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Starting out with pigeons
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 3:45 pm
by CHARLTON34
Got my first pigeons in 2006, I had to work away at the time, the print works had shut down local to me at home & the machine I was running was transferred up to the Daily Mail site at Varnicoat in Pershore in the Midlands. I arranged to go & see Arnie Tonks from Wednesbury, he was doing well in club & MCC racing at the time, I got 6 ybs from his Marc De Cock pigeons back then, a fantastic set-up an L shape loft going down the length of his back garden.
What a lovely person to have met, I lost contact with him when the plant finished up in 2011, fantastic memories when starting off back then.
Re: Starting out with pigeons
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 4:48 pm
by CHARLTON34
Yes Neil, started to follow who was doing the business as I said MCC back then, plucked up the courage to phone him & he said come up, I didn't know what to expect when I got there.
What a pleasure it was, made to fill very welcome back then.
I bred from those 6 ybs & bred a mealy cock from them, my 1st ever pigeon to come over the channel from Carantan what a thrill that was for me.
Happy day's back then, I think he had the old Maurice Matthew's pigeons as well as the Marc De Cock pigeons, think if I remember he had a pigeon called Marc 1 that was his no 1 cock that pigeon, the mealy was a grandson from him. Other pigeons he done well with was Tina Turner Tonks, Birthday Girl was another all good pigeons in the Midlands hotbed back then.
Re: Starting out with pigeons
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 4:54 pm
by Winfort Lofts
Arnie still fly's and still does well!
I do speak to him occasionally too!!
Re: Starting out with pigeons
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 5:25 pm
by Bowbroom
We had some Arnie Tonks Busschaerts some time ago from a friend that flew well for us
Re: Starting out with pigeons
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 6:07 pm
by Steve Howells
CHARLTON34 wrote: Mon Oct 20, 2025 4:48 pm
Yes Neil, started to follow who was doing the business as I said MCC back then, plucked up the courage to phone him & he said come up, I didn't know what to expect when I got there.
What a pleasure it was, made to fill very welcome back then.
I bred from those 6 ybs & bred a mealy cock from them, my 1st ever pigeon to come over the channel from Carantan what a thrill that was for me.
Happy day's back then, I think he had the old Maurice Matthew's pigeons as well as the Marc De Cock pigeons, think if I remember he had a pigeon called Marc 1 that was his no 1 cock that pigeon, the mealy was a grandson from him. Other pigeons he done well with was Tina Turner Tonks, Birthday Girl was another all good pigeons in the Midlands hotbed back then.
Isn’t that the best thing ever about pigeon sport. You can ring people up whom you don’t know yet nine times out of ten they are more than happy to talk to you and for you to visit them.
Re: Starting out with pigeons
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 6:15 pm
by CHARLTON34
Thanks to you all, I stand corrected Mike it was a long time ago, yes very dark cheq or black Mike ?. I don't think Arnie had many Busschaeurts left Bowbroom when I first went up there, think he was concentrating more around Mark2 line & Maurice Matthew's.
One of the most genuine people I've met.
Re: Starting out with pigeons
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 6:27 pm
by Bowbroom
Sadly it was a long time ago Dave, it’s a wonder I can remember it
Re: Starting out with pigeons
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 7:27 pm
by CHARLTON34
Thanks Mike for putting it on cheers.
Re: Starting out with pigeons
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 9:05 pm
by Buster121
I have a dark cheq pied cock here from Arnie a 2006 bird that I purchased from an auction in Walsall when I restarted in 2010, bred many good birds from him
Re: Starting out with pigeons
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 9:59 pm
by Buster121
NeilA wrote: Mon Oct 20, 2025 9:31 pm
Buster121 wrote: Mon Oct 20, 2025 9:05 pm
I have a dark cheq pied cock here from Arnie a 2006 bird that I purchased from an auction in Walsall when I restarted in 2010, bred many good birds from him
Sound like a good pigeon for you Buster
He is
