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Birds of a feather
PAM Grange has spent her life surrounded by pigeons and the people who love them.
She has followed two generations of her family into the post of secretary at the Up North Combine, which is on the site of the old Sappers Corner Garage, at Greatham, on the outskirts of Hartlepool.
The combine, which celebrates its centenary anniversary this year, makes it possible for thousands of pigeon fanciers across the North to race their prized birds in events from North Yorkshire to as far afield as France.
It is Pam who is in charge of co-ordinating the combine's 18 vehicles to pick up the birds from headquarters along the east coast, from Berwick to Staithes, and take them to their starting lines.
But although the work is hard and certainly not 9am-5pm, Pam says she wouldn't have it any other way.
She said: "My grandfather Bill Towers was the secretary of the combine from 1959 until 1974 when my dad Derek Towers took over. I took over when my dad retired in May 2003.
"I was a clerical assistant to my dad from 1979 at the combine so when the job became vacant when he retired I was honoured to take it on.
"I think the reason I enjoy it so much is that the role is never the same so I never get bored."
But Pat, who is a mum-of-one to Christopher, 21, says events this year have already proved that the job is not always easy.
In January the combine suffered huge damage after a series of freak gales.
A wall at the combine's main building was demolished with the resulting damage reaching around 200,000.
Pam said: "I cried when it happened. I was a woman in a man's world of dealing with pigeons.
"I think a man might have been more sensible and controlled but I went to pieces and cried.
"It was all the shock and worry, everything went through my mind for about 48 hours.
"But then I got on with it. You definitely have got to try and act as normal. I am determined to not let the pigeon men know any different."
Life goes on with tighter security introduced until the wall is fully rebuilt later this year.
But despite her love of her job, she has ensured that she never takes her work home with her.
Husband Neil, 44, with who she celebrates her silver wedding anniversary this year, is not a fancier and Pam adds: "I would never have married a pigeon fancier.
"I have seen pigeon men buy a bag of corn instead of buying shoes for their children.
"Women who marry them are often left as pigeon widows!"
She has also made sure that only son Christopher has not taken a fancy to her feathered friends.
She said: "Christopher has always been into football and I have never even attempted to introduce him to pigeon fancying. I just couldn't do it. Those pigeon men are a breed of their own."
So does Pam, who lives in Billingham, think she has managed to gain respect from the hard to please pigeon men and the family predecessors she followed into the role?
She said: "I know my father's proud that I have managed to do it. But we do work as a team.
"I think my grandfather would be chuffed to bits. I wonder what he would say now looking down on me and seeing how far the combine has come.
"As for the pigeon men I think they know that I am trying my hardest.
"But I still need different people to give me advice even though I have worked here for so long. I'm still learning."
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Weather for Hartlepool
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 7 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
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