt comfortable in booking enough rooms to cover the event for all members and guests. Big mistake, with the restrictions of Covid this last couple of years, the number escalated and I found myself in the strange position of fanciers wising to come along with no room at the Inn so to speak. With hotels on both sides of ours were also fully booked, there was no option but to ask a number of guests to stand down on this occasion or for people to twin up in preference to having single rooms. On the whole everyone was accommodating and with the exception of seven people who made their own arrangements with a neighbouring hotel we were set for a fabulous weekend. On the weekend itself which includes the prize presentation the member who was bringing the trophies along got his dates mixed up and thought the weekend was the following week. A couple of quick phone calls and with a little help from fanciers all turned out well, with most people not even knowing we had experienced a problem.

Friday had most of the members and guests arriving early to mid afternoon and when I arrived somewhat later than I would normally do that was down to some family business everyone was comfortably fed and all had a drink in their hand toasting my arrival, the fun some people get, out of getting one over on a fellow member. Friday evening had everyone in the Ball Room for a free and easy and a hot meal that once again proved exceptional. This is the twelfth year of holding a Friday Forum at our Autumn Gathering and this year instead of having a comedian the President Stephen Beardmore opened the evening by asking all members who had or intended to get a CPH number to raise their hands, the reason for this was to give us some idea of how many members intended to race the Channel this next season. This would give the Committee a better understanding of how to arrange the races this coming season. Stephen then asked for a show on hands from everyone in the room that did not intend to fly the Channel races. Roger Sutton then took to the floor and gave a great explanation as to how easy it was to get a CPH number even if you did not intend to race from France. Michael Currie took over and explained what he and his daughter had done with the SNFC in order for them to race from France. A couple of points that Michael made very clear was his daughter made a list of all the ring numbers of every bird in each basked that were numbered. Once the transporter moved from the marking station to the second and final marking station all the Vet was interested in was the paperwork and never bothered to look at any of the pigeons. Michael pointed out as far as the Ministry or concerned is the paperwork in all in order and fully understand fanciers would not enter pigeons to fly hundreds of mile if they were not fit to do so. Michael went on to explain his second point, and that was, the engaging of a Shipping Agent this came as a small cost, but when the transporter reached the port an official would not let the transporter onto the ferry as in his opinion there was some paperwork missing. The Shipping Agent was in contact with the port authorities and the transporter went on board without any further trouble. In Michael's words without this Shipping Agent this might have been different. The final person to speak was the new CEO of the RPRA Chris Sutton he held a question and answer session that ironed out several questions many were unsure of. He explained with around 20,000 members of the RPRA the Government had placed a great number of staff onto providing CPH numbers, but with very little up, this staff would be redeployed and getting a CPH number in the New Year would or could take weeks or even months. So he felt if members were sitting on the fence waiting to make up their minds it would be better to apply sooner rather than later.

We later made the draw for the Lancashire Social Circle Breeders Exchange. Something we have been holding since 1944 and this year's draw is as follows. Alan Bamford x Chris Knowles, Brian Walsh x John Mills, David Jones x George Pendleton, Brian Holland x David Newson, Maurice McCartney x Peter Robinson, Gerry Clements x Ray Bullen, Stephen Beardmore x William Curtis, Kenny Atherton x John Dearden, Keith Iddon x Peter Latham, Ronnie Wignall x David Sowerby, Peter Morris x Bob Smith, Jamie Campbell x Jim Frost, Malcolm Parry- Jones x Ian Cooper, Garry Cockshott x Bobby Brandon, Graham Mackay x Mark Cliffe, David Pritchard x George Pulford, Jim Kenny x John Winstanley, Tom Owen x Alan Jones, Eric Entwistle x Dennis Little, Maurice Jackson x Vinnie Donnelly, Jeff Churchill x Roger Sutton, Chris Corfield x E Fergusson. The rest of the evening was left to socialising and catching up with the many members and guests who had travelled from all parts of the UK and over the border from Scotland.

Saturday morning following an excellent breakfast members of the Management Committee held a meeting that was followed by the AGM. With everyone happy with how the Social Circle is run and with a healthy bank balance all post were quickly filled will all members    re-elected. The AGM was followed by a General meeting and a couple of items had changed from this last season, one major change was the races. Following the show of hands from the previous night it was obvious not all members intended to register to race the channel so it was the recommendation of the Committee we hold two costal inland races and a third from Guernsey. It was also agreed we run a race a 400 mile race in conjunction with the NFC that would enable us to reinstate two trophies that had previously been used as nominated trophies with the NFC 's Pau and Tarbes races. The second big change was Tony Merrick who along with his wife Kim have been organising the Ladies Weekends was stepping down from event's organisers. It had been hoped a couple of members might step up to take on the role but we only managed to get one brave member to take on the challenge, David Newson. David tells me the date of the next Ladies Weekend is 20th 21st October 2023, the venue is to be the same as this last year The Clifton Arms and Lytham St Annes. David has taken a number of booking at this last Gathering so should you wish to come along get in contact with him sooner rather than later his mobile number is 07974 168356 and with only a small number of rooms in this first class hotel it is first come first served.

