“The Pryor Family” - By Daniel Pianto

The origins of this Pryor family in question, which has become a household name in the racing pigeon

sport, Australia wide, can be traced back to religious times to the word Prior which has its base in the

religious world of a Prior, and indeed the Priory of which these religious men called home.

The genealogy for the Pryor’s concerned, with its original spelling of Prior can be traced back from this

year 2017, to 1547, which is 470 years ago.

John Prior was born in 1547 in Concord, Cornwall, England and died on the 16th

of July 1588 in

Wenrdron, Cornwall, England. He was married to Margaret Nichoell on the 25th

of April 1565 in

Wendron. Margaret was born in 1550 and died in 1598.

Many, many generations later, the first family to decide to come to Australia, was also a John Pryor

who was born in Mary Davy, Devon, England in 1818 and was the son of Joseph Pryor and Elizabeth

Sampson. However his parents also decided to emigrate separately and they departed for America and

remained there until their passing.

Joseph Pryor was born in Cornwall in 1792 and died aged 66 in Portage, Lake Houghton, Michigan

USA in 1858. His wife Elizabeth Pryor, Nee: Sampson was the daughter of Walter Sampson and

Elizabeth Davey, born in 1793 in Illogan, Cornwall, and died in in 1865, aged 71 in Houghton,

Michigan. Both Joseph and Elizabeth Pryor are buried in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Michigan, USA.

John Pryor remained at home and was residing at Wheal Franco Mine, Collage, Buckland,

Monachorum, Devon, England in 1841, and in 1844 he married Mary Lane and along with their two

eldest children, Elizabeth Jane and Joseph, they set sail from London and were bound for South

Australia arriving in 1847 on the ship, “CRESSY”.

John Pryor and Mary Lane had the following 11 children including the two eldest listed;

Elizabeth Jane – 1845 – England, Joseph – 1846 – England, John Thomas Lane Pryor – 1847 – Burra –

South Australia, James – 1847 – 1850 - “ “, James Sampson Pryor – 1851 “ “, Ellen – 1852 – 1852 – “

“, William John – 1854 – Moonta – S.A, Richard Edward – 1855 – Burra – S.A, Elizabeth P Pryor –

1857 – Kooringa – Burra – S.A, Samuel – 1860 – 1860 – “ “, Henry Lane Pryor – 1863 – 1868

On the 25th

of December at his residence of Moonta Mines, South Australia, John Pryor had passed

away aged 79 years. His wife Mary Lane Prior, born in 1818, passed away in 1906 aged 88, also at

Moonta Mines.

Their son, John Thomas Lane Pryor was born in Burra, South Australia in 1847, and entered into rest

on May 21st 1910. At the stage of 17 years, he became the local Preacher at Burra, a position he held

for 40 years. He left Burra to live in Moonta in 1865 and in 1870 he married Mary Gubbins.

John Thomas Lane Pryor and Mary Gubbins had the following children;

1872 – Thomas Henry, 1873 – Ada, 1874 – Mary Elizabeth, 1876 – John – 1, 1878 – William Thomas

1880 – Fanny Maud, 1882 – Maurice Leonard, 1885 – Annie Lottie, 1886 – Harrold Rubert Torr,

1890 – John -2, 1892 – Elva R

In 1887, the Pryor family moved to Broken Hill from Moonta Mines. John Pryor’s personal nature was

quoted as being very modest and unassuming. He had over his lifetime filled every position open to a

layman in the Methodist Church. He was according to all who knew him, a very kind husband,

devoted father and very loyal friend.

Later that year on June 25th

, a Memorial Service was held. Despite the serviced being conducted

inside, a very heavy down pouring of rain prevailed outside. It was a very large congregation in

attendance.

Doctor Torr, both personal friend and relative, had written a letter as a tribute to,

Mr. J T L Pryor of which was read to the congregation and was a fitting tribute to the life and work of

Mr Pryor, whom Dr Torr had known since child hood.

Harrold Rubert Torr Pryor, John’s son was named in part of Dr Torr, whom delivered him and also

inheriting the Torr name from his great grand mother, Mary Gubbins whose maiden name was Torr.

Dr Torr’s last words in his letter were, “ He lives in God, and there we find him worthier to be loved”.

The wife of John Thomas Lane Pryor was Mrs. Mary Pryor, nee Gubbins, who was born in Tavistock,

Devonshire, England in 1848. She arrived in Australia with her two sisters and parents, Thomas

Gubbins and Elizabeth Torr, when Mary was aged 5 years old in 1855 to Port Adelaide, aboard the

sailing ship,

“LADY MCDONALD”.

Mary Pryor had resided in Burra, South Australia for 15 years and was then married as mentioned to J

TL Pryor in July 1870. After this date along with her husband and family went to the Moonta Mine

area, residing there for a period of 19 years.

In September 1889, she lived in Broken Hill and remained there until her passing, in 1936 aged 88.

The death occurred at her residence of Mercury Street, Railway Town and was a well respected and

well known resident of Broken Hill, New South Wales.

The private funeral procession took place from her residence at 11 am, with her being interred at the

Methodist Cemetery, reunited in eternity with her much loved and deceased late husband, John Pryor

who preceded her in May 1910.

The Reverend J. J. Mahoney officiated at the gravesite assisted by Rev. J. C. Barrett.

The pall –bearers were, Messrs. K. Pryor, A. Pryor, C. Pryor, W. H. Armstrong, J. Jenkins and L.

Dansie. Fred J Potter and Son carried out the funeral arrangements.

The next generation in our line of interest and succession, is that of Mr. Harrold Rubert Torr Pryor.

Harrold Pryor was born on the 30th

of November 1886 at Moonta, SA, to the former mentioned parents

of J T L Pryor and Mary Gubbins.

It was in 1913 that he subsequently married to Miss Florence Maud Nankivell in Sydney, New South

Wales. Her parents were Elias Sowton Henry Nankivell and Mary Jane Crowgey.

A full report exists of their Wedding, appearing in both the Barrier Miner and Broken Hill Newspapers,

respectively of which I have included as they offer so much personal detail of their celebration.

