OUR MAN ON THE BANK
After losing two good pals, pike fishing at Chew was just the pick-me-up I needed
THE PAST couple of weeks have been a roller coaster ride of emotions for me, with some highs but far too many lows.
A couple of good angling pals have left us for the best barbel river in the sky. First was Geoff Dace, a lovely chap who for many years was a member of the Barbel Catchers and the Barbel Society.
He never had a bad word to say about anybody, and will be missed greatly by everyone who knew him.
Whenever I saw him on the banks of the Severn at Coalport, or at Barbel Society meetings, he was always smiling and always positive – goodbye my friend.
A few days after Geoff’s death came the terrible news that Jason Ford, from Bewdley, had also died. I honestly thought that this giant of a man could survive being run over by an Army tank, but sadly cancer is far deadlier than any military hardware.
I first met Jason while I was making a film on the Severn up at Trimpley, and we needed a boat to get some shots across the water. Jason drove to his wooden cabin by the river, jumped into his boat and rowed up to where we were filming so we could use it ourselves. From then on, I enjoyed many good times with Jason in his cabin, out barbel fishing and in the pub.
He showed me precisely which swims produced the big barbel in matches held at Bewdley, and thanks to his information I caught 11 double-figure barbel to 13lb, including three doubles in a day – all in a single summer!
In his cabin we talked mostly about the wildlife of the river, which we both shared a passion for. He touched an awul lot of lives, including mine. Rest in peace, Jason.
On the upside, I had a great two-day
