What can i say about this very dear friend of mine, George Jenkins. I have probably known George for more years than either of us care to remember. I started out in the hobby in 1947 and George joined the BS a few years later in 1954. In fact if you ever get the opportunity to visit his birdroom you will notice a ring holder above his breeding cages on which he has placed a J645 ring for every breeding year since he started.
So we have known one another for over 50 years, that is a very sobering thought.

Right from the very beginning George always impressed me with his knowledge and enthusiasm for his budgerigars and I knew then that he would go a long way in our hobby. I can recall my dad telling me many many years ago as a lad, that LIVESTOCK MEN ARE BORN, they are not made. George is certainly a livestock man of the highest order.

In 1974 when the BS club show used to be held in Leicester he took the most prestigious award for Best Budgerigar in Show, with an adult Cinnamon Grey Green Cock. He has won the Awards of Best in Show, Best Breeder in Show, and Best Opposite Sex in Show at shows within the MBA area and indeed further afield on many occasions, as well as winning hundreds of CCs down the years. Budgerigars are like a fashion parade and although the colours may change the consistency always seems to be maintained.

Over the years he has regularly produced many top quality birds in a variety of different colours. George has bred some truly outstanding cinnamons as well as Light Greens, Grey Greens, Sky Blues, Greys and Opaline Greens

Although like me he has now retired from the BS judges panel, George was also one of the leading Judges in the country for many years and judged at all the major shows in the UK, as well as many leading events overseas.

During the late seventies early eighties we lost touch for a while and Georges name disappeared from the show bench, although he still continued to breed his beloved budgerigars . About this time we also both got married, George married Val and I married Lyn and now the girls are firm friends. Actually it was Lyn who unwittingly rekindled our friendship. One year we were at the BS club show at Doncaster, as usual I had commandeered the catalogue and so many people kept stopping to chat that Lyn decided to go off on her own. Eventually she reappeared with several cage numbers written on her hand saying come with me and bring the catalogue, as she pointed out the cage numbers, all the birds seemed to have a very distinct feature and when we looked in the catalogue, yes you have guessed it, a certain Mr G. T. Jenkin's was back.

Since then the four of us have spent many happy hours in each others company. When we can fit them in we have birdie days and our trips to Worcester are always great fun. We usually spend a couple of hours catching up on all the news and gossip over a cup of tea or two before heading off for lunch somewhere. There are many excellent hosteleries in the area. Then it is back home to disappear down to the bungalow, I meant to say the birdroom but anyone who has had the pleasure of visiting George will know exactly what I mean. We have not quite managed to run every bird in the birdroom through a show cage in one session yet, but we have come pretty close once or twice.

Technology has moved on in leaps and bounds during the time we have know one another. these days we also keep in touch by e-mail and it really does not surprise me that George has decided to set up this website. I am sure it will turn out to be a huge success and will give everyone the opportunity of meeting the man, the birdroom and the birds behind that famous J645 code number.

I know we will not be able to clock up another 50 years George, but Lyn and I would just like to wish you and Val every success, and good health and much happiness in the future.