Pryor – Nankivell - A wedding was celebrated at the Dundas Methodist Church on Saturday last,

when Florence Maud, daughter of Mr and Mrs Nankivell of Rydalmere, was married to MR. H R T

Pryor of Broken Hill. Reverend G C Percival officiated.

The Church, which was crowded with friends, had been tastefully decorated with flowers and ferns,

and the bride, who was given away by her father, Mr E. Nankivell, wore embroided Swiss mousseline,

trimmed with Valenciennes lace and insertion, arranged with a court train.

Her veil was fastened over a wreath of orange blossoms, the latter being a gift of Mrs Firth, and she

carried a bouquet of roses, asters, and lily of the valley and tuber roses.

The bridesmaid was Miss. Olive Sergeant, who wore pale pink sea foam crepe, trimmed with pearls

and silver roses, and carried a bouquet of pink roses, the gift of the bridegroom.

Mr P Nankivell acted as best man and Messrs’’, J Pryor of Broken Hill, and Maurice Pryor of

Newcastle, brothers of the bridegroom as groomsmen. The brides groom’s gift to the bride was a ruby

and pearl brooch, and to the bridesmaid a gold brooch, set with amethysts and diamonds.

The breakfast was served at the Rydalmere Town hall where Mrs E Nankivell, mother of the bride,

received her guests in blue and black short glace silk trimmed with lace and a black Tagel hat,

ornamented with plumes.

The guests included Mrs Crowgey, Mrs Vincent, Mrs E Nankivell, Mrs Sergeant - Senior, Mrs F

Sergeant, Mrs Sebbins, Miss Sebbins, Mrs Forder (Toongabbie)

Miss Forder, Mrs Hewitt, Miss Hewitt, Mrs Kirelands, Mrs Wheeler, Mrs Langley, Miss R Sergeant,

Mrs W T Ely, Miss Amy Langley, Miss Langley, Mrs Wheeler, Miss Riley, Miss Tysee, Miss Edna

Forder, Miss Evelyn Vincent, Rev G C Percival.

Messrs.’, J Pryor – Broken Hill, Maurice – Newcastle, E. H. Nankivell, I. C. Nankivell, P. Nankivell,

L. Nankivell, C. Adams – Broken Hill, J Richards – Broken Hill, F. C. Sergeant, J. H. Crowgey,

Vincent, Ald, Sebbins, Langley, Wheeler, Hewitt, W. T. Ely, W. Price – Sydney, C. Fowler and L. Ely.

Mr and Mrs Pryor left later for the mountains, the bride going away in a navy blue coat and skirt, worn

with a black French Tagel hat, arranged with Lancer plumes.

As one can clearly see from this wedding report, it was a huge celebration, bringing in whole groups of

people from near, far and wide, being friends, relations and people together. It is a true account of

societies social importance of these events of the times, and what these celebrations meant yesteryear

to whole communities. They paid great attention to detail and they enforced that these events were

made truly memorable and a special occasion for all involved and especially the two families

combining and making the food, clothing and flowers, etc.

Weddings of today tend to only focus on the bride and groom, where as we can see in 1913, everyone

was made feel important for their attendance and it was a community celebration of all, especially back

home in Broken Hill, who couldn’t make the long trip to Sydney of 1147km away.

The father of the bride, Elias Sowton Henry Nankivell arrived with his parents, Edward and Ann

Nankivell, at the age of 8 years old. They left the Port of Plymouth, England and arrived into Port

Adelaide in 1857 on board the sailing ship, “Henry Moore”.

Edward Nankivell was born in Bere Alston, Devonshire, England in 1821, the son of Edward Nankivell

and Mary Nicholls. Edward died in Broken Hill, N.S.W, in 1897.

His wife Ann Nankivell was born about 1820 in Devonshire, England, to Richard Sowton and Charity

Metters. She died under very tragic and painful circumstances on the 20th

of November 1891, when at

her home at Cross Roads, Moonta, South Australia, when she was standing against the fireplace and

this resulted in her being fearfully burnt, that her life was despaired of.

Elias Sowton Henry Nankivell was born in 1851 in Tucker Marsh, Devon, England and he died in 1929

at Rydalmere, N.S.W, aged 78.

His wife, Mary Jane Crowgey, was born in 1856, Gwennapp, Cornwall, England, her parents being

Henry Crowgey and Ann Bray. Mary Crowgey – Pryor passed away in 1919 at Rydalmere, N.S.W

aged 62 years. She had arrived from England with her parents at the aged of 8 years, to Port Adelaide,

S.A on the ship, “Lady Milton” in 1865. Her mother passed away Ann Crowgey, the daughter of

Ambrose and Grace Bray, who died in 1889 in the district of Daly, S.A and her father, Henry Crowgey

moved to Broken Hill, where he sadly passed away in April 22nd

1910, he was the son of Edward and

Jane Crowgey.

Florence Maud Nankivell, the daughter of Elias Sowton Henry Nankivell and Mary Jane Crowgey, was

born on the 25th

of October 1885 at Moonta and passed away at the grand age of 88, in 1978 in

Adelaide, S.A.

Her husband Harrold Rubert Torr Pryor passed away in 1955 in Broken Hill, N.S.W, leaving her a

widow for 23 years. She came to Adelaide to live, as her son, Keith Pryor and his family had also

moved to Adelaide in 1976.

Harrold and Florence Pryor, Nee: Nankivell had the following children.

Keith John Pryor – 1914 Broken Hill N.S.W, Harold Lee Pryor – 1915 “ “ “

Allan Thomas Pryor – 1916 “ “ “, Edna Mary Pryor – 1919 “ “ “

Robert George Pryor – 1923 “ “ “

Keith John Pryor was born on January 27th

1914 at Broken Hill – New South Wales to the above -

mentioned parents, Harrold and Florence Pryor.

On the 3rd

of February 1940, Keith married Miss Winifred May Cullen and the following reported by

the reporter from the Barrier Miner in 1940, gave a full account of the Pryor wedding, which reads,

“EARLY MORNING BRIDE AT NICHOLLS STREET”

Saturday’s early morning bride was Winifred May, second daughter of Mr and Mrs James Cullen, of

Harris Street, who at 7am said, “I will”, to Keith John Pryor at the Nicholls Street Methodist Church.

The Reverend Tilbrook officiated.

