Keith Mott

A TRIBUTE TO BOB REEVES JNR OF EXMOUTH

Betty and I were devastated to receive a phone call from our dear friend, Bob Reeves, to inform us that his son, Bob Junior, had passed away on 20th June. Bob, aged 68, who had never had a day’s illness in his life, had collapsed at his home in Exmouth in the morning and passed away in hospital that night. To say this bad news was a shock would be an under statement, as Bob was such a fit man. Bob junior needs no introduction to B.H.W. readers as he has been writing for the ‘book’ for many years and was an outstanding fancier in his own right. Our condolences to the Reeves family from Betty and my self at this very sad time.

Bob Reeves junior lived with his family in Exmouth, Devon and had held many jobs in the sport of pigeon racing through the years, including secretary of the Exmouth & District Homing Society. He grew up with hid dad’s birds around him, and it was obvious at a very young age that he would follow in Bob senior’s footsteps and become a pigeon fancier. Bob junior had always been interested in the sport, but it wasn’t until he came out of the Army, after six years' service, which including a stay in Malta, that he started on his own in pigeon racing. He told me while in Malta he met the love of his live, Ina, who is now his wife! At that time he built his first racing loft, a primitive 8ft.x 6ft. structure and joined the best and hardest to win club in Exeter, the Western Counties Flying Club. Bob said in those days the club boasted 54 flying members and most of them being premier fanciers! Many of the present day racers learnt their trade in the Western Counties and are fanciers at the top of the game today.

In 1974 Bob, Ina and their two sons, Robert and Ian, moved out to Malta, but at that time it wasn’t easy to settle there and Bob could not get a work permit, so returned to the U.K. to live in Exmouth. Bob maintained Exmouth was a great place to race in the very strong Devon Federation and on his return in 1976 built himself a 24ft. racing loft. His birds were obtained from several premier fanciers and in 1977 joined the Exmouth & Dist. H.S. which is the club he races in today and is the secretary of. In the early days not much success came Bob’s way, but he enjoyed his racing. In 1981 he brought in some Busschaerts and Vandies and never looked back, winning 51 first prizes over a four year period. It was at about this time that Bob started to organise the West Country Breeder Buyer, which bought many good pigeons in to Devon from all over the U.K. Through this fundraising event and Bob’s writing in the fancy press, he made a lot of good friends in the sport.

The late Dave Cork of Norwich sent Bob down a blue Janssen cock that went on to win eight first prizes and set what Bob believes to be a record in the Devon County Championship Club. This game Janssen won his first race as a young bird from Warwick (137 miles), the following week he won first in the ring scheme from Ripley (167 miles) and the week after that he won the longest young bird race from Harrogate (240 miles). The first race the following season was the yearling event from Witton Gilbert, a distance of 300 miles and the blue cock came out and won that race. He was never out of the first four positions in the Federation result when winning and twice he won the Federation. Another good performer was ‘Superstar’, a blue chequer hen bred by Bob and she also won eight first prizes, including twice 1st. and twice 4th. Devon Federation. This wonderful hen was also a top breeder, with two nest mate brothers being sent to John McGreevy & son of Liverpool and they went on to win: 3rd Breeze Lane F.C. Dorchester, 4th club Hereford, 2nd club (beaten by loft mate), 6th North Liverpool Federation, 24th. Four Counties Combine (3459 birds) Sartilly, 1st club, 1st North Liverpool Federation (900 birds), 4th Four Counties Combine (2394 birds) Rennes (2).

The 2006 season was Bob junior’s first back in the sport since his return back from Malta, where he and his family had spent the last 12 years. He raced pigeons to the Island and said he had 12 great years living in Malta! At that time since his return he had only raced one or two old bird and a full young bird programme, and finished up as runner up to the highest prize winner in the club. He told me at the time that it’s thanks to his pals around the U.K. who had sent him some top class young birds to race. Bob’s presence will be greatly missed in our sport!

KEITH MOTT