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In reply to Post #838
My old friend joe lived on my village all his live and i can honestly say he was one of the best poachers i have ever seen joe died two years ago and i am sure his family would not mind me telling you all about his escapades and believe me there was many. he like myself loved wild life especially birds he would be away across the fields with a sack full of traps i know i have been with him or he would use bird lime and catch the wild linnets gold finches even yellowhammers he would take them home to his aviary and breed with them after they had reared there chicks he would return the adults to the wild. He had a great understanding and compassion for all wild things. In his garden he had his pigeon loft he had breed and raced these birds all his life i used to go down and see him and he would pick these birds up and talk to them they loved him and would respond to his kindness
I remember going to see him this one day and he was not really interested and seemed a bit distant this was not the man i knew whats up joe, buggers have got my traps who joe the police some one has reported me i think others are involved, i was tipped off Im expecting the police any time you can help pete i have got to get rid of my birds the ones that have no rings and that's what happened he popped them in a sack and i let them go up the fields the police arrived next day poor old joe denied every thing they were not his traps and of course his birds in captivity were all legal but it certainly effected him in lots of ways he trusted no one from then on exept me we were the same breed loved the country way of life but this was years ago. we would be away at night he was a great shot with his old air rifle i think it came out of the ark the stock was held together with wire but could he use it my job was to use the lamp and he would do the shooting he killed hundreds of pheasants over the years with that old rifle but it always seemed more powerful than the normal air gun and it was he told me he had fitted a more powerful spring into it but he always shared the profits with me i got summat for you pete he would say and hand me a few notes i was grateful as times were hard, but not once did i see joe fishing over the years i asked him to come but he was just not interested but he loved to be out with his ferrets although the rabbit population was not what it was he loved to be out using them joe had kept ferrets all his life we could be out all day and only catch three or four as they were just making a come back from the terrible disease myxomatosis but i dont think joe would of minded if he had only caught one as he was out with his beloved ferrets and doing what he had done all his life. It was really an honour knowing joe and when he passed my life seemed a bit empty as he had been a great freind he was of the old school and he had lived throught some very hard times. well a bit more latter
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In reply to Post #837
I have sat behind the rods so many times and faced the south westerly wind that made the water foam at your feet the stars shone over head and you could here the call of the coot in the distance the trees would sway over your head and you would worry that one would come crashing down we watched the planes pass way over head and you would wander where they were heading some foreign climes far away. all we had was the old garden lounger and if you were cold a blanket and a piece of canvas to cover your self up.
They were good days no pressure you were there to catch the fish that inhabited the ancient lake it was all that was left from the ice age i would wander what this place was really like so many centuries ago and what animals roamed its ancient banks . what fish had swam in its depths but we were here to catch the bream and roach our eyes would get tired watching the doe bobbins hanging from the line between the reel a but ring did it move or was was my eyes playing tricks, we could not sleep we watched the bobbin for any movement it made and when it came and slid towards the but ring you would strike with a swift movement what a satisfying feeling you got as you played that fish under the stars which you duly landed in your net no time to weight the bream you had caught back out went your bait into the darkness of the lake and into the giant keep net went your prize we did this so many times we caught the roach the Rudd the bream and carp they were lovely days. The Tawney owl would screech in the old oak over head and you would hear the fox give a sharp bark in the nearby field this was the way we fished so long ago, the water still foamed at our feet but the wind was warm you needed no heavy jackets on tonight we caught the roach then the bream and popped them in the net. the moon shone brighter it was a full moon and you watched the geese fly over head the ducks as well going to some stubble field to satisfy there hunger hundreds passed us by that night it would soon be September and we would be huddled under some hedge waiting for them to come to roost, the dog lying at your side shaking with anticipation but that would have to wait as we were fishing this ancient place tonight, when morning came you would be tired and weighed your fish what a night you had 100 pounds of roach and bream this is how we fished, then off home to a welcome bed and dream of things to come this was the late sixtys. more latter
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In reply to Post #834
Well its now melting raining here quite sharp and warmer than its been for days. hurry up the spring when the floor of the woods will be white with snow drops. From february we shoot the pigeon for the local farmers as they come into roost the one spinney we shoot gets absolutely covered in these lovely flowers from around the middle of march if not before , The brook i poached all those years ago runs through this little spinney so i know it very well years ago it was full of trout they had been stocked by the land owner for his friends and local gentry to fish although some were leased to tenant farmers, but it is all different now the tenant farmers have now bought the farms long ago the big estate that i remember are no more you could not walk on the property when i was young there were signes on trees telling you to keep out trespassers will be prosecuted or another that was a favorite keep out or you will be shot on sight there was about 16 keepers in all they had so much land to look after and two head keepers old bell was one and Gerry at bomere the other, i think there is still a sign the one end of bomere in an old oak tree saying you would be shot on sight they would not get away with it today they were a different breed of the keeper in those days.
