Sheffield - Tales of Tippler Yesteryears.

Jack Prescott
(Internet Published) Jun 2001

Did I ever tell you about Walt Bettison who flew Maccelsfield Tipplers in the old Carbrrok Tippler club between 1920 and 1940? Walk died September 9th , 1940. Well, this is the way it was.

Walt was a soldier in World War I serving in our Yorkshire Light Infantry. Due to standing in waterlogged trenches he developed what was diagnosed as trench feet. For the rest of his life Walt had trouble with his feet and mostly around the house and in his yard he had to go barefoot.

It came to pass that one of his hens in training would not enter his loft top trap. The other 4 Macc hens had entered and were safely inside, but this pretty 2 year old grey mottled hen stood just outside of the trap but would not enter. Walt tried to sneak up and bully her to go inside, but she wasn't having it!

After about 20 attempts mostly in the dark, Walt was becoming rather upset and very angry. If the hen was left out all night the cats would certainly get her. Finally, at midnight, Walt sneaked up on the hen and got within 3 feet of the trap leaver. With his eyes riveted on the hen Walt did not see the hedgehog and planted his left foot on top of the spiky rodent! Walt let out a terrible howl of pain, the hen took off in to the dark and was never seen again.

This episode greatly amused the members of the Carbrook club, about 1937 I think. Needless to say Walt was not amused.

Jack Prescott.

[Internet Published Jun 2001 at http://www.tipplers.com/jack/]