The Joe Murphy Column
I received a phone call from Jim Watson regarding my article on Johnny Dora of Arbroath who won the Rennes race. I asked Jim to put his memories down in an email and I would add it to my column. Jim’s daughter did so and here is his reply. ‘Hi Joe, After our wee blether on Monday I have noted down my recollection of Rennes Race 1961. I was about 15 years old at the time, and I was standing in my brother-in-law, Kim Reid (raced under C and G Reid) garden at Lingerwood Road in Newtongrange, watching and waiting for the Rennes birds. We saw 2 two birds crossing above us - one broke off and heading down into Fifth Street in Newtongrange, and Kim had told me to run round to see if Willie Thompson has timed in. When I got round to Willie’s to see if the ‘doo’ was one from Rennes - it was! His red chequer hen had been timed in; however, he was cursing as this was not his fancied bird for the race - never the less he had one home, and one of the first at that!!
I can’t quite recall when the word came through, but we had news that there was a bird timed in Fife (which was wrong as it was Arbroath) and it had been confirmed as 1st open - this was J.P Dora's and Willie Thompson was confirmed as 2nd open. Joe, this was my first real experience of the excitement that ‘doo men’, felt getting a bird home and timed in from a race over 500 miles. I myself am 76 and the way that our sport is going, it’s good to be able to recall events like the above. I hope that this wee memory can invoke some other "auld timers" to share their thoughts with you. Keep up Column going and best wishes; yours in sport Jim Watson (J Watson & Daughter Newtongrange)
Prince who ruled the Skies
I received a note and article from The Northern Echo on the ‘Prince who ruled the Skies’ from Nick Hopton from Bishop Auckland in Co Durham, which he thought might be of interest in the column. Nick reads my column every week and says, ‘Keep up the Good Work yours in sport Nick’. Obviously, I could not use the contents of the article without asking permission from the Echo Journalist Chris Lloyd who compiled the story; WHICH I DID. Chris was very helpful and he even forwarded me the photographs he used in his column, for which I am eternally grateful. The story is of ‘The Prince of Rome’ who was bred and raced by Vester & Scurr of Tudhoe Colliery in Spennymoor. The stuffed pigeon had been found in a museum in the Midlands, but hopefully he will be coming back home. Before the First World War, this pigeon from Spennymoor became a celebrity for his endurance exploits which earned him the name; The Prince of Rome. Usually, he went by his ring number J5093 which is still on his leg in the storeroom in a Derby museum. The cock was bred by Henry Vester, Richard Scurr and his son William, the bird won the race from Oxford a distance of 202 miles in 1909 as a 3-year-old. The following year he was entered into the international arena and won his first 456-mile race from Rennes in Brittany in France. In 1911 he was 1st home from Arlon a distance of 475 miles from Arlon which is in south Belgium and the following year he repeated his feat from Rennes. Now he was ready for something special, the International Rome race. At 04-45am on the 29th of June 1913 along with 1653 of the continents very best and bravest birds they were liberated in the Eternal City. Tragically, the birds flew straight into a terrible snowstorm over the Alps; some of the birds were blown fatally off course others were forced down into deep snowdrifts from which they couldn’t escape. But a hardy few just kept on flying…. Belgium was then the capital of pigeon racing. The first recorded race had been held there in 1818, and in the 1800s, the sport really took off, spreading across the channel to the working-class communities of Britain. But of 1200 Belgium pigeons released that day in Rome, only 62 made it home. And of the 106 English birds released only on appeared to have returned to his loft. He was NU1907DY168 whose arrival back in Derby on July 29th was a full month after his release and he it was greeted with astonishment. He was a blue cock belonging to Charlie Hudson, a council lamplighter, and he had taken 31 days to cover the 1001 miles; As all the other British birds were feared lost, he was crowned the King of Rome. But then on August 18th; J 5093 DROPPED IN AT Messrs Vester and Scurr’s loft at Tudhoe. He had covered the 1093 miles 1186 yards in 51 days. Although he had flown further than the King of Rome; his average speed was slower so he was crowned the ‘Prince of Rome’. No other English pigeons have ever flown such long distances, and their achievements are only excelled by those of American birds, crowned the Homing Pigeon Annual of 1914. In October 1913, the two birds were honoured at the Manchester Flying Club’s annual dinner. Both the King of Rome and the Prince of Rome were present at Mr Hudson was presented with a silver trophy, the Rome Cup, a diploma of honour from the Brussels Society and a prize of £12. Messrs Vester and Scurr received a diploma from Belgium and £8. The Tudhoe trio also received many offers from their ‘Prince’, including from America, but they turned them all down. However, pigeon racing was a dangerous game- the King of Rome, for instance, had returned from 2 of its previous international races badly shot up- and so the Prince of Rome was retired from the skies and set to stud in Tudhoe. ‘Vester and Scurr’ will have a limited number of youngsters for disposal in 1914 from £1 each, said the Homing Pigeon Annual.
