Bilco - RP Column 12/02/2010

[willie reynolds]

Blackpool - An' All That...
Eagerly awaited by the thousands of fanciers up and down the land, the
turning point of the year, when dates and weather take a back seat
because rings, nesting material and celebration reunions and sales all
come together. It used to be that when the People Sunday newspaper
hosted the Horticultural Halls in December in years gone by, but time
and tide wait for no man. The late Major Len Lewis, MBE, took hold of
the Show, took it to Blackpool and it has never looked back. In fact,
the Show has become a creature with a life of its own, and no matter
who ran it, it would survive because of that. Having said that, it
becomes ever more noticeable that it is becoming smaller every year.
Only a little perhaps, but it is declining.
Thanks to the kindness of Fred Bloor I was conveyed there and back in
state, asleep in the warmth of the back seat of his Audi Sallon. As
usual I stayed at the Rossi, 50 yards along the from the Manchester
Pub on the Promenade. Nothing "grand" about the Rossi, but good
company. For a mere £25 B&B it takes some beating, there were four
Maltese lads and a sprinkling from all over the UK there.

Second Thoughts...
Are often the best ones, and it appears that the British Barcelona FC
may be having second thoughts about those two proposed marking points.
You may recall I advised you that the stafford (Penkridge) station
offer was accepted, but that the Walkern one offered by Mike Shepherd
had been bypassed this year? Well, so many noises have been made off-
scene that second thoughts are now being sought and the Committee may
well be having that London marking station available after all. All it
needs is a little more demand from fliers and it may be on! Don't
leave it till the last moments lads, tell the Hon Secretary Now that
you want to use those stations. Oh and I got it wrong, Hazel Hopper
was not elected Press Officer, it was Richard Green. As if he hadn't
enough to do poor lad. Anyone logged in 1st, 2nd or 3rd position in
Sections, or in the first dozen Open in races, should contact him as
soon as position known with details and photos. It helps enormously, I
know, I've had some, and its like finding buried treasure trying to
run some of the winners to earth in the short space of time (24 hours)
one has in order to catch the following week's press.
I also got some of the pricings wrong too by the way, the BBC has
decided that although it paid far more prize monies than other classic
clubs, it made little difference to entries, so it has reduced some a
little. That they offered Bordeaux for £3.50 birdage, while the NFC
asked £5 for Saintes, some 50 miles shorter in distance was another
anomaly. There's no understanding fanciers at times is there?
Maybe some prefer flying with the NFC because they keep the short
fliers out of the honours, by banning Channel Islanders from competing
in their National races. The BBC are ready and willing to take on any
competition, even International Barcelona, the toughest one of all.
I was rather puzzled by a proposition to elect a new President, with
one of the standing President's tour of three years still to run, and
then there's the time honoured 'route' via other senior office
positions, ie that of Chairman, which appears to being ignored when
the present occupant has been in situ for five years. An amendment by
Roger Hurst to permit Dave Whitefield to complete his three year tour
of office deservedly won the vote. Politics have already cost the club
an excellent Convoyer and long serving President Peter Willcox. The
harmony that I have witnessed in this club since I joined in 19668
seems to me to be in danger, I hope and trust I am wrong. I hope too
that next year's AGM is better attended.

The Scottish RP/Sparrowhawk Predation Research Trial 2009...
Was, as expected, rejected by all the Raptor Groups as inconclusive.
As I have expressed so many times over the past 30 years, there is but
one way to deal with raptor groups and their disbelief in anything
that blames birds of prey, and that is to do what has to be done and
shut up about it. Totally blind to any fault in birds of prey, and
totally blind to any damage done to any other interests but theirs. If
the Fancy does what common sense tells it to do, then the problem will
be solved. The ultimate end of such a policy is utter and total
disaster to any and all interested, even those of the raptor groups
themselves, for at the end of the line they too will become extinct
with nothing left to prey upon.

Dr Ralph Iley, CBE
I met him twice, a lovely fellow, all pigeon fancier. He made me feel
welcome and at home in moments. As Rod Adams says, there'll never be
another like him, he was unique. Sincere condolences to his sorrowing
family.