Staithes Pigeon Club members in the Wharton Arms at Skelton in 1951, for the dinner and presentation evening. Do you recognise anybody in the picture?
Image and details to date courtesy of Mr. Ray Conn (photograph – Copyright L.W. & C.D. Richardson & Son, Redcar).
Hi I am a pigeon fancier originally from Staithes not quite as old as the photograph of the presentation of Staithes homing society in 1951 but I thought I recognised the two gentlemen on the far right of the photo when I was a child in the early 1970’s as Swicher Porritt with the flat cap and John Porritt just behind him in the flat cap. Both brothers topped the up north Combine in 1965 from the longest race called Bourges. It was a very famous achievement in the north east. The pigeon was called John Dawson after a lad who looked after the brothers pigeons whilst they were at work. I spoke to a pigeon friend originally from Staithes and he confirmed John Dawson is the third person from the right of the photo next to Swicher. Switcher and John’s achievement has motivated me for over 55 years to win a gold medal and this this year I became the British International Championship Club record holder for the longest bird in race time from Barcelona to Redcar 914 miles and I will be in the running for a Royal Pigeon Racing Association medal fingers crossed. Please could I be so bold as to ask if I could use part of this photo to tell my and Swicher and John’s story to the pigeon press as they have already indicated that they will be interviewing me in the near future. Thank you in advance and I hope this helps you with more names that may come in the future. Regards Dave Brierley