Roy Lees

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THE FEDERATION WESTERLY PROFILE

This month makes it three years since I started writing the profiles for the Federation and ironically that month I compiled the profile of Jack Lees and by shear coincidence I am writing the profile on Roy Lees from Cheshire I hasten to add not related. Roy is probably remembered as the guy that paid £85 for a Strawberry West Cock that was auctioned at the Nottingham Federation show two years ago. As Roy put it to me I took a lot of stick over paying that sort of money but I have spent hundreds of pounds on birds costing £10/£15 and don’t have any left whereas with the Strawberry Cock I still have four of his youngsters left and enjoying success at the shows so in my mind he has more than paid for himself. Roy has lived in Warrington all his life taking early retirement from his plumbing and heating career in the building trade at the age of 57. Roy doesn’t keep the best of health but you will never hear him complaining in fact this year he was due to go to Cyprus just after Xmas but proceeding Xmas and over the holiday period Roy really did not feel well and as he said to me if it was just him and his wife that were going he would of cancelled but not wanting to let his daughter and grandchildren down Roy went, spent a lot of time in his room but nevertheless felt better for making the effort.

Roy married Beryl some 44years ago and they have three children Stephen (43), Sandra (41) and Yvonne (38) and between them they have given Roy and Beryl 11 grandchildren with the eldest being 23 year and the youngest 2 years. Only one of Roy’s Grandchildren his granddaughter Jessica aged 9 has shown an interest in the Pigeons and in January she joined the North West and North Wales Flying T&T Soc. winning a first prize in the junior section so as you can imagine she was over the moon. Lets hope she keeps the interest going for many years to come.

Roy was a keen amateur Rugby League player playing for Warrington under 21’s as well as Warrington Open Age and for the RAF during his National Service. That’s my little bit done so now I’m going to let Roy tell you about himself.

A. 5 years ago after taking early retirement I decided I needed a hobby and Jim Cox chairman of the Warrington Pigeon Society gave me about twelve different types of birds but it was the West that caught my eye and got me started. Jim also encouraged me to start showing when I got some nice spangles of Steve Wilkinson of Rochdale but I found there was not enough classes for spangles which made me get in touch with yourself Dave and Mike Horner, in fact it was with a yellow hen that I had from Mike that I won Best Yellow and Best Opposite sex at Northern Counties Show winning me Federation Certificate and my first NPA Certificate.

A. I only keep West’s and at present I have seven pairs in Yellow, Red, Black and Silver. Reds and Yellows are my favourite colours.

Q. What do you look for in your West’s?

A. We all know the type of pigeon we would like it is in every profile. I concentrate on what I have and turn them out to the best I can for the shows.

A. My loft is 12ft by 8ft with two compartments, hens in one and cocks in the other. When breeding, the young birds go into the hens compartment which also has a 6ft x 5ft aviary. I also have four breeding boxes in my work shed.

A. My perches in the loft are made of 2” x 2” frame with poles nailed on. The pigeons have no trouble with dirty flights. The only thing that gets dirty is the bottom of their feet. I have play pit sand on the floor (the sand they have in schools for children) easy to keep the birds clean for the shows. I believe in plenty of ventilation the best food I can but which I believe is Hamonds VIP mix, Red band, fresh grit, peanuts but most import is clean fresh water every day.

Q. What are your future aims?

A. To continue to enjoy breeding, flying and showing pigeons going to as many shows as possible in the summer and winter and meeting all the other good people in pigeons out there.

Q. Do you have any tips for the beginners?

A. My tips for the novice would be listen to as many of the top men you can and read the profiles in the Feathered World every month plenty of good tips are given here. Do not be feared of showing at the top shows most of the older fanciers will be more than willing to help you get started on the long road to success remember a 3^rd or 4^th at one of the main shows can be counted as a huge success especially with the quality of the birds on display at present, never give up Rome wasn’t built in a day.

A. I think the judges should have a big thank you for judging week in and week out they must get fed up but carry on the good work relentlessly. I think the Federation has injected a lot of enthusiasm within the flying breed fanciers and it’s good to have a Federation show up North and Down South every year.

A. 1 would like to thank my wife for her support in my hobby without her help and especially over the last six months because I have been suffering with my back she has cleaned out my loft. My good neighbour Brian for accompying me to the shows also looking after my birds when I take my holidays. I would also like to thank Jim Pearson, I believe we lost a good fancier when I purchased some of his West’s but hope to keep up the good work that he started. Thanks Jim. Finally to Sammy Davies for all his tips and advice over the years and all the many friends I have met through showing in this wonderful hobby of ours. Dave I think your profiles are great reading please keep them up it really gives you an insight into our fellow fanciers.

Thanks Roy for your time in compiling your profile and I would like to wish you every success in the future you certainly deserve it with all the effort you have put into your birds. Does anyone hear from Eric Lees? Eric packed in keeping West’s about four years ago and seems to have disappeared of the face of the earth if anyone knows where Eric is please let me know as it was he that I went to when I first started back in pigeon keeping. Although you overwhelmingly (that’s those that returned their papers) wanted a summer/autumn show because of certain factors I will not be organising one this year, also you all voted for a newsletter to date Ian and myself haven’t heard anything from anyone I can only assume no news is good news as we said at the AGM we can only produce a newsletter if you feed us with news. Unfortunately Bob Batty (Editor Feathered World) ran out of space in the February edition and was unable to print our AGM minutes anyone wanting a copy please send me a stamped addressed envelope (preferably A4) and I will be delighted to send you a copy.