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Posted February 3, 2009 EST
Arsonists Kill 150 Pigeons
United Kingdom -
Arsonist killed 150 pigeons when they set fire to a timber cree. All that remained yesterday of a lifetime of dedication was smoldering ruins. Devastated Jimmy Wilkinson, 61, lost his entire flock of homing pigeons when yobs torched his timber frame loft in Kier Hardie Way, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland.
The building went up in flames in the early hours of yesterday morning, causing explosions of gas cannisters used for heating. It took three fire crews from Fulwell and Sunderland to bring the blaze under control and stop it spreading to other lofts.
Mr Wilkinson, who has kept pigeons since he was a child, is one of 17 enthusiasts at the site, which is shared by High Southwick, Cornhill, Farringdon, and Town End Farm homing societies. The attack has rocked their tight-knit community.
Members of the federation say their lofts are constantly being targeted by vandals, but many believe this is the worst attack to date.
They have vowed to help Mr Wilkinson rebuild his loft and are appealing to timber yards for donations of materials.
But with each homing pigeon costing in the region of pounds 50, he has lost more pounds 7,000 in birds alone, many of which were sitting on eggs to further expand his collection.
Chairman Jimmy Powell, 53, of Cornhill Homing Society, said: "It's a lifetime of work that has been destroyed.
Keeping homing pigeons is a passion, it gets in your blood. I had seven of mine roasted in an attack 10 years ago, and I was devastated. There are 150 of his.
"What have those pigeons done to anyone? Pigeons saved lives in the war. It's terrible as well when you think they were sitting on eggs."
Secretary Andrew Shepherd, 72, said: "I would sit and cry if it was mine. It's our whole lives, it's a 24-hour thing."
A spokesman for Fulwell Fire Station said: "It has been confirmed that it was malicious ignition. Whoever started it would have known it was occupied by pigeons."
(c) 2009 The Journal - Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
The building went up in flames in the early hours of yesterday morning, causing explosions of gas cannisters used for heating. It took three fire crews from Fulwell and Sunderland to bring the blaze under control and stop it spreading to other lofts.
Mr Wilkinson, who has kept pigeons since he was a child, is one of 17 enthusiasts at the site, which is shared by High Southwick, Cornhill, Farringdon, and Town End Farm homing societies. The attack has rocked their tight-knit community.
Members of the federation say their lofts are constantly being targeted by vandals, but many believe this is the worst attack to date.
They have vowed to help Mr Wilkinson rebuild his loft and are appealing to timber yards for donations of materials.
But with each homing pigeon costing in the region of pounds 50, he has lost more pounds 7,000 in birds alone, many of which were sitting on eggs to further expand his collection.
Chairman Jimmy Powell, 53, of Cornhill Homing Society, said: "It's a lifetime of work that has been destroyed.
Keeping homing pigeons is a passion, it gets in your blood. I had seven of mine roasted in an attack 10 years ago, and I was devastated. There are 150 of his.
"What have those pigeons done to anyone? Pigeons saved lives in the war. It's terrible as well when you think they were sitting on eggs."
Secretary Andrew Shepherd, 72, said: "I would sit and cry if it was mine. It's our whole lives, it's a 24-hour thing."
A spokesman for Fulwell Fire Station said: "It has been confirmed that it was malicious ignition. Whoever started it would have known it was occupied by pigeons."
(c) 2009 The Journal - Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
Written by Journal - Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Courtesy of Yellowbrix
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