West Cumbria’s pigeon fanciers are mourning the death of a popular Flimby racer, Peter Rushforth.
A hugely successful fancier in the Derwent Valley Federation over many years, Peter had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s but continued to fly his pigeons in the village club in partnership with Billy Hunter.
In fact they won the first race of the season in the Flimby club from Garstang and have continued to race through the inland programme.
In his prime Peter was recognised as one of the best fanciers in the area and notched up over 30 Federation wins when competition was at its toughest and he was racing from an unfavourable loft location.
He was a winner of the coveted Big Cup in the Derwent Valley in 1978, 1986 and 1993 and was particularly successful over the channel when he had the assistance of Tom Hoodless while he was working.
Club secretary Jimm Nelson said: “He was one of the leading fanciers in the area for many years and a very popular member of the Federation.
“His various successes over the years tell only half the tale.
“He won over 30 Federation races at a time when the competition was particularly fierce with many more fanciers and birds. To be honest he didn’t have the best loft locations either but he could be dangerous from any race-point.
“He was always prepared to help with various tasks at the club and it’s only quite recently that he stopped. He’s a fancier who will be greatly missed.”
Peter, who was 78, had also been a talented footballer who signed for Workington Reds under Ken Furphy and went on to play five times in the Football League during the 1966-67 season – playing against Gillingham, Bournemouth, Peterborough, Bristol Rovers and Scunthorpe.
He had come through Workington’s Under-18s team and played for Reds in the FA Youth along with the likes of Mike Rogan and Brian Tinnion who went on to have top careers in the professional game.
Peter, who also had a successful spell as a greyhound owner, leaves a wife Jean and son David.