I have had them chase me on more than one occasion and have hid up some old fir or oak tree and listened to them discussing who they thought it may be i have laid across a branch and watched and listened to the keepers telling PC Stan sharp and Sgt landers all about the incident and how they thought there may of been more than one taking the trout i could hardly contain my self from laughing more than one there was only me, i was on the village a few days after the incident and PC sharp called me over i saw you up that tree the other night pete i was cob smacked to say the least did the Sgt landers know, i did not tell him says old Stan i happened to look up and saw your face in the semi darkness it was you was it not i really did not know what to say no it wanna me Mr sharp i was no where near he just smiled and said let that be a lesson to you as i don't want to see you there again, funny really years after i was working at the local fire station fitting the radios in the appliances and old Stan was working there he had retired from the police and was now the handy man at the fire station every time i saw him he always reminded me of that night many years before and we would have a few laughs about it but i never really told him it was me he asked and i would say no but he would have none of it he was convinced it was me and i suppose he was right but stan has now gone like many before him god rest his soul but i will always remember that night many years before . more latter
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In reply to Post #835
hi James i have had some put on already a few threads back about my fishing days ill see whats in the album i have some going back years when i was eleven or twelve i have some of foxes also but not appropriate to put on here and albums of fish and general nature, problem is i am not to good at putting them up i emailed them to big dave in cumbria last time and he put them up. there will be some appearing in jasons new book which is being launched latter next year thanks james i am glad you like my stories happy new year to your self and family god bless pete
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In reply to Post #834
pete
Ive enjoyed your writings of days gone by as much as anybody. You have mentioned photos acouple of times,if you have any old ones to share on here thatwould be great.
happy new year to you
james
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In reply to Post #831
i have walked the lanes of Shropshire and traversed hill and vales Ive climbed the trees to the crows nest, and looked upon its eggs , i have seen the young buzzards and held them in my hand, i have stood on wen-lock edge and watched the rolling Shropshire planes and thought what a lucky man i have been, i have walked one end to the other meeting many on the way most i met were simple men that would not hurt a fly but one thing bound us together was nature and her ways. My friends and i have shot the pheasant and the woodcock to we have watched the humble fox cross the rolling hills and vales, and shot the rabbit as he bolts from his hole within the hedge i have fished the streams and rivers catching the gray-ling and the trout Ive cast a fly in the twilight for that wily trout and held him in my hand and admired his lovely colour and returned that handsome fellow to fight another day, i have seen the streak of blue as it passes me in flight looking for his evening meal i have watched the dipper walk under water by the water fall, i have found the nest of the fly catcher with her eggs in the tree above the falls what more could i ask i have shot the duck on a moonlight night waiting on the stuble seen the geese come on high the grey lags and the Canada's going to there place of roost and have shed a tear at this wonderful sight, i am but a simple man that does not ask for much only to fish and shoot and watch the nature and her ways. to pick the mushrooms in season and blackberries to to dig a few potatoes from the farmers field poach the pheasents and the rabbits. To also fish the streams owned by the the big estates, be by the river in the night free line the worm towards the pool under neath the over hanging trees under the far bank and feel the vicous take and bring another trout to hand we will not starve, another four or five and ill be home. To listen to the nosies of the night they all ment so much to me the scream of the vixen or the bark of the dog fox were noises that i loved and i knew i was not alone no need to run and hide tonight the keepers were not around just a bit about my life and i hope you have all enjoyed it as much as i have over all the years, i can not run anymore my legs are buggered and my old bones creak with age, no poaching any more but i have my memories of those times long ago and the woods i used to walk and take the pheasents, most still stand but are not the same the keepers have now all gone so long ago and rest in slumber in the old church yard, maybe there ghosts still haunt the rides of these ancient woods on certain nights i dont know as im not there no need to poach anymore those days have gone long ago never to return. well a bit more latter
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In reply to Post #832
Thanks ash i really appreciate your remarks a happy new year to you and your family god bless pete 
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In reply to Post #831
so i think a bit off magic helps them along the way.
and your certainly providing that for us all here as well Pete
Your a lovely bloke and providing some real 'hairs stand up on the back of my neck' moments with this thread!
I wish you good health and happiness for the new year Pete
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In reply to Post #826
I am not feeling to good today full up with a cold and a bit of man flue so i really am feeling a bit sorry for myself i should really of stayed in bed and wrote this on the lap top but i have so much to do i hope you all had what you wanted i certainly did no fishing tackle as i have loads and really did not want any but i have received a new printer a three in one job that scans prints and does the photos i have already got one but that's up stairs, but i have the new one with my computer in the living room and also one of those photo frames you can load all your photos to and play them back so i have done rather well good old Santa.
