William Anderson who was Ayrshire Federation's first secretary in their inaugural year 1899 and member of Galston Homing Society, Ayrshire.
 
 

The inaugural meeting was held in Kilmarnock in December 1888 the six founder clubs being Dalry H.S., Newmilns & Darvel H.S., Irvine H.S., Galston H.S., Kilmarnock United H.S and lastly Glengarnock & Kilbirnie F.C. with William Anderson appointed secretary. The earliest President mentioned was Mr James Boyd of Emerald Bank House in 1904, it is not known if he was our first President.
 
     
 

The 1904 Old  Bird race  program was Dumfries on 13th May, Maryport, Bootle, Kirkham with Friday race marking, Stafford and Swindon the birds were dispatched Thursdays. The Young Bird races were Dumfries 22nd July, Maryport, Bootle and Kirkham. Mr Jacob Bolland of Kilmarnock was appointed race conveyor. Prior to 1904 they had flown the Irish route to Cork.

  
     
 

During these early years Wull Anderson put in a power or work and travel to ensure Ayrshire Federation had its rightful place in the Scottish sport. It was his brainchild which brought the six aforementioned clubs together. He also wrote a monthly column headed simply "Ayrshire" for the Racing Pigeon Weekly as early as 1905 under the pseudonym "Westward Ho".

  
     
 

The same Mr. Anderson was a leading protagonist in bringing about the breakaway from the National Homing Union the main body in England which at that time was the governing body for the United Kingdom fancy.

  
     
 




 
 

The inaugural meeting to the Scottish Homing Union was held in the Religious Institution, Buchanan Street, Glasgow on Saturday 16th March 1907 where over twenty area representatives were present including members from Ayr Burns H.S., Galston H.S., Newmilns H.S. and Kilmarnock United.  I should have indicated earlier Ayr Burns H.S. were invited with the six clubs to Ayrshire's inaugural meeting but shelved the offer only to join the following year.  Returning to the Scottish Homing Union, the aggregate membership of those representatives was ascertained at approximately 285.

 

The following office bearers were elected:-  President  Mr. A. Beardsley, Glasgow,  Vice President, Mr. W. Anderson, Ayrshire, and Mr. T. Taylor, Lothian, committee members, Mr. Hunter, Ayrshire, Mr. Wood, Glasgow and Mr. Dickson, Midlothian.  Secretary - Treasurer appointed was Mr. Duncan Campbell, 67 Nithsdale Road, Strathbungo, Glasgow. It was agreed that those elected plus Mr. Adams and Mr. Wise be entrusted with the forming of the Rules and Constitution of the Union.
 

It was somewhat ironic that our breakaway SHU President was and Englishman. Mr. Beardsley was a prominent fancier in South Shields before setting up his poultry farm in Uddingston.

 
     
 

I found the following quotation in the Racing Pigeon of April 1907 "If Scotsmen rule in Downing Street, Englishmen have the satisfaction of knowing that their countryman occupies the most prominent post here in Scotland in their newly formed Union".

  
     
 

By the year 1912 Ayrshire Federation had grown four fold from Dalmellington and Cumnock to Barrhead and Kilbrachan. Here again much of this coming together was via the efforts and visits of William Anderson writing for the fancy press. His work must be all the more appreciable when one considers there were a lot less options travel wise in those far off days.

 

It appears William Anderson also knew a thing or two about racing and preparations of his pigeons as well as being a first class administrator. At the Galston H.S. annual supper held in the Black Bull Hotel he was applauded for his performances in the Scottish National race from Guernsey (1906) where one of his entries took 19th Open against 844 birds. He also won the Old Bird Cup in 1905 and retained it in 1906. The report goes on to say  "Feet and hands were fully employed in acknowledging these feats".

 

  





 
 
     
 

The first mention that metal rings were to be used was adopted at the 1900 A.G.M. Bear in mind at this point in time there was not Scottish Homing Union. However the first rings used were either purchased from the English N.H.U. or through the H.P. Annual Publishing Co. at the cost of one shilling and sixpence per dozen. A good number of fanciers double rung their young birds as the makers of the rings put up special prizes to the winning birds if they were rung with their rings. The use of Rubber Race Rings were first mentioned at the 1905 A.G.M. held in Irvine and I have enclosed a copy of those minutes.

  
     
 

By 1911 the sport became more popular and Ayrshire Federation had  24 Clubs. Fourteen in the East Section the newest being Mauchline, Beith and Darvel, Annick Lodge and Crosshouse. Previously Darvel and Newmilns had been one club. Of the ten Western clubs the newer ones were Ardrossan and Saltcoats, Dunaskin, Largs and Annbank H.S.

  
     
 

While today many clubs and National organisations seek sponsorship a number of firms of yesteryear had their own gimmicks. Longmuir and Hunter of Irvine were one of the leading grain merchants in Ayrshire until the late 50's and one of their offers to the Federation members was a Ten Shilling Prize to the first member in each of open races who purchased 2cwts of their corn during the 1933 season. The Scottish Co-operative donated 1cwt of Special Racing Mixture for the same race if the fancier had purchased 1cwt of corn prior to the first race being flown. Guess who the head sales manager was for Longmuir & Hunter our very own William Anderson, Federation Secretary.