Miss Cullen, who is tall and dark haired, chose a very becoming ensemble of cruiser grey figured

claque. The frock had short may gar sleeves and she fastened a spray of lily of the valley, to the high

neck line which fell in three flat tucks. Tiniest pink rose - buds were embroided on the dozen buttons,

down the slim bodice and the well - cut skirt flared slightly under the, edge to edge coat. She wore

pearls and navy accessories, including a model hat of fine straw, the crown rising to the sharp peak and

the brim drooping over the face. Navy ribbons tied it to her hair at the back and there was a spotted

veiling over all. She carried a small sheaf of white gladioli.

The matron of honour was the bride’s sister, Mrs N. Coulls, who wore a frock of soft crayon pink self

striped sheer. Bands of ruching caught up the elbow length sleeves and lily of the valley finished the

square neckline. A sash was looped at the corselets waist, from which emerged the graceful swing

skirt, while her fascinating little grey hat was hood shaped and topped with cyclamen flowers. Grey

chiffon was swathed around it to form tails and her flowers were pink and white gladioli.

The groom is the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Harrold Pryor, of Bismuth Street, and

Mr George Cullen, brother of the bride, supported him.

Mrs Habermann presided at the Organ and Mr Don McGrath rendered, “My Prayer”. A horseshoe,

which had been previously used at the wedding of her sister, Mrs P. Liston, was hung on Mrs Pryor’s

arm as she left the Church.

About thirty relatives and friends attended the wedding breakfast at the home the bride’s parents, where

the tables were decorated with autumn – shaped blooms.

Taking pride of place was the two- tiered square cake in silver and white, which had been made and

decorated by the bride’s sister Mrs P. Liston of Yass.

A tiny cupid holding a gold wedding ring topped this.

The bride’s mother wore a gown of aqua blue, touched with white and matching accessories, with a

posy of lily of the valley. All navies were the choice of the groom’s mother.

Later Mr and Mrs Pryor left by Plane for Adelaide, where they will join the Boat for Kangaroo Island.

Keith’s wife, Winifred May Cullen was born in 1916 at Broken Hill to Mr James Barbara Cullen 1885

– 1954 and Rose Florence Robinson 1888 – 1960. I have decided to include all details in this article

about Winifred Pryor’s family history, as she was the mother of John Douglas Pryor, who our article

will focus on later. Winifred’s father was James Barbara Cullen, whose parents were James Cullen and

Adelaide Barbara Griffiths.

James Barbara Cullen’s father was James Cullen was born in 1843 in Canterbury, England and died in

Broken Hill, N.S.W in 1906. He was the son of William Cullen and Sarah Twyman. William and

Sarah Cullen, along with the above - mentioned James Cullen, who was aged 8, and his four other

siblings, came to South Australia on the ship, “STEADFAST” in 1852.

James Barbara Cullen’s mother was Adelaide Barbara Cullen (Griffiths) was born in 1846 in Wales

and died in Broken Hill in 1888. Also at the age of 8, she came to Australia with her parents, John

Griffiths and Sarah Barber Jones aboard the sailing ship, “GLENTANNER”, arriving in Port Adelaide

in 1855.

Winifred’s mother was Rose Florence Cullen (Robinson), who was born in the district of Frome, South

Australia in 1888, to Charles Benjamin Robinson and Mary Lillian Jane Jacka. Rose Florence

Robinson Cullen died in 1960 in Broken Hill, N.S.W.

Charles Benjamin Robinson was born whilst his parents were on the Victorian Goldfields, in 1862 at

St. Arnaud, Victoria. His father Benjamin Robinson was born in Charlesmont, County Armagh in

Northern Ireland around 1837/38 and was the son of Benjamin Robinson Snr and Elizabeth

Blevans/Blevins. The Robinson family consisting of Benjamin and Elizabeth, Benjamin Jnr and his 9

other siblings, emigrated from Northern Ireland and arrived in Victoria in 1841 on the ship,

“SALSETTE”. At some stage, Benjamin Robinson Jnr was in South Australia as he married an 18-

year-old lady named Miss Sarah Jane Williams of Angas Park, S.A, in 1859. Benjamin was aged 22

and was a Brewer by trade.

In 1863, Benjamin and Sarah returned to South Australia and remained there until 1867. They then

shifted to Melrose and Benjamin began his brewing business of which was taken over and made

famous by the Jacka family of which his son, Charles Benjamin Robinson, was to marry into at a later

stage, when he married Mary Lillian Jane Jacka.

Benjamin Robinson Jnr died in 1875 and is buried in the Melrose cemetery – S.A. His wife Sarah Jane

Williams was the daughter of a John Williams.

Sarah remarried to George John Morgan, on 6th

of April 1876 in the district of Frome, SA. George

Morgan was a widower as well, having 1st married Ann Hurst in 1867 in Adelaide. Ann Morgan

(Hurst) passed away in Adelaide in 1875.

He had two three children to this union, being Elizabeth 1867, George John 1869 and Matilda 1871,

who married Henry Charles Habermann in 1898.

Matilda was the Organist at the wedding of Keith and Winifred Pryor’s wedding in Broken Hill in

1940.

In 1877, George and Sarah Morgan had a daughter born, Louisa Margaret Morgan and in 1879 another

daughter was born named Elsie Mabel.

Sarah Williams Robinson Morgan became the Mayoress of Broken Hill on her husband’s election to

that position. She also was of a charitable nature and contributed her services in a voluntary capacity

to work at the Broken Hill Benevolent Society for a period of 9 years. Sarah Jane Morgan died in

Adelaide, in 1898 aged 56 years. Her second husband George John Morgan died in Kalgoorlie, in

1935, being the owner of the Britannia Mine.

Charles Benjamin Robinson died of an Apoplexy (Stroke) at Magill House, Magill, Adelaide, on

October 8th

1926. In 1880, Charles Robinson married Lillian Jacka, also known as Mary Jane Lillian

Jacka who was born in 1856 in Adelaide and died in Broken Hill in 1928.

Her father was William John Jacka, born in 1830 – Gwennap, Cornwall, England and died in

Hammond, S.A in 1888. He had arrived on the ship, “RAJAH” from London to Port Adelaide, S.A in

1849, with his father, William Jacka, born in 1797 – Gwennap, Cornwall and his step mother,

Catherine Jane Whitburn – 1803 – 1878, as his real mother, Mary Bray had died in Cornwall in 1846.

