Not sure of the date. This was around a year before Subsurface Vol 1 came out. Gaz Fareham took the top photo. Took him and a mutual friend of mine Toddy to Goring to discuss me being in his publication. I was meant to write something, but never got the time because of work. It ended up as some interview.

Caught this fish twice from opposite George Micheal's house. His cousin was in my class at school. His family had a hairdressers in south London, his uncle used to cut my hair throughout my entire teenage years. I met him at the bottom of his garden whilst out in my little Bic boat. I met George Clooney while out on the Thames in my little Bic at Sonning. Also met him later whilst living in Sonning for a year, he recognised me in a shop as 'the fisherman'. I have met the Iron Maiden drummer on the river in Windsor. Was watched intently by the Sultan of Brunei from his window whilst out in my boat in Marlow. He watched me come across the river in the rain with an army gortex on. I imagine he was pressing panic buttons as I paddled across the river towards his house. I've had a sub machine gun stuck in my face by a different rich Arabs bodyguards near Weybridge whilst checking out his boat house, all whilst out on the river in my little orange Bic sportyak.

Lakes are boring.

River Thames. Scan of a print. Late 90's. The willow tree photo spot, Hampton sailing club. I fished this swim so much, I actually made a large dip in the soft grassy ground over a few years. I had to move the brolly in the end as it made a big puddle when it rained hard. The dip is still there, it's just covered by long grass now. If you walk down to the Hampton ferry crossing point, turn right into the bushes, my swim was right in there. To the left, slightly upstream, I had the sailing club building in the centre of the river. To the right, I had the ferry owners house on the end of an island, with a large no fishing zone downstream. The owner of the ferry and boatyard opposite, is an incredibly important man on the river Thames. He's a lord high admiral. In the late 90's, one of only two on the entire two hundred and forty mile river Thames. Basically for all boaters/river dwelling folk, he is God. His front room looked out across my swim. Him and his family were my eyes and ears when I was not there. He had zero interest in fishing, or carp... But he could see how important they were to me. We got on so well in the end. Became great friends. He was previously super wary of all anglers, it took a long time to win his trust. Unfortunately, in later years around the early 2000's, Hurst park became popular with long stay carp anglers. The Ferryman and his neighbours became super hostile to all carp anglers. You cannot blame them, not when people are casting 5oz leads at their home or super expensive moored boats. Worse still, crapping in full view of their family homes windows.

Roach Pit, 2013 top photo the 'Wind Tunnel' swim. 2014 bottom photo, 'The Pipe'. 'The Other Long One'. The very first, and also the very last carp which I caught from Roach. An original, original it would be termed as now. The oldest fish in the pit when I fished there. Unfortunately it would be lost in the fish kill the following year. One of the harder fish in the pit to catch. Liked an S2 though. The drainage pipe which this swim took its name from, would eventually play a massive part in the eventual death of all these carp when it was capped off. That's for later.

Jimmy below, met the secretive Graham brothers in 2017. Every fish he has caught since then has been on one of our hook baits. He has an off the radar album that carp fishing will never see, not until they are all dead. Some below that can be seen,

Jimmy holding a very rarely banked 43lb+ scaly last week, S2



Holding one of the last big orginals from Home Pool. S2



Holding BlackJack, S2



Cradling the JC (Jesus Christ) common from Ashmead. S2

A just giving page is running for the hospice that are now giving palliative care to OldGeezer off here. Gerry is no longer at home now. If you can afford to donate, the Micheal Sobell hospice are really looking after him well. Mark your donation 'for Gerry'.

Can someone turn this into a live link please.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/nathan-stonehouse-1724002828189?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fnathan-stonehouse-1724002828189&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share

In reply to Post #395
In the words of the man himself ... "LINKY POO"

In reply to Post #393
I believe that one is still alive, Mark. And yes, a proper original from the 80's stockings.
Of that batch, I don't believe there are more than 4 maximum still left. Baby Torpedo (aka Three Scales), Scattered Lin (aka Inter Cities Mate) and a low twenty that hardly ever got caught - though I'm not sure even if those last two are still alive - I'm sure I've seen a pic of you with Baby Torpedo?

In reply to Post #396
Donated
To reach as many people as possible do you think this should have its own thread?

In reply to Post #397
I think so Roland. They are all going up, you will see them all. You are the man for this info.

Thanks.You just put a big smile on my face telling me TOLO is still alive.

Bob, of course there should be, you go and do it. Tell them to write 'For Gerry' and someone will get picked at random in a couple weeks time. We will send them a load of Toffee/Banana S2 & Plum/Strawberry oil S2.

No one whatsoever has even seen them yet.

In reply to Post #398
I've made a donation. Lost for more words.

Donated for old geezer😔

In reply to Post #399
Donated top bloke gerry

In reply to Post #399
A strawberry bait? FFS you kept that quiet. I'll take a kilo because ill eat most of them 😂

In reply to Post #395
Donation done

Donated but didn't see this before.