FRED J TAYLOR MBE, RIP
Fred J Taylor MBE, RIP
|
The friend of many anglers and country lovers - Frederick John Taylor, MBE, known to most as 'Fred J' - died yesterday aged 89.
Born in Leighton Buzzard in 1919, Fred J. saw war service in the 8th Army, initially as a pastry cook and finally in tanks. He fought against, and was eventually captured, by the men of Rommel's Afrika Korp where he was in fact treated with great respect.
The end of the war saw Fred returning to his beloved Buckinghamshire where he became well known as an angler and a rabbitter. His favourite method of catching rabbits was with a ferret; he even wrote articles and a book on the subject.
Fred invented the lift method for tench
|
But Fred became far more famous as an angler. As the elder of the well known 'Taylor Brothers', he wrote to, and eventually became a very good friend of Dick Walker. They fished together a great deal and it has to be said that this little group, together with Peter Stone, became known as 'The Joyous Crew', and became a specimen hunting group in its own right.
Fred J will be remembered by many for his pioneering work in deadbaiting for pike, the lift method for tench and was one of the first to suggest the use of sweetcorn, as an effective bait for many species. In later years Fred, due to the many times he visited the USA, will be remembered for popularizing lure fishing for pike.
Fred also became the first Englishman to be presented with The Silver Dolphin, the highest honour in the prestigious USA World Sport Fishing Hall of Fame.
Receiving the Silver Dolphin
|
Fred J. became a prolific author, from a regular column in both Angling Times and Angler's Mail, to his many books. I think his best book was his first one - 'Favourite Swims'. Without doubt it was Dick Walker who encouraged Fred to write it.
Fred J Taylor, in angling terms, has become a legend. The most apt words I can think of are perhaps those on the entrance to the Sport Fishing Hall of Fame which say:
'Through These Portals Pass the Immortals'
Fred J. Taylor has certainly become one of those.
Chevin