William Jacka died in Adelaide in 1867.

William John Jacka married Jane Coombe and together over many years, and 12 children later, they

made the Jacka name very famous by operating the well known, “Jacka’s Brewery House”, at Melrose,

South Australia. Jane Jacka (Coombe) was also of Cornish heritage and was born in Gwennap,

Cornwall in 1833, and her family, was from the village known as Frogpool, Gwennap, Cornwall.

Jane, her parents, Samuel Coombes 1805 – 1861 and her mother, Harriett Dustan and three other

siblings arrived into Port Adelaide in 1848 on the ship, “SUCCESS”.

Keith John Pryor and his wife Winifred May Cullen had the following children.

John Douglas Pryor – 1941 – Broken Hill N.S.W, Donald James Pryor – 1943 “ “ “

Robert Keith Pryor – 1945 “ “ “, Barbara Florence – 1949 “ “ “

Keith John Pryor became very interested in Pigeons around the age of 13 and in the period of

1926/1927, Keith joined the West Broken Hill Homing Club of which this club had formed only a few

years prior of which there were several clubs in existence in Broken Hill over time. I have selected a

few of Keith’s early records just to show his ability in true Pryor fashion, to be successful from the

short distance, right through to having had the only bird home from the extreme distances.

A meeting was held and founded the West Broken Hill Homing one Saturday night in 1923 at a Mr

Bettison’s residence. Mr J McEwin was elected chairman with Mr A. G. Staker, Hon Secretary and Mr

Bettison, Treasurer. A Mr S J Berry was elected Patron and Mr A G Poyner and Mr F L Rushten –

Presidents. Nineteen members had already joined the club and it was agreed that the flying members

must reside in the same division as the West Football Club. It was also decided that to make things of

an even playing field that a limit be set of 800 yards overfly.

The first published result that I could locate for Keith Pryor was in 1930, when he finished, 3rd

place

from Olary 68 miles, with a Blue Chequer Cock called, “MULGA” – 821 y.p.m. At that stage of the

year, Keith was also 5th

in the Aggregate placing. Other years are as follows from 1932 onwards.

1932 - 4th Wallaroo Single Up – 254 miles. BBH 31 218 named, “THE SNAIL”, 558 y.p.m.

3rd

Pimba – 278 miles BC 31 228, named, “COMPASS”, 782 y.p.m.

He also was placed 4th

on the, “Peter Sampson” Aggregate Trophy Points and also won 1st Tarcoola –

BCH 30 WBHC 854 - Ten owners sent 27 birds, 2nd

Ooldea – BCH 30 WBHC 469 635 y.p.m

1933 - 3rd

Terowie (1) 170 miles BCH 32 WBHC 536 - 827 y.p.m

1st Terowie (2) Black Hen 29 WBHC 547

1st Wallaroo 254 miles Black Hen 29 WBHC 547

1934 - 3rd

Olary 68 miles BCH 33 WBHC 81 - 989 y.p.m, 4th

Crystal Brook BCH 33 WBHC 81 – 532

y.p.m - K. Pryor is leading Aggregate on 129 Points, 2nd

Wallaroo Single Up Race.

The second placed bird owned by Mr K. Pryor and bred by Mr G. Fitzpatrick of Sydney, was released

at 7:40 am and clocked at 8:30 am the next day, having taken 13 hours and 16 minutes to fly 253 miles.

This bird a BCC 33 RFC 426 was 2nd

with a velocity of 550 y.p.m and the 1st place getter was Mr A. J.

Fogarty, of which these two owners were the only ones to qualify.

1937 - 4th

Pinnaroo 228 miles BCC WBHC 36 – 142 Velocity – 885 y.p.m, 2nd

Pinnaroo Mealy Cock

WBHC 35 – 156 Velocity – 1418 y.p.m, 4th

Wolseley 303 miles, Black Hen WBHC 35 – 171.

1938 - 2nd

Mannahill BBC WBHC 37 – 316 Velocity – 1184 y.p.m, 2nd

Yunta BBC WBHC 37 – 316

Velocity – 987.14 y.p.m, 1st Pinnaroo BBH ARP 27 170 Velocity – 1742 y.p.m in 4 hours and 12 mins,

1st Wolseley – Bred by C. Lean (S.A) Raced by K. Pryor RCH WBHC 37 331 – Velocity – 1033.6

y.p.m Mr Pryor win the Cup donated by Mr E J Nicholls – Jeweler.

1st Mount Gambier 407 miles RCH WBHC 37 – 331 at 562 y.p.m, bred by C. Lean. Keith Pryor won

the Cup donated by Mr W Skeggs and is the holder of the, “Hurley Cup” for 12 months. This Cup has

to be won three times by the same owner in a race over 400 miles. K. Pryor finished 2nd

in the overall

Aggregate, “Horrie Edwards Aggregate” 1938.

1939 - 2nd Mingarry No 2 – BBC FRP 36 13221 Velocity 605.67 y.p.m

3rd

Mount Gambier 407 miles

1940 – K. Pryor was elected as the Assistant Secretary and Press Reporter of the W.B.H.C.

1941 - 3rd

Place in the West Broken Hill Club Aggregate, 1st Single Up 170 miles Dark Chq Hen

WBHC 40 – 372 in a time of 8 hours and 33 mins, 1st 120 miles – Grizzle Hen WBHC 40 – 383 –

Velocity – 755 y.p.m, 2nd

– 68 miles (1) Red Cock WBHC 39 – 678 – Velocity – 593.834 y.p.m

1st 68 miles (2) Red Cock WBHC 39 – 678 – Velocity – 678 y.p.m

It would appear that Keith Pryor left the West Broken Hill Club between the years of 1942-1844.

Keith then joined the Broken Hill Homing Club, which was formed in 1893. Keith now had a growing

family and his greatest pride no doubt was the little baby who was pacified from being grizzly, by

being placed in front of the loft by his mother, a young John Pryor was starting his apprenticeship at a

very early age and already born into the racing pigeon world, through his fathers passion.

