NDBA

The first Open Show held by the Society was on the 12th of August 1944, a war time venture.

Things were very bad at the time, not many people had birds, seed was at a premium for one thing, and everybody was busy on war work.

At that time we were a branch of the M.B.A., Mr G.Lindsay was the organiser of the Derby group and Mr W.H.Berry the Nottingham group. Mr Berry was very keen to put on an Open Show so we took the risk and went on to stage a show at Friar Lane Adult Schoolrooms.

It was a one day show and attracted 480 entries, this was considered very good as transport on railway was liable to be disrupted by air raids. The judges were Mr Eric Parkin and Mr H.T.King with Mr I.Makings making his debut as Show Manager.

We had exhibits from Mrs & Miss Shaddick from as far away as Barnstaple in Devon, Mr Plenderleith and Mr P.S.W.Smith brought birds from Birmingham and also helped at the show. Two well-known exhibitors of today, Mr G.Lindsay and Mr J.C.Hampshire were exhibiting in the Novice section at that time.

The big attraction at the show was the team of foreign birds belonging to Mr Douthwaite of Manchester, he sent 17 birds in good condition. It was good to see how well they looked living on substitute feeding.

There had not been an open bird show for four years so that the few fanciers who had kept some birds were glad of the chance to exhibit them.

Petrol was rationed for essential needs only, and I remember Mr Berry had his team of 15 birds transported from Sherwood to Friar Lane on a pony cart.

The next year, 1945 saw a similar show with the entries down a little. This show was held with the profit going to the St.Dunstan's Fund for the Blind.

As the Society had no staging the Nottingham & Notts O.S. kindly lent us their staging.

1946, hostilities now being over, plans were made to have a two day show, it was held on Friday and Saturday, the 16th & 17th August, at the Scouts Hall in North Church Street.

The Society had broken away from the M.B.A. and had put up several cups for competition as well as cash specials and diplomas, 500 birds were on show.

Amongst the Champion exhibitors were Frank Wait, Elliott Beresford, A.B.Lockwood and Sam Ellwood, names that are still to the fore in the fancy. Incidentally this was the only year in which catalogues were on sale at 6d each.

The 1947 show was again held at the Scouts Hall, the number of entries being about the same. Mr W.H.Berry had unfortunately died as a result of a motoring accident and the Secretary's duties were in the hands of Mr W.Hemstock, the Show Manager was Mr Jim Fell of Lincoln.

In 1948 we moved the venue of the show to the St.Catherine's Hall on St.Ann's Well Road, and the entry moved forward, going up to 642, four judges were engaged. Mr Hemstock was the Secretary with C.E.Atkin as assistant.

An Inter-Club competition was held in conjunction with this show for the Pride of the Midlands competition, it was not the success anticipated and in later years was allowed to lapse.

Next year, 1949 saw another move to the St.George's Hall with Mr F.W.Logan as Secretary and Mr I.Makings as the Show Manager. The number of entries rose to 790 and for the first time we had our own staging, the members had raised over £50.00 to purchase angle iron and a few had worked hard with the manufacturing, we were one of the first societies to have steel staging.

870 entries next year with the same officials at the same place, five judges were engaged.

There was a slight fall in entries the following year but only 20 less, the Secretary this year was Mr J.Wardle.

1952, this is IT, over 1,000 entries, we had to borrow some staging again. Mr H.Brown was now the Secretary and how he worked on that 1,071 entry, everything went fine.

Coronation Year 1953, the President, Mr J.C.Hampshire said we must put on a good show for the Coronation, so the Specials List was made more attractive and the entry went up to 1,220 with Mr H.Brown still Secretary and Mr W.S.Bancroft as Show Manager.

The Duke of Bedford died in 1954 and he was such a keen aviculturist the Society members subscribed for two cups to be called the Duke of Bedford Memorial Cups. These were in competition at the 1954 open show. The entry was again over 1,000 and it was the Club Show of the Foreign Bird League, two judges were engaged for the Foreign section, namely Mr E.Reavill and Mr E.N.T.Vane.

For the first time we had a Show Secretary and a General Secretary in 1955, Mr D.Hackett looking after the show business, Mr H.Brown, General Secretary and Mr W.S.Bancroft was still Show Manager.

The St.George's Hall was not capable of staging an entry of over 1,000 in the manner we desired and so in 1956 a move was made to the Drill Hall on Derby Road. The extra floor space enabled us to put on one of the best shows the Society has ever had. Mr Ivan Hall had come in as Show Manager this year.

Well here we are up to 1957 once more at the Drill Hall with Mr D.Hackett as Show Secretary and Mr W.H.Coy as General Secretary. Mr Ivan Hall was unable to be Show Manager owing to illness and his place was taken by Mr J.R.Hankins.

The award of Best Budgerigar in Show went to Mr Frank Wait who exhibited in the Champion section at our first show in 1944 and is still well ro the fore. Mr W.S.Bancroft gained the award of Best Opposite Sex, he began to take an active interest in the fancy in 1947 and in ten years has got level with the leaders.

Preparations are now well in hand for the 1958 show, if you are a newcomer and would like to help but are doubtful as to procedure don't hang back, the experienced fanciers will soon put you at your ease.

To conclude, "There is no business like show business."

The above is printed from the 1958 Edition of the Notts & Derby Budgerigar & Foreign Bird Association Members Manual.

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