It is reported that David died peacefully in his sleep this morning after a short spell in hospital.
He was diagnosed with cancer some two years ago and had spent the past year at home being cared for by his wife, Cherry; although throughout that period David continued to take an active role in the running of DHP.
A council house child from Manchester, David said that he found his first fishing rod in a bin – his grandfather was a bin-man – and he left secondary school without an O Level to his name but with a passion for angling and angling magazines.
DHP was formed in 1985 by David and Cherry Hall, assisted by Roger Mortimer and Mark Downes. Considered a maverick when he entered the angling trade as the private publisher of Coarse Fisherman magazine David went on to publish several leading angling publications and today DHP are one of the largest independent publishers of angling, shooting, country pursuits magazines and multi-media in Europe with titles including: Match Fishing, Pole Fishing, Coarse Fishing Answers, Total Carp, Advanced Carp Fishing, Total Sea Fishing and Total FlyFisher.
The portfolio also includes the industry magazine Tackle and Guns and the annual trade show of the same name and two international trade magazines: Tackle Trade World and Gun Trade World.
From an outspoken beginning, David went on to become part of the establishment he had called to task for so long and became chairman of the Angling Trades Association in the 90s.
David leaves behind his wife, Cherry; two sons, Robbie and Jamie; daughter Jemma and grandchildren, Archie and Isaac.