In 1944, I noticed that Keith Pryor was the Ring Secretary of the Broken Hill Homing Club, 34

Thomas Street, Broken Hill and in this year I found one race result of that being in 1944 of Keith being

placed 3rd

from Wallaroo in the Inter Homing Club Championship Race of 255 miles. In 1946, Keith

was elected as the Assistant Secretary of the Broken Hill Homing Club.

Keith Pryor had now gained much experience over the years and went on to improve on the quality of

his pigeons in the long races, as can be verified from the following results.

In 1950, he won Cook 660 miles, which at the time was a record, because it was the longest distance

flown by the Broken Hill Homing Club since 1923. It was a very grand effort put up by Keith’s bird in

the 1951 race from Forrest Western Australia.

Keith had the only bird to home out of 71 entries. The bird returned from the distance of 810 miles, on

the 14th

day, unfortunately outside of the 10 day allocated time frame.

1953

1st Yunta BBH 8 BHC 52, 1

st Yunta BCWFC 339 BHC 51, 4

th Marree BBC 259 BHC 50

5th

Mannahill BCC 1 BHC 52, 1st Oodnadatta 471 miles and only bird in race time, 22 owners sent 127

birds. The winner was a BCH 302 BHC 51.

1954

2nd

Tarlee Black Chq Hen 82 BHC 53, 1st Bordertown 305 miles BCPH 67 BHC 53

2nd

Mannahill Black Chq PH 67 BHC 53, 3rd

Quorn Black C H 65 BHC 53, 2nd

Yunta & 5th

Mungay

with Black C C 83 BHC 53, 5th Mannahill Black C C 54 BHC 53

1965

1st Mannahill – BHHC 64 – 1363, 3

rd Mt. Bryan – BHHC 64 – 1267

1967

2nd

Olary, 2nd

Mannahill – BHHC 66 – 85, 6th Gawler BHHC 66- 13.

1968

3rd

Menindee BHHC

1969

4th

Condobolin

Keith Pryor had been with the Broken Hill Homing Club until he moved to Adelaide in 1976, a very

valued Life Member and champion flyer in that Club for over a 30-year period. No doubt he would

have kept in close contact with his former club and its members and frequented them when the chance

arose to visit family and friends in Broken Hill.

When Keith and his wife moved to Adelaide in 1976, he had the honour of flying in the same club with

his son John Pryor which was a strong club known as the Hampstead Club. Keith had always had a

passion for the long distance races and his pigeons both in Broken Hill and in Adelaide were always

severely tested and seen him as a very keen and strong competitor.

From the years 1976 until 1984, Keith obtained the following successes, even though over the last few

years of racing, he found himself not in the best of health which prevented him being able to get the

very best out of his pigeons as he would have liked, regardless of this fact, he achieved the following

prizes, which many people may never achieve in their lifetime of racing pigeons.

1976 – 3rd

SAHPA Boorooban

1979 – 3rd

SAHPA AGGREGATE POINTS, 2nd

SAHPA Bathurst – 640 miles, 4th

, 12th

, 21st SAHPA

Ceduna, 21st SAHPA Mitamo, 24

th SAHPA Nundroo, 9

th, 23

rd and 28

th Eucla.

Also in the Bathurst event of 1979, Keith achieved 2nd

, 4th

, 11th

, 12th

and 22nd

SAHPA of which 250

owners sent 1,538 birds. It was described as one of the hardest ever Bathurst races ever flown and in

true Pryor style, the birds did what they do best when the going gets tough.

1980 – 11th

SAHPA Aggregate Points, 15th

& 21st SAHPA Little Cobar, 9

th SAHPA Ceduna, 11

th

SAHPA Nundroo, 18th

SAHPA Eucla.

1981 – 1st SAHPA Tamworth – 760 miles, 13

th, 18

th and 22

nd SAHPA Ceduna.

1982 – 13th

SAHPA Penong

1983 – 1st SAHPA Alice Springs – 830 miles, 10

th SAHPA Gosses, 12

th SAHPA Boorooban.

1984 – 7th

SAHPA Bathurst

The main dominant family of Keith Pryor were his old family of pigeons as mentioned, which

everyone referred to as, “The Old Broken Hill Line”. These pigeons were a mix of the best bloodlines

obtained from both Sydney and Adelaide. A lot of Keith's early pigeons were bred by Mr C (Jack)

Lean, of South Australia. He was a very early figure in the South Australian Homing Pigeon

Association. I have heard it mentioned that the old Broken Hill birds were a blend of Bricoux and

Gits, which is highly probably, whatever the origin of the birds it can be guaranteed that they stood the

test of time and trails of racing for Keith to fondly refer to them as his, “Old Broken Hill Line”.

In his final sale of 1985, Keith had added and traded many birds from top flyers right across Australia.

He was never afraid at all to buy, try and test birds from others, however any addition to Keith’s stock

loft was a very different matter, with only one criteria of entry and that was that the bird or birds had to

be proven long distance birds, that had won or were bred down from winners of particularly long

distance winners of very hard to smash races

There were many of the later birds Keith had purchased as recently as 1984, were from Mr Peter

Clarke of the Dapto Club, who competed in the South Coast Federation SCF, Sydney, New South

Wales. Fanciers who remember the great achievements obtained by Peter Clarke and his pigeons for

others would remember him as a Club Champion and noted for his Federation wins at the long distance

events, which would have no doubt raised the eye brows of Keith Pryor, when looking to improve his

own long distance bloodlines.

Other additions were, surprisingly a lot of other fanciers names contained in the catalogue, and this was

simply a reflection of Keith’s never ending search for better and better pigeons. One realises that if

one sits still one gets left behind in pigeon racing and Keith appears that he didn’t want to become a

pigeon flyer of the past but wanted to remain a very modern and relevant name at the top of the

SAHPA, which so few achieve.

The names of birds procured by Keith included, F. Coppock, J. Cox, T. Quinn, R. Dangerfield, M.

Govan, S. Ferguson, R. Wickham, P. Clarke, G. Stevens, C. Delaine, R. Marchant, E. Gassman, D.

Jackson, T. Meehan, D. Green, M. Harshegi, J. Metcalf, R. Mountstephen, R. Holden etc. One of the

most striking purchases was LOT 47 of the Quinn’s Sale in 1979 of their 1st SAHPA Grenfell Winner.

