Tippler History
(Internet Published) Aug 2001
I have been notified that the secretary of the Sheffield Tippler club has
withdrawn his membership from the National Tippler Union of Britain. For a
few years this Sheffield club has had only two flying members, namely the
secretary and one other member who have been timing each other for several
years. This means that contest Tippler flying is finished in Sheffield. A
sad state of affairs because the NTU was formed in Sheffield, in 1912, in
spite of some opposition.
The objection was that Tippler contests only made any sense where
contestants lived close to each other, knew each other, knew each others
birds and timed for each other. Sheffield, at that time had about 40 flying
members within the city limits. As a city with only 1/2 million population,
and the best tramway car system in the world contact between the Sheffield
men was easy. In the East End, some men flew mostly on Sundays and did not
join the NTU.
Like many traditions the Tippler sport went into decline due to World War
II. Then the ordnance against pigeon keeping, then the motor car, TV, the
affluent society and the emancipation of women sort of torpedoed the sport
and now it is finally sunk forever.
The first record of 18 hours under NTU administration was in 1914. Two men
in partnership located in Heeley, Sheffield, won the NTU cup. Mr John Thomas
Parkinson (Button maker) and Mr George Henry Atkin (Blade Grinder). Shortly
after, the two men fell out and quit the fancy, but both men were killed in
France in 1917 during World War II.
A steady decline in flying members due to death and political troubles
within the union and outside of the union made it certain that the end was
coming. Yet for a long time Sheffield was the Mecca of Tippler contesting.
20 hours plus was recorded in Sheffield by Mr Brain White in 1997 who also
left the fancy shortly afterward due to certain "certain difficulties".
Since then the sport has literally been out on its feet in Sheffield.
However, the sport goes on in other British areas in spite of problems.