Jobs with a difference...hiring out birds for a special occasion | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

The Christchurch Star continues a weekly feature in which our reporters talk to people in the city who have unusual occupations.

This week we meet Gil Bradley, whose business providing birds for special occasions is taking off.

Six months ago Gil Bradley was in Burwood Hospital after being involved in a motor vehicle accident.

He spent several weeks in hospital recovering.

Bradley knew he would not return to his job as caretaker at Hornby Primary School, and to make matters worse, he suffered a stroke while in hospital.

Today Bradley has started his own business, Snow White Birds. He trains doves and snow-white pigeons to fly home from different locations, and hires them out to wedding parties to help happy couples celebrate their special occasion.

Bradley said his birds were the traditional lovebirds, allowing couples to signify their commitment to one another.

"Doves are loyal to each other until death do them apart, and the only way to separate them is for man to take one away.

Bradley and his birds had their first function last Saturday at the wedding of Wayne and Raqueal Spicer. He said the day went off really well and the wedding party was thrilled with the birds.

One of the wedding organisers, Penny Haydon, said the birds were fantastic, and added a novel romantic touch to the occasion.

The groom decided to add the birds into the wedding as special gesture, keeping it secret from the bride and most of the guests.

After signing the register, a dove was given to both the bride and groom, while the best man and bridesmaid were given a basket with more birds.

Haydon said when the party released the birds it looked quite spectacular, and made for great photos.

"It was very special, a great touch and the look on the bride's face was brilliant," Haydon said.

Marriage celebrant Lesley Keast said it was something magical and truly symbolised what weddings were about.

"Legend holds that if doves appear on your wedding day a happy home is sure to prevail," Keast said.

The birds are also available for birthdays, christenings and funerals. At funerals Bradley said two baskets would be placed on the casket when it had been taken from the church.

The first basket would have four birds, representing the father, son, Holy Ghost and the deceased, while the second basket would hold more birds.

The immediate family would release the birds from the first basket while anyone could release them from the other one. Bradley has 35 birds, but hopes to breed numbers up to 200 in January.

If the venture is successful, Bradley plans to franchise the business around New Zealand.