Kenneth Shone's Trophy for Pigeons"

1984

In common with many working communities, Buckley had many men who were "Pigeon Fanciers" and who had sheds or cotes close to their homes. There were several in Brook Street and Lane End, nearly all demolished in the re-housing programme. There was great rivalry between them. I don't know the rules of the game, but homing pigeons were taken in special wicker baskets to Buckley Junction station and taken by train to be released. Some went to distant places in the UK, others were taken to the Continent, the competition being to see whose bird could return from the longest distance in the shortest time.

Until long after WWII, the Horse & Jockey in Church Road appears to have been the head-quarters for Buckley, the younger members of the Shone brothers being prominent in the sport whilst they lived at the Pub. Jack Shone, who was incapacitated in WW2, took his flock with him when he moved to live in Padeswood Road and they became his life interest.

Author: Hayes, John Eric, 1918

Kenneth Shone's Trophy for Pigeons"

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