H G ( George ) Simpson of Essex cane rods

[Ski Piit Wldie]

Wondering if any others have H G Simpson rods in their holdalls ?
I bought a couple from George ( H G ) twenty odd years ago, a Riverjem 11 foot two piece sort of Avon with stand off rings for trotting and what he called a roach perfection, very like a lighter Kennet perfection, soon after I had the chance to buy one of his beautiful large laminated frame teardrop nets complete with pole, a B James Kennet perfection restored by him and a 4" 1920 Aerial, George was a friend of a fellow angler Roy who lived around Little Waltham area and he put me in touch when George was thinning out his tackl. A friend has a couple too, I just couldn't afford all that were offered at the time, from memory these others are a ten foot 2 piece barbel rod with low bells rings and a ten foot version of the Riverjem, I don't think George made many , Roy said just for his own entertainment and use, beautiful rods I think mostly built in the '90s to early 2000s, it would be good to find out how many are still in use.
Here's a picture of the Riverjem in action and with the net and an accidental trout from just below Testwood weir, caught while grayling fishing, I did get some grayling later further upriver trotting at another weirpool but on my cane tipped Holdwell.

I will take some pictures of the rods and net and post them later.

Mike.

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[Rod Fisher]

Wondering if any others have H G Simpson rods in their holdalls ?

I can't say that's a maker I'm familiar with. Looks like a nice setup though.

[Grumpy]

I was a friend of George for a few years. I first met him on the Chelmer and we fished together a few times. He sold me my first cane rod,a B James Kennet Perfection. George was a superb rod builder and maker of wooden net frames. Very sadly George died about 4 years ago after suffering from a brain tumour.We had some great times together and I miss him greatly.

[Ski Piit Wldie]

Thanks for the reply "Grumpy" sorry to hear that I only met him a couple of times but he seemed a kind and generous man, do I recall correctly that he was a plumber by trade ? Strange that you had a Kennet Perfection from him too, do you have any of his own make rods, Mike.

[Grumpy]

George worked as a gas fitter for many years,mainly in the London and Essex area. My Kennet Perfection belonged to Georges brother in law who had become ill and George was selling off some of his gear. I did enquire about having a rod made but it never came about as George became very ill.
George was a member of the Red Spinners and we used to travel down to fish for tench at one of their waters,very happy memories.

[Ski Piit Wldie]

Thank you again for sharing this with me and others, gas fitter, that's it, I now recall Roy saying thar George made most of his rod fittings except for the rings and made the metal fittings for the net poles and frames too, I think George was talking about giving up on the rod building in the early 2000s when I met him. I will take some proper pictures of my rods and net tomorrow and post them here, so pleased I finally joined forum.
Mike.

[Olly]

I knew George through the Red Spinners but he didn't push his rod building skills - as said he looked upon it as a hobby.

[Ski Piit Wldie]

Simpson rod pictures taken, I will post tomorrow ( Sunday ) Mike