In reply to Post #1000
This is Petes grandson Ant, Sadly on the 1st of April, Pete suddenly passed away, We are all in shock and i thought it might be appropriate to let every one on here know as he was very proud of the stories that he shared with you and always spoke about this forum with pride, i will inform you all of any funeral arrangements if any of you would like to attend.


Many Thanks To You All

Ant and Family

In reply to Post #1000
My Gran and The Family, Are very appreciative as am I and very thankful for all of your heart felt messages, Pete my Grandad would be very proud and overwhelmed at the thought of so many people paying there respects,Thanks Again, The funeral will be held at Shrewsbury Crematorium, On the 23rd of April at 11am. If anybody would like to pay their respects further, please come and join us.


Kind Regards

Pete's Family

Great thread and essential forum reading .I shall sticky the thread for a while,to encourage Pete to continue to add to the thread







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In reply to Post #1000
I will keep it going bob thanks

In reply to Post #1000
Before the last thread was locked i really wanted to put photo up of my friend Rodger who is a bailiff for the Shropshire federation he has been having quite a lot of success catching the barbel this winter his latest catch consisted of ten fish with two big doubles both over ten pounds so i will put a photo up with his latest double when i have finished this story.
Rodger with his latest double figure barbell

Over the years i have been impressed by many of my friends the two i was most impressed with was a chap called charlie Patterson and another called Bert crypton there really should be a book written about the pair although i think one was written about Bert, these two gentlemen knew more about nature than any one i have ever met charlie passed on a few years ago and now lies in the much wen-lock cemetery but what a man even up to when he died he would walk miles with his ferrets in the box on his shoulder, it was quite normal to see charlie walk as many as twenty miles a day even more he never had a car or learned to drive so it was all done by walking.

I suppose i met charlie middle 1960 i was invited along to a fox shoot on wenlock edge when i first met him a was surprised how fit he looked he was a bit dubius of any one he did not know so for a few weeks i was put in the walking line or the beaters as most will know it by, you could carry your gun and shoot forward if a fox got up i had a couple like this and the one day he said come with me he put me on this ride deep in the woods dunna you miss him he said in his broad Shropshire language, he wanna be long keep your eyes open and he left me standing there miles from any one else i could hear the beaters coming shouting and banging there sticks but they were a fairly long way from me, but charlie was right and before i knew it two foxes appeared right in front of where i stood i must admit i trembled i don't know if it was fright as you had it in your mind if you missed you would get a really cussing charlie did not like to walk and have nothing to show for his trouble, but i need not too worried i had the two with a right and left not only that but i had another one making three i stood still shacking when the beaters arrived have y had em charlie shouts yes charlie well done lad and goes and picks them up in those days he always skinned them out and sold the pelts and all money went into a pot for the end of year dinner we were known far and wide by the farmers as the Patterson hunt and it did not go down to well with the local huntsmen.

Charlie knew where those foxes would break cover he knew so much about nature his other hobby was carving walking sticks he made some beautiful sticks and would carve badgers foxes bird anything really on the top of the sticks he had been a game keeper but his main job when i met him was head forester for lord and lady forester on the wily and shirley estate where ever you went charlie was known i remember taking him to a game fair in somerset well i could not believe the amount of gentlemen who came and shook his hand he was known far and wide i feel i could not write any more without mentioning this great man, i have stood in the woods with him and he has said do you hear that pete what that i could hear nothing i am sure he could hear a gnat fart he was a marvelous man who became a good friend over the years i will put a bit more about charlie in a latter story and some about old bert. a bit more latter

