| Club History Known locally as "The Fat Pot", the club was originaly established in a cottage near to the White Horse, higher up Great Horton Road, in the late 1800s. At this time most houses had a fatpot to hold dripping and fat used instead of butter.  When the club moved to its present home at Harris Court in 1905, the name "Fat Pot" was adopted. The present building was built by John Knight, a local mill owner and carrier of goods, in 1820 and was known as "Great Horton House". The building was enlarged some years later and the frontage of the building is greatly altered.  In 1955 the Club had a special night to celebrate 50 years at Harris Court, below is a copy of the programme issued for that night. Click on an image to view a full-size picture.
In modern times the club became one of the best known in West Yorkshire with a large membership and a reputation for first class entertainment. Sadly, however, towards the end of the 1980s, heavy losses were sustained and the very future of the club was at risk.  Gordon Craven and Richard Brooksbank (pictured above) took over responsibility for halting the decline and together with many others, not least the huge contribution made by our ladies, set about the task of clearing the clubs debts, increasing the membership and improving the fabric of the building both inside and out. All the hard work came to fruition when the Bass Brewing company presented back to the club the deeds that had been held as security against the loans that enabled the club to continue. The "Deed's Night" was indeed a landmark event in the club's history, packed to the rafters and entertained by the showgroup Black Onyx this was the night the "Fat Pot" owed nobody owt! As for the future, who can be sure. Many well known clubs have gone to the wall, and many more are only just keeping the door open. But the big white-painted club, standing in the heart of Great Horton like a shining beacon, through its strong membership base, games nights three nights a week and professional entertainment every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night will continue to prosper and be known as the friendly club. NEW BRADFORD HOMING SOCIETY This racing pigeon club has been based at the “Fatpot” since 1992. Founded in 1951 its earliest headquarters were at the Round Thorn public house in Girlington, it then moved to the Oddfellows on Thornton Road, and then to the Brown Cow in Little Horton Lane. The club has around 40 members who are also members of the “Fatpot”, the society are respected and feared by the pigeon racing fraternity sending some 300 birds to each race it chooses to compete in. Affiliated to the West Yorkshire Federation of Homing Societies which has 14 member clubs and a combined birdage of 2500 plus, other affiliations are to the West Riding Combine and the Pennine Federation who between them send around 2000 birds to each race. Races vary in distance from places such as Uttoxeter and Poole in this country to Sartilly, Rennes and Nantes in France from 220 miles up to 450 miles. These amazing birds fly at between 50 and 70 miles depending on wind conditions. The society has won more championship races than any other affiliated club, a record to be truly proud of. Every year the society hold a presentation night at the “Fatpot” for over 100 members and guests and this is always a memorable night indeed with top class professional entertainment booked and one of club stewardess Pats superb buffets. In the good hands of President Tom McKone, Vice President Paul Thirkill and Secretary Steve McGlenn the society can look forward many more big race wins and many more nights to remember at the “Fatpot”. If you would like to learn more about the history of Bradford, visit the ThisIsBradford.co.uk website. |
