30-4-1979

Dear Bill,

I am sorry to hear your troubles are skill with you. Let us hope things improve for you and let you get settled again.

The paper by Lamoreaux was the one I was referring to the Ancobars and I don’t think anyone else has done any work with them.

I have sent the photos of the Columbians to Fred Jeffrey for his comments. My comments are that you know the females are pure Columbian, otherwise they would have black markings on the back, but you are not sure about the male as Columbian is completely dominant in the male only.

So if you put them back to the black you are advised to use Columbian hens and a black cock. The second point is that if they had a triple comb your Columbians would look like light Brahmas, so you are starting in a position where you would have liked to start had Light Brahmas been available. Incidentally a Lavender Pekin hen was best ornamental at Malpas on Easter Monday, but I didn’t go so don’t know whether it was any good or not.

I was intrigued by your comments about our series All creatures great and small as it was very popular. We have just had a marvellous series called Life and Earth which has explained how life developed from the beginning up the modern man. If you get chance to see it, it is well worth watching I have hatched a few promising ones, but perhaps time will tell otherwise.

I have been invited to give a 3 hr lecture in June at a weekend seminar in Shropshire, so I look forward to having the opportunity to preach to the converted and also to try to convert a few more. I enjoy talking principally because I always learn something from talking. Congratulations on your wins at Sydney, it is always nice to win the big one!!

Thank you once again for your interesting letters. I look forward to the next are, and also hope that it bears better news.

Best wishes.

Yours sincerely,