Profile on Stuart Harford - Oct 2001

Stuart Harford

30 Christchurch Road

Tolladine

Worcester

WR4 9QB

Tel No. 01905 611164

Catering For West of England Tumblers,

Exhibition and Flying Tipplers,

Exhibition  and Flying Rollers

National Federation

THE FEDERATION ROLLER ENTHUSIAST

Fancier – Stuart Harford

Location – Worcester, Worcestershire

This month we return to Worcester where we met Tony Stone when we were last here in April. This month we meet Tony’s travelling companion who comes to most of the shows; ‘Stuart Harford’. Stuart has lived in Worcester all his life he will try and tell you that’s 46 years but I have my suspicions. Stuart has been married to Sue for the last 26 years and she thinks he’s absolutely nutty keeping pigeons but says at least it keeps him off the streets. Stuart’s two boys Nick (25 years) and Ryan (21 years) think the same as their Mum. Stuart has high hopes that his grandson, Cameron (4 years) will be the one to take an interest in the pigeons as Stuart says it won’t be for the want of trying. Stuart is a self employed Bricklayer, and next time your travelling through Worcester and see the leaning buildings, just think of Stuart. Stuart was lost to the pigeon fraternity for a very long time due to his other main love which is match fishing, I know you are all going to find this hard to believe but Stuart actually wrote a book on match fishing called ‘Lead and Feeder Fishing’ by JR Hartley, sorry by SA Harford and his colleague Maurice Dutfield published by BK Publications. Although he still enjoys his fishing it’s now twice a year instead of twice a week, you could say a little bit like sex! With match fishing on the decline it was at this time that he went back to his Rollers, Stuart will tell you they have changed since he last kept them but he is enjoying the challenge of finding that ‘one’ bird. Stuart also enjoys going out beating and the odd bit of shooting. Sue and Stuart have two dogs (shown in the picture with Stuart) named Nelly and Gertrude and although people are very unsure of the bull terrier, they would actually lick you death, as Stuart says they keep down the vermin (two legged variety that is). I have it on very good authority that the rest of the Roller enthusiasts will have to keep their eye on Stuart this year, I know Stuart has a lot to divulge so I am just going to hand over to him.

Q. How long have you lived in Worcester?

A. I have lived in Worcester all my life. A total of 46 years last August, yes I know you all thought I was only in my mid 30’s (I actually thought you were one of the few that were older than me – DW)

Q. How long have you kept pigeons?

A. This is my fifth year but I did start many moons ago. When I was twelve years old. I bought a couple of Tumbler crosses from the local market and then spent all my time trying to keep them a secret but that didn’t last long, as the garden shed was only yards from the house. Actually my Mother was from a family of racing pigeon fanciers and did take some interest but the old man wasn’t so impressed. At that time I got to know a fellow who lived at the canal lock house where I was soon to start my apprenticeship. His name was Ivor Russell who started the Worcester ‘Hi Fly Club’. Many happy hours were spent in Ivor’s loft watching his Rollers perform their aerobics. This is really what got me hooked. Another fancier that would also spend plenty of hours at Ivor’s was Dave Yeoman, who at the time must have been sixteen years old. They would let me tag along visiting other lofts in the Worcester area. I’m not sure but it was either 1967 or 1969 when we were all founder members of the ‘Worcester Hi Fly Club’. I had a good start with some of Ivor’s stock and we would have our Sunday shows at the Anchor Public House by Diglis. These shows were very well attended and great fun. I can remember Bill Barrat bringing some brightly coloured Parlour Tumblers he had acquired from America, the sight of these birds rolling around the lawn was something else. At fifteen I had become quite useful with the humble fishing rod, fishing most Saturdays and Sundays. The birds took a back seat and I had to make the decision to put them into touch. The next twenty-five years were spent mainly on river and canal banks. Although I do say myself I did get quite good, fishing for the ‘Birmingham Starlets’ for ten years and ended my fishing career with the ‘Shakespeare Super Team’ for six years, I have many happy memories of my fishing days but due to the decline of match fishing on rivers the interest slowly dwindled away and I became less keen.

On calling to see my parents one Sunday afternoon I happened to bump into Ivor Russell and his wife Christine. Enquiring if he still had his birds the answer was yes and feel free to call around and have a look when I had the time. This started me thinking ‘ not an easy task’ (I’m glad you said that Stuart – DW). To tell the truth I had always said that if I were to stop competition fishing I wouldn’t mind keeping pigeons, the wife thought that I had finally flipped my lid. Needless to say I found myself on Ivor’s doorstep. I converted my sister’s old Wendy house a 5-foot by 4-foot shed. I acquired 3 pairs of Birmingham Rollers; later in the year Ivor told me about the Northern Roller show. It was early in January and saw me on the way to the Bradford show, sleet, gale force winds things couldn’t get much worse or could they?