The Breeders of the Prince - William Scurr standing his father Richard and Henry Vester. This photo was taken from the Homing Pigeon Annual published just after the birds great success in 1913
When memories last told this story in 2010, with the help of many, with the help of many readers and the Tudhoe & Spennymoor Local History Society, that is where it ended with the Prince of Rome contently cooing in his Tudhoe coop. But now, amazing work in Derby Historian, writer and all-round enthusiast Kal Singh Dhindsa has unearthed the taxidermized body of the Prince in the Storeroom of Derby Museum. In Derby, the King of Rome is, rightly, well known. When he died, Mr Hudson had his body stuffed and, in 1946, he was presented it to his local museum where it has been on display ever since. Folk musician Dave Sudbury wrote a song about the King’s exploits which has been recorded by June Tabor and the Unthanks.
Apparently, in Lionel Messi’s biography, the Argentinian who some regard as the ‘Greatest Footballer’ of all time; say he was inspired by the song and the story to spread his wings. Kal has recently placed a plaque in a pub in Derby near the home of Mr Hudson to commemorate the ‘King of Rome’. ‘He was a plucky pigeon from a poor area of Derby’ he says. ‘It’s quite incredible to think. Stories like these that inspire people are really important.
The Plaque
In the museum storeroom, Kal discovered a second pigeon, the ‘Prince of Rome’, that was donated at the same time as the King with information which proves that it is the Spennymoor bird- it even has the J5039 tag still on its leg.
Kal Singh Dhindsa with the Prince of Rome that he dicovered in Derby Museum & The legs of the Prince of Rome with his number J5093, clearly viible, its upside down on the leg on the left.
While researching, I came across your (Memories) story of the Price of Rome says Kal. ‘The King of Rome is always son show but the Prince of Rome isn’t. The King is highly regarded; the Prince should be too. In my book, the King came back first in the quickest time but the Prince came back 31 days longer and travelled those extra miles to the North East, so it should be recognised as one of the ‘Greatest Pigeons Ever’. ‘It would be great if we could return the Prince of Rome back to the North East. I would love to think that kids would be inspired by the story of the greatest of them ALL’.
King of Rome & Prince of Rome in Derby
Kal’s census research shows that Mr Vester and Mr Scurr lived in Attwood Terrace, and he is coming up late this month to see where a plaque commemorating the Prince might me placed. The Prince’s story is also going to be included in a feather length film that is being make by Nova Mundi Studios. Local film makers Daniel John Williams, Marc de Launay and Ian Paine have been following Redcar fanciers for 3 years for this film, ‘about love, passion and pigeons.’ The working title of the film is ‘Pigeon Men, and a beautiful trailer can be seen at www.pigoenmen.com although by the time it is released later this year it will simply be Home. But there should be a plaque to the pigeon that held the British distance record be placed? And do you have a connection to Henry Vester or Richard and William Scurr, or can you tell us anything more about the Prince of Rome is so can you email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Kal Vester & Scurr Families
The longest ever flight by a homing pigeon seems to have taken place in Xinjiang region of China in 2005; when a bird called ‘Creation Invincible’ covered 4.308 km (2677 miles) in 83 days.
When the Prince of Rome landed on August 18 1913, it was the most famous thing to fly into Tudhoe., but that changed on December 24; when a German Doodlebug hit the cricket club, Doodlebugs were V1 flying bombs with engines that were sent off from the Continent. When the engine round out of fuel, the missile would drop to the ground and explode. Tudhoe was hit by the Doodlebug that travelled the furthest north. Chris also sent me some photographs from Sunday’s ceremony showing The Plaque, descendants from the Vester and Scurr families, plus Kal Singh Dhindsa and the Mayor of Spennymoor with the plaque. Also, Kal releasing a dark checker from outside the pub with the help of pigeon man Dave Brierley of Redcar. My thanks to Chris Lloyd, Kal Singh Dhindsa and nor forgetting Nick who informed me and sent the cutting out of the Northern Echo.