Keith Pryor’s sale was conducted at the SAHPA Hall in Baulderstone Road Gepps’s Cross-.

It started at 10am on Sunday 18th

of August 1985. At this final sale, 164 birds went under the hammer

for auctioning. Hampers, Nest bowls and 2 Clocks were also auctioned bringing the total sale lots to

167. The sale ended an era on the late Keith Pryor, however his own genes were to be carried on in the

pigeon sport he was so passionate about, with his son John Pryor continuing on to achieve greater

heights than Keith or John would have ever dreamed imaginable.

Keith John Pryor passed on April 10th

1985 aged 71, in what would have been his 60th year of racing

pigeons. His wife Winifred Pryor survived him and died on the 24 of January 2004 aged 87.

Both Keith and Winifred’s memorial plaques are located in the Enfield Memorial Cemetery in South

Australia, where so many other great pigeon fanciers are now at rest.

John Douglas Pryor was born in Broken Hill, New South Wales on the 2nd

of October 1941; He was

the son of Keith John Pryor and Winifred May Cullen.

Being born and raised in Broken Hill, John grew up being the son of a pigeon fancier who was as we

have read and an extremely talented and devoted pigeon fancier, so is it any wonder with such as solid

base growing up being his father’s little shadow, that John would one day become one of the most

talented flyers this country has ever seen the likes of. Had it not been for his early passing, he would

have certainly eclipsed the record set by the legendary, Mr Keith Wickham, which still stands today

unbeaten.

When John was aged 9 he began racing pigeons and his own loft was built. The influence as we know

not only came from his late father, Keith, but his grandfather, Mr James B Cullen also had Fancy

Pigeons. John would take his pigeons tossing on his bike and also the birds were sent on tosses on the

train.

John was an apprentice sheet metal worker and advanced to that qualification later on.

John first met Ruth, by being introduced to her through mutual friends at the age of 15. The couple

then met up again when Ruth was 16 and had gone to the movies with her friends and John was sitting

in his car up the back of the movies like all the other cool guys. The girls were walking past and John

jumped out of his car and said to Ruth, “Can I take you home?”. The following week was the couples

first date, and they went to the movies again. Ruth said blokes always took the girls to the scary

movies as they reckon the girls would get scared and cling onto them, John’s cunning plan worked as

Ruth stayed and John trapped this hen in, so to speak. The movie was called, “The Phantom of Rue

Morgue. Ruth was also invited to a pigeon social by John, and she end up taking sponges and a cake

she had prepared, so by this time she well and truly knew that she loved the bloke from the movies.

John Pryor married Miss Ruth Mary Johnson in 1963 at Broken Hill and they were blessed with three

very talented children. Neroli, Janelle and Andrew Pryor.

Ruth was born in 1944 in Broken Hill, N.S.W, the daughter of Gustav Adolf Leslie Johnson and

Emelin Almirra Thomas (Amy). Ruth was the daughters of their union, as both were from second

marriages, Gustav had 9 children and Emelin had 2 children prior to their marriage in 1942 at Broken

Hill.

Her first marriage was to Hector McNeil in 1923. Both of Ruth’s parents had their origins in Sweden

and Germany.

From Ruth’s accounts her and John had a very happy marriage with never any fighting or arguing.

They simply respected each other’s opinions. The only real blow-up they encountered was once the

birds came home early and the washing was on the line. John said, “I could have won that race by

more time than what I did, if the clothes hadn’t been on the line”. He still won the race, and all was

forgiven. Their own children were never allowed to play outside etc. on a race day, but when the grand

children came along, they could near do what they liked.

A lot of people believe John was doing something different to others or was medicating or giving

supplements or some magic potion in regards to his successes, but Ruth says, “The secret to John’s

success was no secret at all, he was successful through pure hard work and dedication. John would get

up every morning at 5am and clean out the lofts, exercise the birds and feed them in etc., all before

work. He had no disease in his loft ever and the sand was always sifted out.

The sand was from the creek beds at Broken Hill, N.S.W and was just the right size sand. Many trips

over the years that were made to Broken Hill to see family and for holidays and a carload of this sand

always came home with them, on the long return trip to Adelaide.

With the sand, John used to after sieving it, would put all the remaining loft sand in buckets, fill them

with water and all the manure would then float to the top and John would then get rid of that until all of

the sand was brand new looking. Once the Pryor’s had a pet Dog who licked all the manure off the top

much to the Pryor’s disgust. The Dog lived and it must have done the Dog a world of good, as it never

got sick. Cats were never kept as pets ever.

John also learned over many years his famous wing theory and his birds were nicknamed, “Pocket

Rockets”. Ruth said, “I always knew where to find John if I needed him or if we had a visitor or the

phone rang, as he was, “ALWAYS”, in the pigeon loft.

The young Pryor family decided that more opportunities in life awaited them in Adelaide, South

Australia, and John ultimately made the shift there and secured employment, in 1965. In this year he

wasted no time, and joined the West Torrens Club. At the end of the season the Pryor’s settled into

their permanent home in Hampstead.

These opportunities gave his children a good life and education, with Andrew Pryor, John and Ruth’s

son, is a very well educated and a wonderful Tenor singer of which he had studied for a period of 5

years at the Queensland Conservatorium, and holds a Bachelor of Music and a Graduate Diploma in

Opera. Other credentials he holds are a Bachelor of Science, a Post Graduate in Intensive Care,

Theatre, and Recovery.

A calling came from New Zealand of a job offer and it was too good for John not to refuse it. So he

went and worked in New Zealand for two years, and when he returned to Adelaide he took up

membership of the newly formed Vitesse Club. Vitesse comes from the French word meaning, Speed.

John’s ultimate thrill so early in Adelaide was to share the SAHPA Aggregate Points win with a young

man who un-be - knows to John at the time, that birds from this fellow would one day propel John

Pryor into being one of the greatest racing fellows in the history of Australia, it was the late Allen

Goodger.

The year 1971 was the start of the long and lasting association John had as a valued and well-respected

member and competitor of the Hampstead Club, of which he remained until his tragic passing.

