Quite by accident whilst rootling around on YouTube I found a song called 'The King of Rome' which was written by a Dave Sudbury of Derby about a Charlie Hudson of Brook St, Derby who raced pigeons! He entered it into a famous race in 1913 and was not expected to get his pigeon back from its long journey from Rome......but he did! It made him quite famous for a while and the story has been turned into a folk-song. It's a first for me to hear a song about a Derbien/Derbyite (?) not the least because I have an interest in the surname too. Anyway I thought there may be others out there interested too! Here's a link to the story and if you search YouTube you'll find the song performed by a group called The Unthanks with the Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band (amoungst others!) http://www.derbyphotos.co.uk/features/kingofrome/index.htm I quite easily found him at 56 Brook St on the 1911 census with his wife Elizabeth, step-daughter and 2 children. Hope others enjoy the story as I did Andrea Newham Researching HUFTON, UFTON, RATCLIFF(E), BEES(T)ON, TITTERTON, SPENCER, HUDSON, COULSON, SHEPHERD, HOLMES, BIRCH.......mainly Derby but just discovered a branch or two in Ontario and British Columbia!!
Hi Andrea, You bring back memories! Dave Sudbury (a local lad) came to the Peasmouldia Folk Club in Derby around 1995 and performed the 'King of Rome'. A couple of other 'Derby' songs are the famous Derby Ram, many versions of which can be found on YouTube. Another lesser know song is the Great Derby Footrace. No trace of this song on Youtube but it can be found on the CD 'Well Seasoned by Keith Kendrick. Wildgoose Records WGS 317 CD. The event was held for many years on Sinfin Moor just outside of Derby between Christmas and Easter. Interestingly Sinfin Moor was known locally as 'The Bog' and was always considered unfit to build on. It is now a very large housing estate! Regards Paul Slater Derby UK -----Original Message----- From: derbysgen-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:derbysgen-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Andrea Newham Sent: 18 December 2012 17:47 To: derbysgen@rootsweb.com Subject: [DBY] Charlie Hudson and his famous racing pigeon Quite by accident whilst rootling around on YouTube I found a song called 'The King of Rome' which was written by a Dave Sudbury of Derby about a Charlie Hudson of Brook St, Derby who raced pigeons! He entered it into a famous race in 1913 and was not expected to get his pigeon back from its long journey from Rome......but he did! It made him quite famous for a while and the story has been turned into a folk-song. It's a first for me to hear a song about a Derbien/Derbyite (?) not the least because I have an interest in the surname too. Anyway I thought there may be others out there interested too! Here's a link to the story and if you search YouTube you'll find the song performed by a group called The Unthanks with the Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band (amoungst others!) http://www.derbyphotos.co.uk/features/kingofrome/index.htm I quite easily found him at 56 Brook St on the 1911 census with his wife Elizabeth, step-daughter and 2 children. Hope others enjoy the story as I did Andrea Newham Researching HUFTON, UFTON, RATCLIFF(E), BEES(T)ON, TITTERTON, SPENCER, HUDSON, COULSON, SHEPHERD, HOLMES, BIRCH.......mainly Derby but just discovered a branch or two in Ontario and British Columbia!! ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to DERBYSGEN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2805 / Virus Database: 2637/5968 - Release Date: 12/18/12