Tribute to John Puddephatt of Ferring

I was very sorry to receive a phone call today informing me that John Puddephatt had passed away on Saturday 20th August. I recently received an email from John Puddephatt’s daughter, Lisa Turner, to inform me that her dad was packing up pigeon racing because of bad health. This is devastating bad news for our sport, as John Puddephatt has been racing and winning at the very top level for over 70 years and is one of the ‘legends’ of long distance pigeon racing in the south of England.

Near Gatwick Airport in Sussex was the site of the great National lofts of Colin and John Puddephatt. The brother’s loft had been one the leading outfits in National and Combine racing for many years, and must rate as one of the all-time greats. There third brother, Sidney, who had a big interest in the pigeons and had a major input with the birds through the years. I think it is common knowledge that the brothers split up in the late 1990’s and did race successfully at their own lofts in the south of England.

The brothers grew up in Carshalton in Surrey and their father was a Canary and British cage birds fancier. They started up in pigeons in the late 1940’s with birds costing 2/6d each from Petticoat Market, but they all disappeared when liberated. Then they started up with real racing pigeons nearly 70 years ago and did well from the off with birds from local fanciers W. Pickering, C. Langley and G. Payne. As novices the Puddephatts were the seventh on the list to collect prizes at the club dinner and prize giving, with 37 members in the club. Soon after, John and Colin won the very strong Surrey Federation three years on the trot and their first club, the Hackbridge & Dist. HS was sending 400 birds most weeks. The first loft was made of second hand doors, which were all painted different colours.

John Puddephatt raced on his own for many years, with outstanding success in National racing, at his home in Ferring on the South coast. John must have rated as one of the best long distance fanciers in the U.K., achieving a wonderful record in National and Classic racing over many years. The 2002 season saw him have a brilliant year racing in the National Flying Club, recording: 17th section A, 165th open Nantes (252 miles), 2nd, 8th, 29th, 36th, 44th, 45th, section A, 28th, 97th, 309th, 461st, 466th, open Pau (516 miles), 2nd, 9th, 27th, section A, 50th, 174th, 340th, open Saintes (351 miles), with only small teams being sent. A few more highlights of his success’ of recent seasons are: 2003: 3rd, 15th section A, 15th, 116th open NFC Dax, 5th, 6th, 7th section A, 78th, 85th, 98th open NFC Dax, 2004: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 12th, 26th section A, 6th, 19th, 25th, 118th, 186th open NFC, 135th open International (17,500 birds) Dax, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 10th, 14th section A, 25th, 45th, 47th, 70th, 103rd open NFC Pau, 2005: 1st, 6th, 7th, 13th, 16th section A, 11th, 78th, 84th, 138th, 166th open NFC Dax, 13th, 30th section A, 76th, 200th open NFC Tarbes, 2006: 11th, 30th section A, 677th, 725th open NFC St. Nazaire, 14th, 20th section A, 83rd, 132nd open NFC Bordeaux. John won the best average all NFC races in 2004 and several other premier NFC trophies in recent seasons. A fantastic loft record!

KEITH MOTT (AUGUST 2016)