John’s passion was the long distance races and ultimately in time John became known as the, “King of

Alice Springs”, the ultimate long distance marathon race in Australia over 800 miles.

John’s birds originally consisted of 5 birds that he bought from Broken Hill from his father and mixed

them with birds that he got from Lou and George Downer, which were Bricoux – Stassart – Janssen.

John had once lived across the road from Old Lou Downer, who had flown in the West Torrens Club,

and no doubt John obtained birds from him and many other top flyers in his time. The Goodger’s came

along fairly much after Allen Goodger Sale, but John would have been aware of what was happening in

the Goodger Loft and would have studied its progress with great interest, being a good valued friend

and club mate of Allen.

But as I always say to people, “Only the Cook knows what went into making the Soup”. John would be

no different in this regard and would have tested many birds over his time, some stayed and became

part of his family and others were soon lost by the way side or quickly disposed of. The man was

successful because he kept the very best pigeons he could lay his hands on and knew how to get the

very best out of them by using his judgement and great stock sense, this is what set him apart from the

masses. One thing we are very grateful to John for is his very strict record keeping and his pedigrees

are immaculate and well thought out re: planning of mating’s which proved so successful, which

contained many top long distance SAHPA placed birds in their genes, generation after generation.

NOTE: (The Janssen here mentioned are not of the modern Janssen imports, but from the old Wegge

based Janssens that came from Jules Janssen of Belgium many years ago, well prior to the recently

imported birds.)

We are all aware of the great impact of the Goodger and indeed pigeons from Jack Metcalf, in the

history of the Pryor lofts, an their impact on the long distance achievements could not be fully

measured, passing on winning genes and a toughness of character no other bird could match.

We are lucky to find in the catalogue of Grant Patterson’s Sale 5th

May 1996 held at the VHA Rooms

in Melbourne, a written reference for Grant from John Pryor himself, it contains a summary of what

John really thought of the introduction and value of the Goodger strain.

“The main base of my most successful birds that I have received is undoubtedly the Allen Goodger

bred family of birds, that I have received from Grant Patterson”. Every one of these birds has

produced club or SAHPA placing’s for me. They have been instrumental in my achieving 1st

three

times, 2nd

twice 5th

and 9th

placing’s in the SAHPA Aggregate points award in the past eight years

against strong competition at times in the vicinity of 450 members. I have no doubts that these are

the purest and best of the Goodger pigeons in Australia and that they will produce winners from

200kms to 1320kms” J. Pryor

In later years many are aware that John had obtained imports, but they were never allowed to influence

his lofts or filter through to his own Pryor strain. Some of the imports that are known that John had

tried successfully were, Ponderosa – Van Breemans, Major Rob Wilson’s imported Van Wanroys,

Keith Brumfield’s Janssens, Cobuts, Desmet Matthis, and Andy Gregsons of Preston Lancashire UK –

Imported De Weerdt’s direct from Emiel De Weerdt. One hen – GB – 98 -65829 (On Loan), was a

Janssen x Van Loon, being a direct daughter of the famous, “Silver Shadow”.

Many of John’s birds including the Sire of his REF D Cock, the cock in question being,

SA – 87 – 17175, who was sold in 1994 to a fancier in Holland, and other birds sent overseas, also had

much success. I also believe that at this time, John was really firing up to go to town on his opposition

with his new weapon, the imports, and had time been allowed, we would have seen results unheard of,

which would have been very much in the style of current Champion, Mr Greg Hamilton, with what he

has and is continuing to achieve, success wise, with his imports, the base bloodlines of which are

Janssen, Van Loon and recent introductions of Koopman, Hereman – Ceusters and Vandenabeele.

These birds in combination with the old strains, pure and or crossed, those birds being of the

foundation bloodlines of Goodger, Pryor, and the allied strains of Walford, Hodgins, Metcalf and

Cunningham, are now responsible to ensure Mr Hamilton is successful in all races on the SAHPA

program, with the horses for courses approach, embracing the talents of both local and imported

strains, which John, as mentioned was in the process of putting into practice, fortunately this was a

blessing to his opposition of the time that, sadly for John, did not come into fruition.

For me to encompass all of John’s achievements would be downright impossible and his main results

have been already well documented and recorded by others more qualified on the matter, how ever

what, I would like to add is that John amassed a total of 16 SAHPA wins, 3 SAHPA wins in the same

season being 1999. The Alice Springs event was his pride and joy backing up his extensive knowledge

on breeding, confirmation, training and feeding that was needed for the preparation to excel at these

distances, which combined in winning Alice Springs in the South Australian Homing Association, on

four occasions.

Since 1990, John Pryor had won the SAHPA Champion Flyer Aggregate 5 times, being the runner up

twice and placed in the top ten in the remaining years since. What an outstanding achievement!

It is with much regret when John’s early passing, prevented him in the future years to fly pigeons, that

he was so wrongfully denied of doing, he could have and no doubt most obviously would have broken

all of the SAHPA records, and the amount of times he won his own Club Aggregate was phenomenal.

What also made John Pryor the legend that he was, was apart from always trying to educate others

about his methods on long distance characteristics and advice in general, one must also consider the

other factor which was that he competed against a field of 400 – 450 strong Association membership

all across Adelaide, and he still managed to remain humble, dignified and able to still remain at the

very top of his chosen sport for so long and was getting superior as time passed. I want you, as readers

to stop and think about the magnitude of this for a moment and in reflection ponder the fact that what

was achieved against so many competitors must surely be miraculous?

John Douglas Pryor, after having a beautiful meal and entertaining evening with his close friend’s

Graham and June Davison, was to suddenly sadden us all by passing away on his return Bus trip to

Sydney, after being at the Sydney Convention at the time, in his capacity as a guest and also a much

appreciated Guest Speaker. Taken from the sport, his friends, and beautifully family much, much too

soon.

John passed away on December 6th

1999 in Sydney, aged only 58, his untimely death sent absolute

shock waves through the Pigeon fancy world wide, and it is to those whom our admiration and respect

lies, to the people involved who had the important and empathetic duty to break the sad news to his

family back home awaiting his return to Adelaide and to his cherished birds.

In John’s final sale catalogue, the total auction of all of his birds numbered 212 Lots.

