This was Fred J Ron, maybe Chevin could enlighten us as to why he used the 'J' from the second edition of Angling in earnest (and indeed used a small 'e' in earnest) and then throughout his lifetime?
Jerry
As has been pointed out, Fred J used the J to differentiate between himself and the Oford tackle dealer. Of course the J stood for James, his middle name.
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Thanks Mark.
With all the Taylors involved in angling, it's quite possible to be a little confused at times.
And I do have a signed copy of your "Big Roach" book!
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One guy we must not forget, a great angler and writer - my good friend Frank Guttfield.
Frank's record of 5 pound tench, which were monsters in their day, was unequalled. His book - "In Search of Big Fish", is regarded by many as a classic. It was one of the inspirations I had in forming the Northern Specimen Group.
Frank was inspired, and encouraged to write about his fishing by **** Walker of course. In those days Frank lived in Arlesey and was a junior member of the Hitchin AC. Frank fished with some of the top names of the day, people like Jack Hilton, Bill Quinlan, Peter Stone, Mike Winter, Peter Frost and Bill Keal.
Frank also started the specimen group named The Arlesey Whopperstoppers of which I was a mnember. It was in that group that I met The late Alan Brown who I regard as being one of the best anglers I have ever met and fished with. I remember Jack Hilton becoming known and I was kneeling beside him with a landing net when he lost a carp that may have been one of the biggest ever caught in England had he landed it. In those days, Peter Frost and I fished Tiddenfoot Pit every evening for the big bream we were sure we're there, but sadly we failed. However, Peter did get carp of 25 and 31lbs. The closest I came to a Tiddenfoot carp was a run from what we believed was a large carp that jumped in the same place each evening. After that run the fish never jumped again.
In those days, Bill Keal fished with Alex Lewis and they were generally referred to as Keal and Lewis. However, Lewis suddenly disappeared from the scene though I have no idea why.
Bill didn't have a car so he was dependent on those who had them for transport and I once had the pleasure of driving him to Carrick so that the two of us could fish Lough Allen with FJ for pike. Despite all of our attempts and the use of some fantastic lures invented and made by Bill, we didn't catch any pike. It was a bit embarrassing really because we had been the guests of the Irish Inland Fisheries Trust to publicise the pike fishing in the area. Bill eventually got himself a car and was tragically killed in a road accident not long afterwards.
They were great days in fishing, there were so many of us trying new things on new and well known waters. I was fortunate enough to catch some barbel deliberately from the Great Ouse when their presence in the river was questionable. At the same time, Bill Keal was catching some huge fish in the near by Eggit's lake, and neither of us knew the other was in the area.
Sadly, so many from those days are no longer with us and with their passing angling has lost some great exponents and characters.
