Profile
Hello there!
Welcome to my website, which marks the second beginning in a career of two halves.
How it all began.
My interest in budgerigars dates back to when I was a bit of a lad
I bought my first birds in 1959 out of my first wage packet., and they were 10 bob each, (that’s 50p to you young ‘uns,) which represented quite a slice out of my earnings.
But my keen ears heard the familiar sound of budgerigars somewhere close by, and following my instincts, I found that just a few doors down, Alf’s brother, Tom, was still in residence and still very much in the budgie business!
I counted myself lucky to come away from Tom’s with a quality pair of cinnamons. I did later make contact with Alf, and bought from him an excellent pair of grey-greens and a pair of light greens, which formed the foundation of my stud.
In 1972 I joined the Budgerigar Society.
During the next few years, I bought out-crosses from Jim Moffatt to improve the gene pool, and in later years became great friends with Gordon and Sylvia Hallam, and, through them, was able to introduce spangles into my bird room.
In 1986, having served requisite 3 years as a Subsidiary Panel Judge in accordance with the BS criteria, I took and passed the stringent Main Judges examination at that year’s BS show in Doncaster.
For the next decade and more, I continued to breed and exhibit budgerigars, enjoying some measure of success along the way. I also put in a few hours and drove a few miles around the country in my capacity as a show judge.
By the end of 2001, however, it became obvious that my respiratory health was being seriously compromised. The medics told me it was a straight choice - give up the birds or put your affairs in order. Within a week my shed was empty of birds and cages. I was devastated; something that had been a huge and important part of my life was now a closed book.
New Beginning
Towards the end of 2004 I was asked to judge a small local show. After some deliberation, I accepted. A second, similar request came in quite quickly after that,and i realised just how much I had missed the excitement, the camaraderie and the sense of being a part of it all. I took the decision to find out if there wasn’t some way I could begin again – if my career might see a new day dawn.
I researched the new approaches to air filtration and ventilation, and decided that, with sensible health-care precautions and the help of the new technology, there could be a way.
The answer.
By early 2005 my newly refurbished shed was lacking only budgerigars! I wanted good stock and, and after a little research, knew that the blood-line that would best meet my personal standards for excellence could only come from Brian Sweeting, a true gentleman of the fancy. I consider myself very fortunate that this respected colleague was able to help me out by supplying me with some birds to begin my breeding programme.
The number of budgerigar voices to be heard coming from my corner of Cumbria was swelled in early 2006, when I was offered the chance to obtain a small stud of lutinos bearing the rings of another esteemed colleague, Irv Saunders.
I do not plan to dilute these two blood lines, as both contain the pedigrees required to see the quality of my stud progress and put me once more in the specials line up.
I did sell all the Lutinos and in 2009 i purchased some outcrosses from Florian Bock.
This web site would not exist were it not for my beloved Alison who offered both help and encouragement.