When arriving at the show the birds were penned, I could see after all these years away from the fancy it has changed to the ‘new’ Show Roller. This was the time to sink or swim, to carry on with my Birmingham Rollers or to acquire some of the new type Rollers. Jeff Davies and John Howes let me have a pair of birds each. I then made contact with Ivan Hudsphith, he sent me three pairs, that was it I was on my way. By now I had been introduced to my travelling companion Tony Stone who took me to the Bristol Show which is where I won my first cards 1^st 2^nd with young hens, I was over the moon, since that show I couldn’t wait for the next show. We then found ourselves going back to Bradford for The Northern Roller Show. These birds are second to none. Needless to say no cards, but I have made a lot of new friends in the fancy. Terry Broad won all main honours, a true ambassador to the fancy, I don’t think there is anyone without any of his stock or at least descendants from them.

Q. What breeds do you keep at present and in what colours?

A. I have never kept any other breed as yet but Tony keeps trying to tempt me with the Exhibition Tipplers. I think that they are a super breed, but all my efforts are being focused on my stock of Rollers. At the present time I have something like 70 birds this obviously includes all my young birds. This year I have used 15 pairs for breeding and the colours that I have are Bronze + White, Red + White, Tortoiseshell, Blue Grizzle, Blue bars and Yellows.

Q. What do you look for in your Stud?

A. What I am trying to achieve in my stud are birds with a good straight beak setting. This is essential with today’s Rollers. I like a bird with a good clear and bright eye, which sits well and is balanced in the hand. It must be low on the leg. I like to see plenty of power and back scull I must admit I like the more powerful type of bird with plenty of neck feather. Having said all that I do like my hens to look like hens.

Q. What size are your present lofts?

A. My main loft is 24 foot long by 6 foot wide. This is split into an 8 foot x 6 foot section with a 6 foot x 6 foot flight then a further section of 10 foot x 6 foot. I have also managed to squeeze another 8 foot x 6 foot opposite. (Stuart can you please tell Sue why it took 2½ years to get her Bathroom finished yet you can build a new pigeon shed including the base in 2 weeks – DW) Also I have taken over part of the garage where I’ve built nine 3 foot x 2 foot breeding boxes which have been a great success.

Q. What are your future aims?

My future aim or as I like to describe it my ‘1^st goal’ is to win an NPA certificate at a Northern Roller Show also the National Lottery. I think the latter would be an easier achievement. (If you succeed then I will be your friend for life – The lottery that is – DW)

Q. Any tips for the novice?

A. I think the same as most fanciers, go to the shows and see what takes your fancy, then acquire as much stock as you can and try to develop your own type in building your own stud. The main thing is to be patient, do not expect immediate success Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Q. What are your personal views on the fancy in general?

A. Like everyone else I believe that there is a shortage of young fanciers. For example there are no junior sections. When I think that Richard Simpson must be one of our youngest members not only in The Federation but also the Northern Roller Club. Personally I think he is older than myself he must have had a long paper round. (If he is he’s wearing better – DW). Other than a shortage of youth the fancy look quite healthy and hopefully going forward.

Q. Are there any people that you would specifically wish to thank?

A. There are so many people that I would like to thank in my short spell back in the fancy but if I did it would run into next months issue and I would be sure to miss someone out. So all I can say is a big thank you to all the Northern Roller members for putting up with me.

Stuart thanks for taking everything on the nose you are a good sport but I wasn’t joking when I said that I have heard you are fast catching up and if not this year then next year your birds are going to be the ones with red cards on. I have had several people asking ‘What’s the position with the Yearbook?’ well I can tell you all that by the time these notes are in the Feathered World the yearbooks will be finished and it is still my intension to have them available for the Idle Show. At one stage because of the high printing costs we were contemplating putting the idea on the backburner but we now have sponsors and the whole project is back on course. I would like to thank the following that have made the yearbook feasible by advertising they are: Harkers with one page Versele-Laga with two pages, Feathered World with a half page and not forgetting Trevor Dryden who without hesitation took out a full page even when the idea was a little blip in my head, thanks for your confidence Trevor. What has transpired from my discussions with Versele-Laga is that they are also willing to offer corn to the prizewinners at our main show in Pucklechurch on December 8th. So if you were only thinking of showing now is the time to prepare those birds for ‘the test for the best’ with every section winner taking a bag of Versele-Laga corn then the effort has to be worth while. I know that you will all agree that Versele-Laga produce one of the best corns available to the pigeon fancy and I feel privileged that Versele-Laga should choose The National Federation to sponsor their corn and as I use their corn myself (oops! another secret out) I will be trying to win as much as I can. Of course sponsoring corn supply sounds easy but just think how all that corn suddenly arrives at the show and on that point I would like to thank my local corn supplier (Albert E James & Son of Barrow Gurney who are the main importer of Versele-Laga products in the West Country)) for offering to bring Versele-Laga’s corn into this country for us to pick up from their depot, without their help then we would not have been able to make the offer work. Finally it then has to get from Albert E James depot to the hall, Trevor’s name again crops up and without him and his wagon to help collect and deliver to the hall once again we could not have made it work. I think the message I am trying to get across is that a lot goes on in the background to make any show successful and if members want to hold the show outside of Bristol this is the type of thing that’s needs sorting. So this year you can expect the name of Versele-Laga to be on display wherever you look but I think you will agree well worth it! The show season is now well under way and getting into full swing and I hope you are all enjoying your fair share of success if we haven’t already met this year look forward to seeing you at the shows.

Yours in sport DAVE WALTERS