THE RACING PIGEON 19 APRIL 2024
8
The Joe Murphy Column
Received an email from Bob Carter of Hull who used to be a scribe in the ‘Gazette’ many years ago, he wrote; ‘Hi Joe, Just to say I enjoyed your recent article in the paper on Major A Neilson Hutton. Though no longer active in the sport my brother Roy and I still enjoy reading the fancy press. I have Neilson Hutton’s excellent book ‘Pigeon Lore' published way back in 1962. Did you
Charlie Cameron – Grampian Combine Average Trophy.
Bob with ‘High Degree’ and Willie with ‘Jackpot’, see text.
daylight to spare! Hope this is of interest, Joe, best wishes Bob.’ I wrote and thanked Bob for his email, and his kind words regarding my article. I remember him writing in the Gazette all those years ago, in fact you wonder where these years have all gone. My thanks to Bob for the above and I hope he enjoyed my book on the Dewar Trophy First 50 Year Winners. I have been having some very positive feed- back from purchasers and posted two out today to go to Canada to Brad and Mike and one to Arklow. The Canadian lads did a fantastic advert for my book with the Front Cover of this month’s book having the Dewar Trophy on the Canadian Magazine which goes out to the following countries: England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, Italy, Malta,
that you lived in the Kirkcaldy area? My maternal grandmother's family were from Kirkcaldy and I can still remember travelling up there with my mam in the early 70’s to visit them. I managed to visit W & D Ree of Broughty Ferry to see and handle their Champion grizzle cock ‘High Degree’ winner of 1st Open SNFC Nantes flying 642 miles. I think they got a surprise to discover I was still a teenager and they gave me a warm Scottish welcome. I even squeezed in a flying visit to the local pigeon club and got my copy of the Gazette at the high street pet shop in Kirkcaldy. A memo- rable weekend for me. Hope you find this of interest, Joe. Best wishes, Bob Carter Hull. I have attached a copy of photo of a teenage self, holding Champion ‘High Degree’ at the Broughty
Ferry lofts of W & D Ree.’ I wrote back to Bob thanking him for his email, his reply was,; ‘Hi Joe, Thanks for your speedy reply. I had left the sport by the time you won the SNFC so a very belated but hearty congratulations! Also, my condolences on your loss of your son Kevin, it must have been a terrible blow. I would like a copy of your book Joe, please let me know how to get one. I didn’t realise ‘High Degree’ was the first winner of the Dewar Trophy though I knew he had won it. I am attaching another photo from my visit to Scotland, with me holding ‘High Degree’ and Willie Ree is (if memory serves me right) holding Champion ‘Jackpot’ winner of 3rd Open SNFC Nantes in 1970 (he won 26th Open the previous year) flying 642 miles on the day with three hours of
Bob Carter, see text.
know that he was an early ‘Old Hand' in the good old Pigeon Racing Gazette? He was apparently given the elbow by the then Editor SWE Bishop (who also wrote under the nom de plume ‘Old Hand’) after writing that a good big ’un will always beat a good little ‘un! I seem to remember you also contributed to the Gazette when I was writing for it? (I did for a while, but my wife Margaret took over this task). I also seem to remember
Adam Golicki.
David Hay.
Davie Glen.
Graeme McKenzie.
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