THE RACING PIGEON 19 APRIL 2024
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SOLWAY SOUNDS with Billy Wortley
Halliday, W B Halliday, T Little, Mr & Mrs Horsburgh, J Graham, J Armstrong, D J Murray, J Welsh, J M Dalgliesh Senior, J Soutar, J Jamieson and M Jamieson. Jim B Halliday was immediately elected Secretary, a position he held for 40+ years until he had to retire due to failing health. He was a splendid administrator and was highly respected across the entire Federation. Years before other larger clubs even thought about it, the members acquired an existing property, which they refurbished to convert it into splendid Club Rooms. The members and friends met in the Club Rooms each Sunday evening and sat
News, views and results to 37 Hospital Road, Annan, Dumfriesshire, DG12 5JF Email address: wpwortley@btinternet.com
“We’re members of the Harvester’s Club” One of the Clubs I’ve particularly admired over the years is ‘Brydekirk’ and within the following para- graphs I’ll endeavour to provide an explanation as to why I believe it is so special. Brydekirk is a small village located two miles north of Annan; this homely village nestles by the banks of the River Annan and the friendship and neighbourly companionship that abounds in the community epito- mises all that is good in Scottish rural life. For many years this small place has been a household name in the Scottish pigeon fancy, being home to a number of very able fanciers and importantly some fabulous pigeons. I was friendly with a very prominent West of Scotland fancier who once told me that the finest pigeons he ever seen were all housed in several lofts in one street in the village of Brydekirk and if any one of them was to win a National he wouldn’t be surprised. The pigeon story in the village extends back almost one hundred years. Among the original fanciers in the village were J B Halliday, D Garner, J M Dalgliesh Senior, D Murray, T Scaife, W MacKie etc. In those days a club did not exist in the village and the fanciers mentioned competed for a time in Hoddom, Lockerbie, Annan and Gretna Clubs. At that time also a Boys Club existed in the village and amongst those who participated in the Boys Club were Jim Soutar and Willie Ewart. In those days a number of fine pigeons raced into the community indeed I was told by the late Jim Halliday that the finest pigeon he ever seen was a Red cock that was owned by Davie Garner. It was bred from stock pair that were obtained from Captain Walker from Moffat, who had gone to considerable expense to acquire top quality stock.
Apparently Davie cycled 25 miles to Moffat to obtain the eggs from which the parents of the red cock were hatched. The red cock won out of turn and topped the Federation on numerous occasions. Jim said that on one occasion the birds were being basketed at Annan for an Open race and John Kirkpatrick asked if he could handle the pigeon and in so doing made comment “I could do with a loft full like it”, to which a comment was made by an observer “I could do with one like it”. Jim also told me that the red cock was 3rd Open Solway Fed from Dol, having been found in the loft. When reflecting on original fanciers in the village, consider Tommy Scaife and Davie Murray who were real ‘worthies’. They would now be described as Pest Control Officers as they earned a livelihood by trap- ping rabbits, moles etc. They were real characters and I could relate a number of humorous stories about them; for example I was told that in those days the Pool Money for the bigger races had to be saved. Tommy Scaife had saved 2/6d to put on a pigeon going to the Channel and deposited it under the nest bowl of the fancied pigeon for safe keeping. His good lady cleaned the birds out for him when he was at work and he told her not to disturb the pigeon as it had been set up for the race. She initially did as she was told but after several days moved the bowl to clean the nest box and found the half-crown coin. Needless to say Mrs Scaife found a better use for the money. Following the Second World War there were a number of fanciers in the village and consensus was that they form a club. They arranged for Annan fanciers, George Jackson the Federation Secretary and John Kirkpatrick the Federation Vice President to meet and advise them and in 1949 a club was formed titled Brydekirk HC. The founder members were J B
Ben Scott.
round the welcoming fire burning away in the fireplace and ‘put the world to right’. They also ran winter shows which encouraged the friendship and cama- raderie. They organised a very successful weekly Tote Double Draw, the proceeds of which enabled them to acquire STB Printing Clocks for each of the seventeen members of the club and further acquired a Training Van to enable them to basket train the members birds. They additionally purchased pigeon corn in bulk to further assist the members. The Federation Committee Meetings were held in the Club Room, attending which was an experience in itself. There was always a welcoming fire and prior to the meeting Jim Halliday purchased Scotch Pies which he heated in the electric oven and midway through each meeting, proceedings were adjourned while Jim
Jim Halliday photographed with the Annie Bowes Memorial Trophy.
Jimmy Dalgliesh from Luce (right) and John Jamieson.
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