Pilgrim’s Progress

He is also a very keen angler, having come back to the sport in 1995 following a break of several years. In this regular column he will tell us about his progress as an angler – his thoughts about the sport, what he learns, the fishing trips he makes, the anguish, the humour, in fact everything he experiences as his angling career develops.

Pilgrim’s Progress – read it everyThursday!

A Packet Of hooks Please, Madam

We all have our ‘local’. No, I’m not talking about the Bull andBladder or the Golden Crown. I’m referring to that institution thathas become an integral part of our lives as anglers – the localtackle shop. Living as I do, in the Black Country, I’m spoilt forchoice. There are a number of shops in the area, all competing forbusiness. In this week’s Pilgrim’s Progress I want to tell you aboutmy ‘local’. What makes it unusual is that it is run by a woman. I’mno journalist, but armed with a note pad and pencil, I set off oneTuesday morning into deepest, darkest Tipton. Intrigued? Readon…..

Gwen’s Gear

Gwen Cook is indeed unusual, in the sense that she’s made it in amale dominated world. She’s the owner of Gwen’s Tackle And Bait,which is found in the heart of the Black Country, in Tipton. So howdid this gentle, easy going lady come to be involved in the machoworld of angling? After spending 23 years in Australia, Gwen returnedback to live in the UK. (Please don’t ask me why anyone would leavethe sun drenched Land of Oz to live in Tipton. I don’t have theanswer to that one….). She started doing the accounts for a localtackle shop, and soon became a partner in the business.

At this time she did not know a thing about fishing, it was purelya business arrangement. Very soon, however, her half share in thetackle shop became a full one, and Gwen found herself not only theowner, but serving behind the counter as well. She recounted to mesome of the funny stories of those early days. (She’s now in her 11thyear). When someone asked for some ‘spade ends’, her thoughts were,’we don’t sell shovels’. But, however naive she was then, she’scertainly made up for it now. Gwen is definitely a lady that knowsher wagglers from her sticks.

And she fishes!

Serving behind the counter of a fishing tackle shop quickly led tothe actual taking up of angling itself. Progressing, as we all do,Gwen is now a very competent fisherman, or should that readfisherwoman. I don’t want the Women’s Lib movement after me now, doI? She now fishes matches, and actually does quite well. In fact, themorning I visited the shop for the interview, she told me how she hadcome fourth in a competition the previous weekend. She would havecome second, but for a lost carp. She’s also the treasurer ofTibbington AC, based in Tipton.

When I asked Gwen about her best fish, in true angling style, thestory she told me was about ‘the one that got away’. She had what wasestimated to be a 20 lb carp, which on 3.2 lb bottom, gave her therun around. Although she did her best, unfortunately, the odds werestacked in favour of the carp. I asked how did she feel after losingsuch a fish. ‘Relieved’ she replied, ‘I was aching all over’ !!!!

But, back to the fishing tackle shop. Although there are now alegion of loyal and faithful customers, I was intrigued as to thereaction she gets from men who enter the shop for the first time.Although, in reality, they ought to know what to expect, as the shopdoes have ‘Gwen’s Tackle And Bait’ in big, bold letters above thedoor. And even though Johnny Cash sung about a ‘Boy named Sue’, Idon’t think there are many boys named Gwen. And definitely not inTipton. San Francisco maybe, but not Tipton.

What a woman!

It’s not unusual (and no, that’s not a cue for Tom Jones) for afirst timer to walk past Gwen as she stands behind the counter andpresume that the only other person who is in the shop at the timemust be the owner. When they discover they have been asking a fellowcustomer questions, it’s then they realise that Gwen is more than asales assistant. The second surprise is when they discover sheactually does know a thing or two about angling. She even obligedwhen I asked her to put her hands in the maggots while I took aphoto. What a woman!

How does she fare, not only a woman in the mostly male world ofangling, but working in Tipton? Known for Staffordshire BullTerriers, Desperate Dan cow pies complete with ‘horns’, and theTipton Slasher, this part of the Black Country is not for the fainthearted. In fact, as I drove to Gwen’s shop one of the local pubs(the same one that sells the big, man sized pies) had the followingadvertised outside it’s doors – ‘No poncy food sold here’. The TiptonSlasher, by the way was a famous bare knuckle fighter, in case yourmind is in overdrive!

The future is rosy

Gwen is no soft touch and recently one of the tackle reps washeard to say ‘The Iron Lady has nothing on this one’. A good businesshead, combined with a love for angling and a genuine desire to keepthe customer satisfied (no, not a cue for Simon and Garfunkeleither), means that the shop is doing well. She has identified hermarket, which is predominantly the match / pleasure angler, with thelatter being the ‘bread and butter’ of the business. Regarding thefuture, it is, to quote Gwen herself, ‘very rosy’. When I enquiredwhether the future was ‘orange’, she replied ‘bright’.

Living smack bang in the middle of the West Midlands conurbationmeant that business had not been badly disrupted by the Foot andMouth epidemic, which has sadly affected many other tackle shops. Asmany of Gwen’s customers not only live, but fish local, there was notreally any measurable downturn in trade. She also did her groundworkand kept up to date with events. Ringing the relevant authoritiesevery couple of days, she was able to keep customers updated on whereto fish.

A traditional tackle shop

As we all know, the tackle trade has changed a lot in recentyears. Certainly the blossoming business of mail order has providedextra competition to the traditional tackle shop, of which Gwen’sTackle and Bait is one. Asked if she had been affected, she gave aresounding ‘no’ as an answer. A shop such as the one Gwen operatesthat offers the personal touch need not be frightened by competition.In fact, although she doesn’t do mail order herself, Gwen is veryhappy to compete with the price that is sometimes very keenly offeredby companies that deal in that corner of the market.

Due to her efficient business mind, even if she doesn’t stocksomething, she can get it. I know this to be true, as I’ve put Gwento the test on a number of occasions. So, while you’re waiting forsomething to arrive through the post, it could be sitting on thecounter in Tipton in just as quick a time. And there’s no postage orextras to pay either. If you’re local, why not give her a try?Situated in the shopping precinct in Princes End High Street(0121-557-3954), you may have driven past many times withoutrealising there’s a tackle shop there. Either way, if you have a’Gwen’s’ near to you – use them or lose them. This is not acondemning of mail order companies, by the way, but a plea to supportour ‘local’. Particularly when they deserve our business.

Dirt Digger

One final thing. I couldn’t possibly be a journalist withoutprying into the private life of my subject, could I? Dishing thedirt, spilling the beans, digging beneath the surface. Call it whatyou will, but it’s second nature to the investigative journalist.What secrets did I unearth? Well, I found out that Gwen has recentlystarted Salsa, Cha-cha-cha and Line Dancing. Why not follow her lead?Dust off your blue sued shoes, dig out your crepes and groom thequiff….So, come on Graham Marsden, there’s hope for you yet!

The Reverend Stewart R Bloor
Sedgley International Christian Ministries
PO Box 1216, Dudley. DY3 1GW.
Telephone : 01384 – 828033
Web site : www.sicm.org
e-mail : missionscentre@sicm.org