The event was a huge success indeed, and was attended by his wife, Mrs Ruth Pryor.

The Tivoli Auditorium at the Rooty Hill R.S.L, New South Wales, was filled with fanciers from all

across Australia, with the sale commencing at 10:30 am. The auctioneer was Mr. Steve Bond, who was

a very successful pigeon racer and auctioneer.

Due to the personal friendship and intimate knowledge of John’s pedigrees and birds, both Mr. Grant

Patterson and Mr. Ross Hocking of South Australia, undertook the massive task to catalogue all of the

birds and liaise the massive task to auction the birds in Sydney. Behind the scenes, this would have

been a mammoth undertaking and logistical nightmare for both concerned, but they both handled the

task with much professionalism and credibility, John himself would have been very proud and happy

with.

This sale made open to public auction would have rarely come about normally in one’s own lifetime

and under other circumstances, the sale would never have happened. However it did, and in the sale of

212 lots, the bloodlines were soaked in the descendants of John’s famous Ref A Cock, being SA 82

11829, the son of Lot 53 and Lot 60 bred by Allen Goodger.

Reference A was also listed to be auctioned being Lot 57 in the sale, however he became unwell and

lost his appetite and passed away aged 17 in the Pryor loft. He himself will probably go down in the

history of our sport as one of the greatest producing stock cocks ever witnessed.

The following statement was written as a foreword to John’s sale catalogue, and these words written

about Pryor’s Ref A Cock, sums up clearly his worth as a producer for both John and others, direct and

indirectly. “When this pigeon was introduced to the loft in 1983, it heralded the start of a family which

has not only been the basis of John’s success, but also remains a key factor in the loft to this day”!

Little would it have been known the greatness of the Ref A and indeed the birds now emanating from

John Pryor’s loft, now being housed in the majority of lofts Australia wide, and a few years earlier

coming from Allen Goodger. It has been nearly 20 years since John Pryor left us for much stronger

competition and challenges beyond the eternal and his legacy lives on in the gift he has given us in his

theories and ideals and also his strain of pigeon which has continued to do justice to his name, by still

heading the top of the results both in City and in Country areas right across Australia, they also

continue to prove themselves at the long distances raced in the Association in Adelaide, and are

especially adapt to handle things when the day is dead against them.

After the sale, Ruth Pryor had often wondered by chance if any pigeons would return? At the time

Ruth had kept a few pigeons just to have around as she had pigeons around her all her married life and

this also got her through John’s passing. So one day a bird did come back and at the time it was her

grand daughter’s 2nd

birthday celebrations. The bird landed on the loft and Ruth caught it and checked

the ring number. It was one of the birds that had been lost on one of the worst tosses John had ever had

when almost all his birds were lost on a toss from over the Adelaide Hills.

John had written in his book, the 9 top birds that were lost that day that he was devastated over losing

the most. The bird that came back to Ruth was one of these 9. In his notes John had written about this

toss that, “This was the worse toss in over 30 years of racing pigeons, however he added, “LIFE GOES

ON”.

When this toss had occurred, Ruth said to me that a lot of pigeon fellows were really pleased about

John’s smash toss because they knew they were able to beat him that year, but John was never foolish,

he had kept some birds in reserve, and he went on to be more successful than was expected, with the

remaining birds that he had at home, specifically trained and prepared separately.

John was an Adelaide Crows supporter and seen them win 2 Premierships. He always said, “If I had to

barrack for a Victorian team, it would have to be Geelong, because it’s not in Melbourne”.

As we all know Curly Maricic and John Pryor were the best of mates and were each other’s shadows.

Every Wednesday the pair of them would end up at the Gawler Market for the afternoon and that was

there day. They also used to be like little school - boys and would go out looking under bridges etc. for

pigeons. Ruth just laughed, when they told her.

John and Ruth were also great friends with Graham and June Davison of Sydney, N.S.W. John and

Graham would exchange pigeons each year. Graham said to me that John was a very hard many on his

pigeons, much tougher than I was here in Sydney. Graham, who is now aged 80, is one of the longest

continual, successful flyers, which this country has ever known, there is no doubt. His close friendship

with John was that of mutual respect and they shared their knowledge of that deep bond they both had

for the racing pigeon. They shared thoughts and theories and much pigeon talk was done.

Graham recalls, John’s last supper with him, and June, on the evening that John was to be tragically

taken from the pigeon world, on his return trip to the Sydney Pigeon Convention, and to this day,

Graham spoke to me very fondly about John’s visits and and also their holidays at the Pryor’s, and of

the great friendship they had.

Mrs Pryor was a marvellous support for her husband and no doubt, a behind the scenes help for John

and reason for his success. Like the wives of so many great pigeon men they became the person

responsible for so many essential daily items required for the success of the birds, such as doing the

duties for there husband, when work hours made it difficult to dedicate to attend every day duties.

John would think about pigeons every waking hour and his attention to detail, especially hand written

pedigrees and what to pair up, became many weeks of agonising thought to achieve the best result.

Ruth would have been no doubt that wonderful asset to John and I’m sure she has also many memories

and made some beautiful and true lasting friends from John, interest, which whether she wanted it to or

not had become her interest as well. She remains very humble, being a first lady of the sport and I am

certain she would have never wanted it any other way, and would do it all over again, to have been the

wife of the late great John Pryor, if things were possible. What a brave little fellow, John was who

propositioned her at the Broken Hill drive -in movies, so many years ago.

What the Pryor family have contributed to our society, culture and life here in Australia today, has

been of great value, and the pioneering families all blended into forming our Nation in the most

primitive of times and have evolved to prove their worth as model citizens. The Pryor family and

families that are associated with the name, can hold their head up very high indeed, and the standard of

Pigeon racing by both Keith and his son John, has raised the bar beyond the realm of any imagination.

We have received much pleasure from these humble men an we acknowledge your achievements to

improve the standard of racing pigeons, especially in the extreme distances. You have not failed and

your winning bloodlines still remain with us today, and will for many years to come.

To the remaining Pryor family, especially Ruth, I am very indebted to you for your supportive

assistance and I hope this written story has done your loved ones, justice and a lasting memorial of

their service to our sport. Their story became our story and is now etched into the history of our sport

for all time, in the form of this written publication.