Dreamland

A photograph kindly taken by my good friend Stephen Jones OBE of Kingfisheries, a working fishing tackle shop in the resort of Margate, which has been trading for over 70 years.

We Always Dress Like That

Found recently a pair of Cording's Wading Trousers as seen in yesterday's artwork.  Worn with wading socks and boots and bearing the label 'By Appointment to His Majesty the King & H.R.H The Prince of Wales.  - J.C. Cording & Co 35 St. James Street & 19 Piccadilly - Trademark Protection - Estd 1839.'

Folk Art

Found beneath an awning in the rain a couple of Kempton's ago, a piece of Folk Art from the Holiday Cottage Decoration Movement dating to the Post-War Period, comprising of a hero clad in a full set of Cordings Oilskins and framed within a gold paper mount and a white painted frame.

Bambridge & Co. Windsor Bridge, Eton

Once upon a time in Arcadia and as far back as the Year of Arcadia Georgio 1790, ladies and gentlemen after 'Hook Baits of All Kinds in Season' or those looking for a 'Fishing Punt to Hire' could make their way to Bambridge & Co at Windsor Bridge on the River Thames at Eton.  There, Mr. Bambridge sold 'Fishing Rods and Tackle of Every Description at Popular Prices'.  At busy times he was even 'open' on Sunday Mornings from 09:30am until Midday.

Occasionally a piece of tackle from Bambridge's surfaces, I once had a Nottingham Reel, the central rose of which was engraved with the Bambridge legend but due to a large unpaid gentles bill I was forced to sell it to another dealer.  In order to prevent such things occurring in the near future you are summoned to my stall at Spitalfields Antiques Market, Commerical Street in the district of London known as E.1. on Thursdays only between the hours of 8am and 3pm, a place where I sell 'Fishing Rods and Tackle of Every Description at Popular Prices', and where, if you buy me a cup of tea, I can tell you where there are still punts for hire on the Thames and even where you may obtain live bait in the winter.   Thank-you.

Junkie

Bought recently from another dealer a tin plate button badge dating to the Year Arcadia Jubilee and originally given away by Girls-Behind-the-Counter at branches of Woolworths in Subtopia.   Now for sale as a work of art along with other delights in the corner of my website known as 'Just in, Sir!'

Lost and Found

Found on the doormat this morning, a parcel containing a book posted to me by the writer and broadcaster Jude Rogers , 'The Young Angler's Companion' by the late Clive Gammon, published in 1962 by Souvenir Press.  Jude found the book in an attic where it had not seen the light of day for over three decades.  After several scrambled messages between us it turned out the book was not part of a larger hoard.  It arrived with the note, 'A decent substitute for tackle, I hope'.  In truth, there is no substitute for Clive Gammon, nor for the kindness of people who find things in attics.

Old Red Eye is Back

Caught yesterday as a nearby church clock struck four and clouds thickened over the fields, a tench for all seasons.