In reply to Post #3
I will tell you all a bit more about old charlie now he liked a bit of fishing and one day asked if i would pick him up and take him fishing to some lake he fished no probes charlie, the next Saturday saw us on our way to the lake on arrival was a bit surprised to say the least lets say the lake was no more than a puddle, but he proceeded to get his rod out of the bag i was absolutely shocked the rod must have been made before the second world war it was an old bamboo job about 12ft in length the reel was an old wooden thing very similar to what i used when i first started fishing, the line had seen better days he used an old peacock quill float a big old hook with a few bb shot, on went a big lump of paste, the line was coiled on the ground behind his wicker basket he then proceeded to give it the big chuck i don't think charlie minded where it landed as long as his bait was in the water i thought jesus his bait will come off but he tightened up and sat down on his basket are you going to fish pete no charlie i am going to watch you Christ his tackle came out of the ark well the float dipped and charlie struck it was so hard i thought he would fall off his basket but he did not and played this fish to the bank on seeing the fish i got my scales out it was four pounds exactly not bad for a farm yard pool, charlie repeated his actions and caught again his landing net looked just like a tennis racket this was my dads net and the rod i have caught some good fish with it over the years i could hardly contain myself from laughing but he still caught by the time we went he had caught about twenty tench do you fish the river pete yes charlie can we go there next time.
Charlies tench
The following Saturday saw us loaded up i took him to fish the severn at atcham i was expecting him to bring another rod but out came the same old rod and reel i was amazed, he caught some big old chub and before the end of the day had a reasonable bag how he caught on that tackle i really don't know, we arrived at the same place a few days latter when i heard him shout bring the net pete i found charlie standing up to his waist in water attached to some angry fish he was cussing to himself i have got a gooden on here pete and so he had he had hooked a salmon on worm well we landed that fish it weighted 13 pounds exactly, no more to do he knocked it on the head Jesus i thought now his poaching . come on pete lets go home ,he shouts charlie we have only just arrived come on he shouts i want to get this fish home, no more to do he stuffed it down his trousers well i fell about laughing the way he went down that field towards the car stiff legged by the time i got him home my van stank and so did charlie even his missis had a laught telling him to go and wash and clean himself up a week latter he handed me a few notes whats this charlie your share of the fish pete i sold it to the hotel this was the way he was. now every time i tell this tale i have to smile but its all true and it happened in the seventies. ill tell you more latter
The salmon like charlie caught all those years ago

In reply to Post #4
I miss old charlie ,he could out walk most half his age i can well remember shooting the foxes on the longmynd in south Shropshire he was like a mountain goat and not many could keep up with his pace i suppose he was in his sixties then he would just look and shout whats a matter with you lot, your only young, i have seen grown men collapsed in the heather and could not get there breath, i my self have been giddy you just could not keep up with the man but every one loved the old boy, i have sat with him up in hill country having a break we were up there fereting he would tell you tales from long ago about his grandfather who years before was game keeper at bomere and how the gangs of poachers would come to poach the pheasants he was like a book so full of information.

I have sat with charlie many times in Brazingtons farm house at shinton eating big bowls of broth with big pieces of home made bread the farmer was a great friend of charlies Harold was a very nice chap and we would call to see him on regular basis we always had a couple of fox shoots a year on Harold's farm, he was always keen that we went at the time he had quite a big shoot on his land and wanted to protect the birds, we also did a bit of fishing on harold's lake, it was rammed full of tench charlie would be in his element catching one after the other none very big the best around three pounds, but it was good sport and it was free and at the time no one else fished the lake next to the lake stood a house i think it was the keepers cottage but had not been used for years it was a beautiful place and when you were there you always felt content and peaceful. I was standing on this ride one day waiting for the beaters i could hear them in the distance when i big male deer broke cover he had a full head of anklers he was a fine specimen, well he stopped short saw me put his head down and poured the ground with his front feet i thought Christ he is going to charge i had no where to go, or tree to clime, and behind me was a small plantation of fir trees, well he started to come forward so i shot over his head thank god he turned and went the other way when the beaters arrived i was shaking a bit whats up pete charlie said did you kill a fox no i did not charlie i was charged by a big male deer, Harold had pulled up in his land rover and had been listening to what i had to say he got out laughing why did you not shoot him pete i said are you serous Harold i would have done its my ground and my deer. I dont think i could do that only if i was in real danger charlie was laughing was he a bigun pete bloody huge charlie when i shot he was only about 10 yards from me and had his head down i never lived it down every time we went to harlods charlie would say pete do you remember that deer that nearly charged you i think it was a bit of a standing joke between harold and charlie but they were both good freinds who will remain in my memory for ever. well a bit more latter

Like the one that charged me

In reply to Post #5
I will carry on with my stories but i have had bad news this morning about my health the specialist rang me from the hospital after i had a scan on my back for arthritis i am in a bit of a shocked state the specialist has told me all the pain i am getting in my back and legs is caused by the aorta artery i have now got to see a heart specialist he stated it could kill me if something is not done about it bloody hell its frightened me a bit but i will keep writing the stories while i can.

