Rupert and Luke

I have a feature in the current edition of Fallon's Angler (No. 4) called Rupert and Luke based on and featuring reproductions of photographs I posted a couple of summers ago.  You may buy it from your local news stand; bookshop or directly from the Fallon's Angler shop.

Feltham Piscators

Bought last week from a gentleman dealer a quantity of tackle belonging formerly to a Feltham Piscator  some of which is for sale on my website and the remainder of which will be on the cloth tomorrow.

Memo from John P. Fogarty of Galway sent on 22nd July 1890

Bought recently amongst a box of ephemera a memo from John P. Fogarty - Wholesale Stationer; Fishing Tackle and Fancy Goods Warehouseman of 16 Shop Street in Galway.  Delivered by hand to E.J. Pilkington Esq. on this day in the year 1890.

Operation Tea Cosy Uptown

At last year's Port Eliot Festival the Empress and I entered the Inaugural Port Eliot Festival Tea Cosy Competition to design and make a tea cosy.   Our work was a conceptual piece based on a Victorian travelling circus tent consisting of panels made from old rod bags adorned with original silk labels from  British tackle makers most of whom are sadly now obsolete.  It beat a field of over 80 International entries to win First Prize.  The competition was sponsored by Fortnum and Mason and now 38 of the designs have been chosen to be auctioned off by them for the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Trust who are specialists in heart and lung care.  Our entry - photographed below by our good friend and collaborator Neil R. Thomson is amongst them and you may bid on this artwork using bundles of ironed online fivers or fifties if you're feeling flush by clicking here (No. 138).  The designs will also be on display at a short exhibition which will run on the First Floor at Fortnum and Mason between Friday 26th June and and Monday 6th July.   Thank-you in advance for your generosity of spirit.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Dances With Wolves

A new season has opened and many a soul is no longer lost.  In celebration of this on the stroke of midnight a telegram was dispatched to Caught by the River and glasses of Victory Gin were raised.  Dogs barked and cats were kissed.  Elgar played on the radiogram.

Spitalfields Runners

A small selection of good users I'll have on the stall tomorrow in anticipation of the opening of the new season.