Kal with Dave Brieley of Redcar
Internet Story
Margaret was reading a story on the Internet which was as follows; A man was shot dead; when 3 people in dispute with rival pigeon racers in Portugal. The 4 men were wating for their pigeons to return after a race but they were also arguing about an illegal veggie garden. Portuguese newspaper said, ‘That one a 60-year-old, shot the other 3 before turning the gun on himself as police arrived. The victims were aged 47 & 65 and the 3rd hasn’t been made public. Portugal has restriction gun laws but firearms are legal for hunting. We will all have been in dispute at some time in our lives in pigeon clubs or in pubs regarding pigeons or their politics, BUT, thankfully it has never come to the above.
Results
Arbroath RP Club
News from Charlie Cameron who writes; From the Wooler 2 result flown on 1st May 6 members sent 139 birds, liberated at 07-30am. Charlie and his son Glen took the first 4 places plus 6th position. The winner was doing a velocity of 1174 with P Cameron winning 5th place. Les McKay wins 7th & 8th places with Graham McKenzie in 9th spot.
Kingdom Racing Pigeon Association
News from Pete Penman who wrote ‘Hi Joe, the KRPA 2nd old bird race was from Alnwick; with the 449 birds liberated along with the Fife federation at 8 am on Monday the 1st of May (as the weekend weather was rather poor). Taking the first nine places is Coaltown of Balgonie’s Gary Hall who had three birds drop together, his first bird is a yearling chequer Gaby Vandenabeele hen, then another yearling blue Vandenabeele cock. next was a home bred chequer cock all on roundabout. Davie Whyte won St. Serfs; Lou Mitchel took the honours at Rosyth with Tom Berwick leading the way at Leuchars.
Fife Federation
News from Geordie Todd who forwarded the Alnwick federation and section winners which are as follows; The federation had a convoy of 1769 birds liberated at 8am into a west wind. The federation top 10 are as follows; Brian Kinnear of Kennoway tops the federation with a 2-year-old recording a velocity of 1157; Brian is also 7th federation. John Harcus of St Andrews club wins 2nd 8th 9th & 10th places. With J D Armour of Methilhaven club winning 4th 5th & 6th places.
Centre Section had Methilhaven club sending 242 birds; Kennoway 341 birds; The section is won by Kennoway members with Brian Kinnear taking the first 2 positions; with B Chalmers in 3rd 4th & 6th with Sean Diamond in 5th place.
East Section had St Andrews club sending 160 birds; with Methilhaven sending 242 birds. John Harcus of St Andrews wins 1st & 6th places; with Methilhaven’s Clark & son wins 2nd place followed by J D Armour who wins 3rd 4th & 5th positions.
West Section had Lochgelly sending 216 birds; Novar 55 birds; Crossgates 311 birds & Dunfermline 305 birds. Novar club Erskine & son are 1st & 3rd section with Hynd & son of Crossgates club winning 2nd & 6th spots. Eddie McWilliams of Dunfermline is 3rd & 4th with J Coltart senior of Lochgelly club winning 5th spot.
Space Weather
The Space Weather 27-day Outlook Table as follows;
UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2023 May 01 155 12 4
2023 May 02 150 15 4
2023 May 03 145 12 4
2023 May 04 145 8 3
2023 May 05 135 5 2
2023 May 06 135 12 4
2023 May 07 135 10 3
2023 May 08 140 5 2
2023 May 09 140 5 2
2023 May 10 145 5 2
2023 May 11 150 8 3
2023 May 12 160 8 3
2023 May 13 160 5 2
2023 May 14 160 5 2
2023 May 15 160 5 2
2023 May 16 155 5 2
2023 May 17 150 5 2
2023 May 18 150 5 2
2023 May 19 150 5 2
2023 May 20 145 5 2
2023 May 21 145 5 2
2023 May 22 140 5 2
2023 May 23 140 12 4
2023 May 24 140 20 4
2023 May 25 140 15 4
2023 May 26 145 15 4
2023 May 27 145 8 3
Most Saturdays look good so far on this chart.
Joe’s Joke
A Cup of Tea One day my mother was out, and my dad was in charge of me. I was maybe 2 ½ years old. Someone had given me a little 'tea set' as a gift, and it was one of my favourite toys. Daddy was in the living room engrossed in the evening news when I brought him a little cup of 'tea', which was just water. After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such yummy tea, my mum came home. My dad made her wait in the living room to watch me bring him a cup of tea, because it was 'just the cutest thing!' Mum waited, and sure enough, here I came down the hall with a cup of tea for Daddy; and she watched him drink it up. Then she said, (as only a mother would know), "'Did it ever occur to you that the only place she can reach to get water is the toilet?"