i can remember all those years ago when i was a youngster when your mum and dad would say if you don't go to bed and sleep Santa wont come well i tried to stay awake and would look out of my bedroom window hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa and his reindeer and sleigh i was lucky to have had loving parents as they always provided us with a christmas. my cousin jean would always stay over festive period and we would get that exited on Xmas eve looking back i think mum and dad must of had quite a time trying to quieten us down, But it is a magical time of year i have played father christmas a number of times over the years for the children of our village and the look on there young faces always fills me with pleasure and brings a tear to my eyes, i have also done, it for the old folk at the home and i really feel that some who have lost there capability to remember still believe in Santa its what i call there second child hood, bless them every one as they have lived through difficult times with war and food rationing and most had very little money so i think a bit off magic helps them along the way.
some times i wandered where my parents got the money as in those days my step father was only a signal man on the railway but they certainly looked after us as children i have told you all about the one christmas i woke up to a find new split cane rod made by hardy it could be used for fly fishing spinning and float fishing a combination rod we found the receipt when clearing my parents house out when they both died, 70, pounds he paid for that from Gordon forests fishing shop in shrews bury good god that was an enormous amount of money in those days i also had my first Michell reel with the rod i was only about twelve years old they always encouraged me top fish well i suppose shoot as well as i awoke one christmas morning to a brand new air gun and pellets that gun became my second arm and although not that powerful would bring the dinner home i soon learned to stalk the rabbit and get close enough for a head shot it was around the time of the big myxomatosis kill which really decimated the rabbits for some years you would still see isolated pockets of rabbits but they were left alone to survive i soon learned to shoot the pheasants and i got quite accurate with it so we did not starve i know this is not about fishing but about a time when people really struggled to survive and live but they were good times where every one pulled together but sadly that does not happen any more some don't even know there next door neighbour, very sad really but i suppose that's progress more latter
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In reply to Post #829
thank you so much for those kind words fred very much appreciate them hope you had a great day yesterday so may i will wish you and your family a very happy and peaceful new year thanks again god bless pete
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In reply to Post #828
Pete your way with words is so accurate in describing past events that you give the reader a real feeling for what you have seen through your eyes, i read a lot of books by famous profesional authors and beleive me you have a talent just keep writing as you have untold fans on this forum , and you are giving a lot of pleasure with your stories of old.
May you have many years to come and merry christmas to you and your family
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In reply to Post #827
Thanks taffi me old mate the same to you and your family have a great time and piece to you all
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In reply to Post #826
Merry Christmas Pete. Always love reading your bio my friend.
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In reply to Post #822
it was christmas eve as i walked the path that went through the wood the snow was falling like feathers from the sky the pool was frozen , but all was well i was fourteen years old i was there to hear the haunted bells that was reputed to sound from the depths of the old 25 acre lake i would laught at such statements but as we stopped you could hear the unmistakable peel of church bells bloody hell said my mate Gerald I'm going he was as white as the snow lets go pete, no says i its no ghostly bells, there was a slight breeze and the lake was in a hollow below where we were standing the church at condover was only two miles away and it was their evening service the bells were really from the church but carried on the breeze and sounded like they were coming from the lake, but i must admit for a minute i thought we had heard the hunted bells of bomere pool, it goes to show how rumors start although i have fished the place many times and have been told it is hunted i am yet to be convinced i have seen nowt worse than my self i really think it was put about to stop the poachers from long ago, but it never stopped me from fishing the place or taking a few pheasants the only Person i was frightened of was the keeper and his assistants . i had poached this old place many times over the years and i knew it back to front i knew where to run if i was chased and which was the best place to hide. Just over the field from bomere lived old mr mc cartney he was a terrible man and ran his farm with an iron rod putting the fear of Christ into his labourers and he really frightened the locals he was a bully and to some a very bad man he had a small pool on his land no one would chance thier arm and fish it but i was not going to be put off by him or his attitude towards others he had caught on his land. I would be on that pool before he had even got from his bed i would float fish the place and caught some very nice Rudd and tench, after a time i went and asked him if i could fish his lake he told me to bugger off, and if he caught me he would stick his boot up my bum . By the time i was sixteen i owned my first gun he had a strip of woodland with mixed trees of oak birch and a few conifers i poached that woodland many times and shot the pheasants with my old webley four ten, one day i heard this shout he had discovered i was there come out yer bugger he shouted i was out the other side and away up the bank behind the house stop he shouted or ill fire and he did ,i heard the pellets hit the tree over my head, on i went and managed to make the main road. After hiding my gun and pheasants under some briers by the railway bridge i managed to get home i said to my parents the police may call and told them the farmer had shot at me wheres your gun dad said under some brambles they will not find it i was right half an hour latter, old Sgt landers arrived on our door step could he see me yes said mum, have you been out shooting today no , where have you been then he says, down town says i, why some one was out poaching mr mc cartnys ground he thought it was you, he could not prove a thing if only he had asked to see my gun i would have been in big trouble so i got away once again, i recovered the gun latter that evening and six pheasants and i never went near that old buggers land for some time . well a bit more latter a merry christmas to you all
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In reply to Post #823
A big thank you Pete for all your stories, always a must read thread for me and I really hope you can get the book sorted next year. Seasons greetings to you and your family and I hope your wife gets better soon.
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