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| Peter Chamberlain Researcher Quote | Reply | | Racing Pigeons posted on: 6/20/2005 3:09:53 PM Langley Mill had its fair share of Racing Pigeon Lofts.The Main area being around Bridge street.During the war numbers where kept at a minimum because of a shortage of food so all manner of ways to keep them was devised ie toasted bread,Gleaning after the farmers had cut the corn,and if you kept a few Hens an allocated supply of Hen Pellets from the pet shop at Eastwood.Another way was having a friend at the flourmill who got you the sweepings up,or if really desperate you raided the pig bins.I recall 2or3 lofts in Langley Mill took the Kings Shilling so to speak and a couple of pigeons where selected to accompany bombers on airaids over France and Germany and released with a message if the bomber crew got into trouble. If you got a pigeon with a message you had to deliver it as quickly as possible to the Police Station and you went up in everyones esteem.Each loft had a Log Book Showing pigeons taken and pigeons returned and if anyone has one tucked away i would love to see it,as the only one i have been privilidged to see was for a loft in Leicestershire. |