Although the Kirkby Flying Club is based in Kirkbymoorside it draws its membership from further afield. The latest member Libby and I went to visit was Howard, who lives on the outskirts of Pickering.
What is it about this club? Everyone we have met so far – Fred, Bob, Audrey, Bernard and Peter are all fascinating people with incredible stories. Howard is another.
Howard’s place is just beyond the saw mill and extends to a few fields that reach up to the Malton Pickering road. As well as pigeons, which currently number over 100, there were stables and several horses grazing in the fields. He has lead a full and interesting life. Growing up in Dalby Forest, where his father farmed and worked as a forester, he and his brothers helped milk their cows every morning before catching the bus to school. At the end of the school day they once again had milking duties. He has raced pigeons since he was a lad and the picture atop this post shows him with his father and brothers sat in front of his loft.
He trained as a joiner, had his own construction company and built several houses in Kirkby. He’s also successfully trained racehorses, played cricket at a high level for Yorkshire and is also a mean darts player.
Howard is a bit dismissive of the secrets other pigeon racers profess to have and instead follows a philosophy where he is constantly trying new things and is not afraid of failure. He currently has around 100 birds in his care but later in the day we were visiting there some dealers were coming to look at his birds. Howard was hopeful of a sale or two.