I Bert crypton he was another that lived for the country side he lived for his foxes and badgers although he was asked by many farmers to sort the foxes out he also loved them he and charlie were very much the same both loving the countryside i don't think Bert fished , but he knew so much about nature i was not as close to Bert as i was charlie but they were both naturalists in there own rights. It was really funny although charlie owned a gun i never once in all the years i knew him see him use it, when asked why dont you shoot charlie all he would say no i would rather you and the lads do the shooting funny i always said to graham he was frightened of missing and what we would say, but it did not matter he would walk miles with his ferrets and spade and it was not unusual for him to catch forty or fifty a day he would go to the farm he was ferreting and leave the rabbits there untill they could be collected latter he certainly made a few bob from his ferreting and i think when he retired from his job he spent most of his time ferreting and studying foxes but i think his walking sticks made him most every stick would be painted and varnished they were wonderfully made and the animals were real life like i remeber sitting in a wood with charlie when he told me he may have to pack up doing what he did i have severe blood presure pete, i could not believe that a man like him should have that he was fit and walked miles, he did not smoke, or drink that much it was not long after i had a phone call to say his wife had found him dead sitting in his arm chair beside the fire i think thats how charlie would of wanted to go the man was a legend in shropshire and he in riched the lives of every one that knew him. well a bit more latter

In reply to Post #6
Hope all goes well pete when you see the specialist.

Just thinking of a salmon down the trousers made me smile again,---when i read it the first time i thought of a bloke who used to work with me years ago and his "guesting" sessions for pheasants

M

All the best to you Peter.

In reply to Post #6
Enjoy reading these Pete. Get well soon, thoughts are with you

In reply to Post #6
Best wishes Peter, and take it easy!.

In reply to Post #6
Thanks chaps i have got to live one day at a time my docs told me not to worry so for the time being i will take her advice. where was i oh yes charlie he learned me more about foxes than any one i have met if he put you to stand with the gun you knew you would shoot a fox he was a master and knew exactly where the fox would break cover his last words when he left you was dunna you miss him i never had the pleasure of missing so i never got a cussing but i saw others get the hair dry treatment they would be put in the walking line for a few weeks charlie would rather you did not take a shot and leave the fox to another gun if you were unsure of a kill.

I can see him now walking across the field in his brown check shirt and brown corduroys and before he has got near shouting have you had him pete. yes charlie well done, sir will be pleased. charlie was one of the old school all his superiors he would call sir and tip his hat especially his boss lord Forrester but he could also talk to him on his own level. when he was keeper we would be invited on the big hare drives on the willy and shirley estate it was not uncommon to shoot at least 100 hares those were the days different farming methods then, charlie would put all the guns out or leave it to me then walk all the way back to the beaters that could be over a mile away you would see the hares coming in the distance like little dots at times there could be as many as sixty running forward at the same time you hid behind the hedge and shot them out in front it was a necessity in those days as they could really do a bit of damage for the farmer or estate owner at the end of the day you were offered a hare to take home i never bothered as i did not like the taste much they had a very strong smell and taste. All that was left was taken to market to sell the revenue made went back into the estate they would have two or three hare drives a year some times you were asked to be a walking gun one thing i soon learned was not to shoot one if walking as you would be expected to carry the animal until the end of the drive have you ever felt the weight of a hare they are big and heavy by the time you got to the end you would be knackered.
The lovely brown hare
But they were great days you met so many different farmers and men some have remained friends ever since they were from all walks of life but mostly country folk who understood the country side alas a good many have passed on and all we have is our memories but they are good memories of a time long ago where the country side was a very different place. In those days there was no shortage of wild life today a lot has vanished not as many hares well in shropshire there is not but they are making a come back i banned all shooting of them on our small syndicate i think farming methods was a major factor in there decline agriculture sprays and such our country side is so fragile and it needs looking after for future generations. a bit more latter

