Ian Stephens

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THE FEDERATION WESTERLY PROFILE

As promised after a short break we are back with the Westerly Profiles and we travel over the Severn Bridge to South Wales to meet up with Ian Stephens, a young man (well everybody is young compared to myself) that will in my opinion will be Mr. West for a very long time in the very near future. Ian like everybody wants success but is willing to travel the road and not looking for that immediate success with other peoples birds, he is building a stud that many would be proud to own, the pictures accompanying this report will demonstrate. Ian still lives at home with his parents and blames this on the operations that he has had on his knees but I believe it’s because of all the home comforts that he doesn’t want to give up and who can blame him.

Ian has one brother and one sister, Martin and Rachel. He is 31 years old (32 by the time this article gets published – couldn’t let you get away with that one Ian – DW) and lived at the same address all his life that is except for the two years he spent in Australia which is where he had one of his three knee operations. The last operation was just before Christmas as a lot of you will know that attended the Swansea show seeing Ian hobbling around the show and for a short period with his girlfriend Linda (sorry that’s a private joke between Ian and myself) her real name is Zoë, I think he took quite a bit of ribbing on that day, but it was a pleasure that Ian helped me when we were asked to judge best flyer. Ian is a Carpenter by trade but is currently working for Debenhams in Swansea where he has been for the last two and a half years.

Ian is a keen sportsman and is football mad. He has been playing since the age of 5 and represented Swansea three years in a row and has toured not only around the country but also abroad. He never did forfill his dream and that was playing for United. I am sure he means Man United and not Gower United. Just look at it this way Ian it was their loss and Swansea’s gain. His knee operations are a result of his footballing days and also his other sporting love surfing. Living near the beach (Three Cliffs Bays) as he does that is not surprising but as you can imagine whilst in Australia he lived in the water swimming with the sharks. Ian is finding it hard to accept that his footballing days are over but that can only be our gain and he will devote his energy into keeping his pigeons.

A. I have kept pigeons for 15 years but only started showing the West for the last 5 years. My Grandfather kept flying Tipplers in Reds and Blacks flying them for 18+ hours with my Father with him all the time. They also kept print Tipplers. My Great Grandfather kept West’s in Saddles, Bald’s and Whiteside’s but only for flying in the 1950’s. When Dad left home he went into Tipplers. After a couple of years he went into Racing Pigeons and flew the North Road and then went South flying the Channel and was very satisfied until the hawk started to kill taking a lot of pleasure from keeping the birds.

A. I had a couple of pairs of Tipplers from Alan Jones of Townhill which I used to fly out when Dad was not Racing and then met the late Dave Williams who kept top show racer’s. He gave me a pair of Cream West’s’ at the age of 13 which I bred and flew the young ones out.

A. I only keep West’s and I have most colours. Silvers, Blues, Khaki, Browns, Creams and I also have some Blacks and Yellows but my favourite must be my Chequers. I have not had much luck with the yellows but I will keep trying. I also like the Andalusions and hope to breed some top quality Andalusions in the near future. I have about 25 pairs at present including a few stock birds.

A. Good in the hand. Balanced, soft silky feathering, nice width of flights, good clear eye, Nice shape to the body not to high on the leg and of course good condition and clean.

A. Well I started off with an 8’ x 6’ when Nigel Solly set me up with a pair of blacks and then developed from there. I also built a 16’ x 8’ loft with two sections for my young birds on which I put two small aviaries so they can have their baths in the summer.

A. Well for the first three years I bred 10 youngsters each year but last year I bred 30 young ones and hopefully will do the same this year.

A. To continue to enjoy the breeding and showing of the West’s and also meeting everybody at the shows. To also win more Best West’s and Certificates and of course to win Best in Show at the Federation Show, which was an excellent show this year, probably one of the best that I have been to.

A. Well I class myself as a novice still due to fact that I am still learning. My Father has helped me a lot over the years with his knowledge what to feed etc. but the showing is new. Find someone with experience and try to get information from them and handle the birds that are winning at the shows and you can feel and see the difference. Always give the birds clean water everyday and keep them as clean as possible. And also do not keep to many birds.

A. I have found it hard starting off due to lack of information. People keep saying there are no new fanciers coming through, yet not many people helped me for the first couple of years. So find someone you know and visit a few lofts and ask as many questions as you can. The breed of the West at the moment is looking good and the quality is getting better.

A. I would like to thank Nigel Solly for helping me in the beginning also the late Dave Williams of Swansea who started me with a pair of Cream West’s, which now seems a long time ago. I would also like to thank Peter Holland who sent me two pair of West’s when the late Ron Tucker died. I still have the bloodline. I would also like to thank you Dave for the help you have given me over the last couple of years and for letting me come to your place and handle the birds and to your wife for those cups of teas. (Good job I remembered to put the to in the sentence Ian – DW) There is of course Trevor Dryden and just recently John Keepin who is one hell of a nice guy and fancier. I cannot leave out all the fanciers at The Swansea Variety Pigeon Club and I must mention Derek Anstis and wife from Cornwall who are great friends. I have met some nice fanciers over the years and hope to meet many more in the coming years.

The biggest thanks must go to my Father who has always helped me with his knowledge and support over the years and of course keeps me company on the journeys to the shows and of course my Mother for putting up with us both.

Can I finally mention the Federation Show? I really did enjoy the show this year and I know it will go from strength to strength and I am already looking forward to next years show.

Thanks Ian for letting us invade your privacy and I would just like to say you deserve all the success that comes your way you have the right attitude. It is pleasing to know that your Dad is seriously thinking of getting some Exhibition Tipplers so that he can show at the shows when he accompanies you. So you never know I could be doing another profile on the other Mr. (Stan) Stephens.

I was very sad to learn recently that through personal reasons Henry Burke from Lancashire has finished keeping pigeons. Henry like Ian was one of your fanciers for the future. I would just like on behalf of the Federation to wish you all the success for the future Henry and hope it will not be to long before you are back keeping the pigeons again, I do know how much they mean to you.