The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

Martin James wrote: ↑Tue May 29, 2018 6:22 pm Care of the Anglers Mail.

This was the image I suggested for this year's coarse licence but unfortunately we only got halfway there.

A lovely day yesterday at Redmire with a number of anglers and some wonderful Walker memorabilia, arranged by Chris Ball to celebrate Walker's 100th. The rod and net with which Walker landed Clarissa were reunited in the Willow Pitch.

Skeff wrote: ↑Wed May 30, 2018 4:09 pm A lovely day yesterday at Redmire with a number of anglers and some wonderful Walker memorabilia, arranged by Chris Ball to celebrate Walker's 100th. The rod and net with which Walker landed Clarissa were reunited in the Willow Pitch.

Sounds like a great day Skeff.

A lovely day at Redmire to mark what would have been Dick Walker's hundredth Birthday.
Photos:

Roger Bowskill from Exeter on the dam with the rod on which Dick landed Clarissa and the net in which she was landed by Pete Thomas.

Chris Ball on the dam with Roger Bowskill and Bob Jones, both of whom landed the "Old 38" before Chris Yates landed the carp as his record and renamed it "The Bishop" .

Chris Ball holding forth in The Stile during his guided tour of the pool (he is a mine of information).

Those gathered - Roger Bowskill, Wayne Cryer, my old pal Pete Rogers (owner of the Walker net and other remarkable memorabilia), Tony Meers, Chris Sandford (owner of the Clarissa rod), Bob Jones, Chris Ball, Bob Rolph and Charles Kirkham (who discovered the Redmire giants were still alive in 1965, after they were thought to be dead after the '63 winter. They initiated the John Nixon period at the pool, pre-Hilton), and some gatecrasher...

Looks like you all had a great time and what a splendid man to remember. But I am mystified as to why everyone keeps on referring to his record carp as Clarissa when it's well known he didn't like the name and had christened the fish Ravioli. For Clarissa was the name chosen by a keeper at London Zoo, and Dick Walker wrote that he didn't like that name. Just a thought.

Thank you for sharing the great pictures Skeff.

Santiago wrote: ↑Fri Jun 01, 2018 4:31 pm Looks like you all had a great time and what a splendid man to remember. But I am mystified as to why everyone keeps on referring to his record carp as Clarissa when it's well known he didn't like the name and had christened the fish Ravioli. For Clarissa was the name chosen by a keeper at London Zoo, and Dick Walker wrote that he didn't like that name. Just a thought.

Only because that is how the fish is best known to the angling world.... Of course you are correct in that the carp didn't change its name formally from Ravioli to Clarissa but then it probably wasn't that keen on being called Ravioli either... For most of its life it didn't have a name at all.

Currently reading one of his books, a true innovator whose advice and ideas remain relevant today.

Skeff great write up and pics, well done everyone.

Lovely pics Skeff, thanks.

As a youngster/teenager who was captivated by the likes of Walker and friends it has shaped my angling life over the years.

Although in some ways sadly, but ultimately happily, it is now in later life that I am able to really fulfil dreams and seek to emulate his footsteps in many ways.

In a current world of plastic idols, a true angler to look up to and to try and emulate.