Saturday evening had everyone dressed for dinner that was once again held in the Ball Room with well over 100 sitting down for a very well presented four course dinner that was given the thumbs up from everyone with clean empty plates going back to the kitchen from every table. President Stephen Beardmore opened the evening with a very warm welcome to all members and guests especially those attending for the first time. He then asked everyone to stand for a moment in silence in memory of a Past Vice President George Mainwaring. Stephen then went on to explain about a new addition, a Silver Salver displayed on the top table that had been purchased with donations and displayed the names of past members who while not with us in person will always be with us in name.

He then introduced the Secretary to pay tribute to George Mainwaring, Brian explained he was only standing in for Alan Jones who was originally planned to do the tribute but having caught a chest infection had given back word. Brian went on giving the background to George's working life as an electrician working for ICI before taking early retirement at the age of 53 and with the help of his many friends never did a day's work thereafter. While his health had gone backwards this last year he was still in good spirits and just prior to his passing was looking forward to the coming racing season having bought a new loft fitted with the ETS system. Following retirement, he went into local politics and was Mayor of his local town on two occasions and the front cover of the programme of events showed George in his Mayoral Robes and Chain of Office. Over his time in politics he did a lot for his community and one time while playing Father Christmas for his local school one child sat on his knee and reconised him, but George being George soon hid the situation under control.

Bob Smith winner of the YB Race                                                George Pendleton winner of first Littlehampton

Cosmin Talis and Mick McGrevy                                                 Breeder and Racer of the winning pigeon in the Friendship Race

Ray Bullen was next on his feet making the introduction to our principle guest speaker John Burgham a 65 year old married man of 42 years who has two daughters and five grandchildren. John is a renowned and very well respected Welsh fancier who has been involved with pigeons since the age of 7 when he took an interest in his grandfathers birds in the Forest of Dean when visiting on holiday. John raced with his brother under the name of Burgham brothers, and what a successful partnership this was, with results like 1st Nat Crief, Car winners from Thurso, and colour TV in every room in the house, Fed champions 3 years on the run (the only loft to do this) Flying in a hotbed of competition against the likes of Preece Bros and the Padfield family. John later became partners with Williams brothers & son with continued success winning 5 x 1st Nationals, 1st open BICC Alencon, 3rd open BICC Falaise and many more great results. Like a lot of pigeon fanciers he loves his sport, competing at a good level at Table Tennis, Squash and Rugby, captaining his local side for a number of successful years. He now runs the compare the pigeon auction site with his good friend John Wheatcroft.

It was now the time for John Burgham to make his address he didn't go on about his sporting achievements but explained about the top fanciers he flew against and how this goes a long way to make you a better fancier. he filled the room with laughter on a number of occasions with some tall stories that went a long way to make a great evening of entertainment for all present. John finished by asking all guests to stand and he made the toast to the Lancashire Social Circle. Following his address Gary Cockshott took to the floor to make the response on behalf of the members. Garry explained how fortunate we were to be among some good company and have a very talented speaker in John, Gary then asked all to stand when he made a toast to all the speakers.

Secretary Brian Dearn with two of his guests Steve Gardnerand Phil Wilkins    Three of the Speakers R Sutton G Cockshott R Bullen

The LSC Memorial Silver Salver                                      New Life Member George Pulford with Stephen Beardmore

It was now time for the President to make his Address and he started by walking over to the opposite side of the room and asking George Pulford to stand when he introduced him to the Gathering as one of the Life Members of the Circle, this position had been made at our last function but George was unable to attend. Stephen then went on to thank Tony and Kim Merrick for the work they had put into the Ladies Weekend over several years who was now stepping aside to make way for a new member to take on the role. He explained the next Ladies event was to be held on the 20th & 21st October this next year. He then went on to explain a couple of items from the morning meeting including the races for next season.

We had now reached the part of the evening when we present the trophies, prizes and framed diploma along with the awards. I will not go into these as I have covered then in my reports on the races throughout the season. But the photos that run alongside the article show a number of these receiving their trophies. It was now time for Roger Sutton a past President of the Circle and winner of the longest old bird race to make the response on behalf of the prizewinners. Roger being an accomplished speaker didn't make to long of a response, congratulating all the winners and thanking members who sponsored some of the races. He hoped member would apply for their CPH numbers even if they did not intend to race the Channel as once you have your number at any point you wish to race the longer distances the process would then be much easier.

Chris Corfield with his diploma presented by John Burgham               David Jones congratulated by John Burgham

Peter Morris with John Burgham and Stephen Beardmore                   John Winstanley John Burgham Stephen Beardmore

The President Stephen Beard more brought the evening to a close a little sooner than has been the norm by thanking Brian Smith and John Mills for the trophy display, David Sowerby for storing the trophies and getting them to the Gathering, David Newson for picking up the Flowers and the Programmes of Events, all the members who helped put the evening together including those who helped in the afternoon with the tables etc. David Jones for taking the photos, so important in recording the events of the weekend, to all the speakers and everyone who will be travelling home that evening to have a safe journey. Stephen finished by reminding everyone this was the ideal time to arrange a pair of youngsters from a guest to take part in the Friendship Race this next year, as these youngsters could be made available for the next Gathering that is to be held in February which is a little earlier than at our previous hotel, with the date of the weekend being 24th 25th February 2023. With some of the problems encountered with rooms at this function bookings will need to be in a little earlier than we have been use too, so please support our Secretary with and early reply.

Brian Dearn. Tel. 01254 772515.