This is a pleasing little story from the north Midlands of England. Not earth-shattering, and it probably would have remained in obscurity only for a folk singer/songwriter.
Pigeon fancying, pigeon racing got popular in England during the years of the Industrial Revolution. In the north in particular it became a hobby for some men, a release from their grim working lives down the mines or in the factories.
This story concerns such a man, Charlie Hudson, who lived in Brook Street, Derby. He bred pigeons and one day in 1913 he entered his prize bird for a 1,000 mile race from Rome back to the birds’ home lofts. Charlie knew that it was unlikely he’d see his bird again but he wanted to experience what freedom was like, vicariously, through his pigeon.
‘Yeah, I know, but I had to try
A man can crawl around or he can learn to fly
And if you live ’round here
The ground seems awful near
Sometimes I need a lift from victory’
As predicted, few pigeons made it back home. Charlie’s bird did. And today the King of Rome stands proudly in a glass case in Derby Museum.
Folk singer Dave Sudbury wrote some words about the King and composed a song. June Tabor and others covered it, most recently a powerful brass band-backed version by the Unthanks.
Long live the King of Rome.
Back On The Rock 
I’ve heard the song. It’s lovely.
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Does that mean Hudson had to travel to Rome to release the bird? No mean feat in 1913….
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No Marie, the birds were put into individual crates and shipped to their starting point, then released all at once.
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Thick as a Brick!!!😖😖 (ME that is – not you Roy … or Mr Hudson!!!)😅 😂 🤣
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I’ve heard that song. It is lovely.
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Great story!
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Great story. I’m a great admirer of pigeons and don’t think they get enough credit, I have it in mind to write a post about pigeons at some point, but I haven’t yet got round to it!
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I know little of pigeons other than they tend to be regarded as a nuisance. The homing pigeon though is (or at least was) a well-loved and respected bird in certain places and the winning types can attain legendary status, as belatedly has the King of Rome.
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I love a story where the underdog wins. Although, the poor bird. I’m not sure being ensconced in a glass case for eternity is a fitting prize:). You always have great stories, Roy!
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Thank you Kristine. It’s a little treasure of a story in all its ordinariness and it’s pleasing that someone thought to sing about it so that a few more people can enjoy it.
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Would you believe there’s a Passenger Pigeon Memorial here in Cincinnati? The last known passenger pigeon died here in 1914. There’s even a mural on the side of one of the buildings in town to commemorate the pigeons.
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I hadn’t heard of the passenger pigeon. I now read that it was a North American migratory bird pretty much hunted to death. Here in Jersey/UK pigeons were sometimes kept for food in the old days, but tastes have changed, happily for them. Homing pigeons are, of course, a special sort of bird and too revered to be eaten 🙂
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Whenever I think of pigeons, I remember they are the national dish of Egypt. 😥 Everyone kept them on their rooftops but they probably had a better life than most chickens.
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Really? They were a delicacy in Jersey (and perhaps the UK) some centuries ago.
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