In reply to Post #11
I suppose i am very lucky where i live because if i walk just up the road i am in the fields my little river the Rea is only about a mile from my front door when i fished there years ago i never took to much tackle with me rod reel a few hooks weights landing net and that was about it i always walked down when i was much younger there is some really good roach to be caught i would stand or sit down, and trot down the side of the river i have caught lovely roach with fish going a good pound which is good for such a small river, the roach are still there but it is now dominated by grayling because i can not walk the distance i have not had a go for them but a friend who goes quite regular has caught them to one pound eight oz, he fishes very like i did and has caught some good bags it has also been stocked with brown trout by a club from upstream as my friend said you cant help but catch them do you put them back Andy he smiled of course i do pete. There are still some decent chub to be caught and i know of friends catching them to four pounds plus. I have one friend that fly fishes the Rea he only uses a seven ft rod and a weight forward, size 4 floating line but he has some good sport he uses a selection of wet flies and nymphs and he does very well the grayling he catches are wonderful fish the lady of the river, as he said to me its one way of getting away from the pressures of life i know exactly what he means as it is a different world beside that little river, its you the fish and the wild life it teams with all manner of wild life the kingfisher the dipper although you dont see him as much as when i was young, in the summer you have the sand martins the dragon flies all manner of birds what else could one ask well for me nothing, i only wish i could get down there and cast a fly for those fish and maybe breath the fresh air and the smell of the new grown vegetation. But alas i think those days have gone i must now leave it to the younger ones.
The lady of the river the grayling
The beautiful brownie
The seven ft fly rod what my freind uses on the river Rea
A friend came to my home to see me yesterday i have mentioned his name many times in my stories Bern he has Been a good friend of graham and myself for many years and has fished with me all over Shropshire and into wales he has been a true friend but like me Bern has suffered over the last few years and has spent a fair bit of time in hospital he suffered an abscess on the spine and was in hospital for around eighteen months but he is now back at work although he is in his sixties. Bern loved his fishing and he was in the Acton burnell syndicate for many years before it was taken over by rob hails he caught some wonderful fish with many going well over thirty i met him for the first time when graham and i first fished Betton he always fished with his father albury and his brother charlie graham and i had a bit of a reputation in those days for catching big fish and had a fair bit of publication for catching the big bream Bern and his family were fascinated with the way we fished and the big bags we caught and from that day forward we have been great friends i have fished with bernall over and we have had some great times he is also a member of my shoot syndicate and is a good shot. well a bit more latter

The lovely roach like i caught ot of the river Rea all those years ago

In reply to Post #12
The country side is now becoming alive the birds are now in full swing with there nesting i have a tree sparrow that has built her nest in the honeysuckle tree just out side the bathroom first i have had in my garden one thing i am very pleased about is the return of the green finches, we have not seen any all year apparently, loads have died with some disease, but i now have three or four pairs visiting my feeding station so it just goes to show a few do survive we had the long tailed tits again yesterday there must of been at least thirty of these beautiful little birds feeding on the nuts they have come up from the woods a few times this year they are funny little things small but most welcome in my jungle of a garden, the one corner is set aside with trees and bushes i leave it to go completely wild nettles briar's and such in fact the vixen lies in there when she brings her cubs from the fields a few years ago one vixen had her earth in the corner and reared her cubs there funny really i had two dogs at the time a terrier that would kill rats rabbits most things i also had a lab but the terrier who i called marky never even bothered them
they seemed to get on together very strange as marky if taken down the fields or woods would chase and have a go at most things fox included.
The beautiful gold finch that breeds in my garden
THE little long tailed tit that visits my garden
The nettles draw allsorts from butterflies bees even spiders, its always nice to be able to leave a few nettles in the garden as they certainly help our wild life, i have two big hawthorn hedges which certainly helps the birds, i have blackbirds nests the dunnock most will know him as the hedge sparrow, and of course the robin i have also got the thrush, and in the old fir i have the gold finch, and of course jenny wren, who builds her nest in the ivy growing on the old plum tree, so i have a plenty to see and watch of late i have not cast a line i hope one of these next days will see graham and i out fishing for the carp its not that i don't want to go but it has been so cold of late with a easterly wind at times and with my health it really puts me off and graham is no spring chicken he is now seventy five and of course not as fit as he was but we shall try our luck in the coming months and hope that we see a few grace the bank, the specialist rang this morning and told me i have a small aneurysm and he will arrange for me to go to his clinic to have a chat maybe next week i really hope so as it is rather frightening but he says i will be OK lets hope so.
The wren that nests in my garden

The green finch that has returned to my garden
on Wednesday i pick up another car a 4 4 once again but a sixteen hundred cc so should be a bit better on juice than the one i did have which was in four wheel drive all the time so i shall be able to get to places others cant and watch my beloved wild life or fish in extreme places where others have to walk they are a handy tool and one i really found i could not do without. the price of fuel is absolutely disgusting and i am surprised at the public not doing anything about it if it was france they would demonstrate but not good old blighty we seem to exept all that is thrown at us well that's enough of that, i am going to take a ride down to shrewsbury weir on the severn to see if any one is fishing as it is quite a nice day here with the sun shinning so there maybe a few out after the Barbel the wind or breeze is quite chilly but some of my hardy friends may be fishing there is now only a week before the close season and the river banks will be deserted once again. well that's it for now more latter