Barrie Rickards

Wolfman Woody · Apr 12, 2004

Yet again I find agreement with a lot of what Barrie says in his article. A pity he doesn't join us on-line to further some of his topics, but then again perhaps he gets a more peaceful life by staying off.

On his last points I have to say, I am a sincere and committed European, but I'm afraid that Europe has almost as big a wallies as we have in Westminster.

Phil Hackett 2 · Apr 12, 2004

Jeff I'll let you into a little secret, Barrie’s a ludite where computers are concerned, he doesn’t use one and has told me on several occasions that he can’t. All his stuff is transcribed by his secretary at Cambridge and sent by her.

It’s a bit of a standing joke at SAA meeting about Barrie and computers.
Here is this world renowned Cambridge Don in Geology who requires all the essays from his students computer generated but he doesn’t use one himself.

On the other hand why have a dog and bark yourself!

GrahamM · Apr 12, 2004

When I spoke to him last week he said he was going to make an effort to have a look at the forum more often and reply to some of the comments. Mind you, he said that the week before, and the week before that and ......

But aren't all professors eccentric? That's part of their charm.

The Monk · Apr 12, 2004

a great and knowleable guy all the same, Barry goes back to the beginings of the Northern Specimen Hunters Group and indeed the very genesis of the organised big fish movement, an excellent insight into angling politics he has done much over the years to enhance and promote the sport through his involvement and great efforts with a number of major specialist angling organisations, still a strong supported of the movement through the SAA. I too agree with much of what Barrie has to say.

GrahamM · Apr 12, 2004

I've regarded Barrie as a personal friend ever since we were consultants with Shakespeare (Barrie still is). Apart from his obvious and outstanding intellect he is first and foremost a really likeable man.

Dave Slater · Apr 12, 2004

Jeff,
I also agree with most of Barrie's views. He is one of the few people who can see what politicians are really up to. Unlike you though, I am anti- Europe, as I believe Barrie is. You may not be quite as pro Europe when the Eastern European countries are granted membership. Barrie gives an idea of what may happen to your fishing when this happens.

Matthew Black · Apr 12, 2004

Two quick points from Barrie's piece.

1. First year funding for the 'gravy train' is ?347,800 and not ?310,000.

2. The Angling and Fisheries Alliance.
When will the idiots that run (ruin) our sport wake up.

You would think that with all the 'brains' in angling from all corners of our sport sat round a table could have got the name right wouldn't you?

Where is the word 'CONSERVATION' in the name?

Just look at the BASC (British Association for Shooting and Conservation), how many individual members they have at ?45 a go (?36 if affiliated to a shotting club), 85 salaried staff, funding from central government and the Lottery, etc. etc.

They've got money coming out of their ears and yet angling is skint.

Apart from the Salmon & Trout Association (who were skint until some old boy pegged it and left them a fortune recently) if you put all the coffers together from all the 'societies & governing bodies, the bar would run dry after the first round!!

Have you forgotten that shooters go round killing live creatures and yet have had the wisdom to include to word 'CONSERVATION) in their name.

When will angling learn?

Wolfman Woody · Apr 12, 2004

Well we could call it the "Angling CONSERVATION Alliance", but then wouldn't we dumb anglers get it confused with the other ACA. Perhaps FCA, but then some might think it was angling's own football division, or what about AFC or...

Does it matter? Even when you tell the public about the present ACA they don't want to know. They couldn't care less about a few stupid anglers who get wet through catching a load of fish and then throw them back. THAT's the public's perception of angling.

Dave Slater · Apr 12, 2004

I belive you are right. Quote "THAT's the public's perception of angling." I am quite happy with this as it means they are unlikely to become anti's as they think of us as harmless eccentrics.

Les Clark · Apr 12, 2004

Im with you on that Dave,but Ive come across people who are not anti`s but don`t agree with fishing becouse they didn`t think the fish went back in,thought that they were banged on the head or just left to die.

Wolfman Woody · Apr 12, 2004

I never forget doing a bit of night fishing once on the Thames. Our method would go against the grain for a lot of you, but it employs a very bright Colman lamp, head torches, feeder, white target boards and all sorts of stuff. Anyway, I caught this bream, about 4lbs, laid it down in front of the bright light to unhook it.

A lady, youngish, early 30s, quite smart and reasonably bright looks over and amongst the other comments asks "Well, won't it die now?" After giving her a little info on how fish can survive being handled, removal of the hook, etc. she went away quite happy.

All that I am saying with this little anecdote is don't treat the public like anti-angling aliens ready to have a pop at you. I speak to loads of 'em when they're on their walks and most show an genuine interest. I find very, very few who are anti-angling. Honest!!!

And I must be in more Japanese photo albums than most of you lot!

Colin Brett 3 · Apr 12, 2004

I'll tell you something else about Barrie!
He's not a lot of good with BBQs either!
He finds telephone directories difficult as well.
He now owns a mobile phone, but doesn't know the number.
And he wonders how I know it's him on the phone when he phones me.
Bless him!!

Colin

Phil Hackett 2 · Apr 13, 2004

Colin sounds about right for Barrie unless you get him talking about his subject. Then he's something else, he's Orr inspiring.

Ron Troversial Clay · Apr 13, 2004

Barrie is a bit like me. I have a mobile phone but I have not not bothered to charge the battery for over a year now - can't be bothered.

Don't ask me the number either.

If it wasn't for Barrie, I wouldn't be alive today. But that's a story that needs telling, along with what me, Ray Webb and Steve Crawshaw were doing at the time.

Peter Jacobs · Apr 14, 2004

The main issue for me in Barrie's article was the perception, or rather misconception, between hunting and shooting.
It apears to be a growing problem with some people that they are being "brainwashed" into believing that all hunters, shooters and anglers are all quite similar to those who hunt foxes, (not that I have a problem with foxhunting per se)

We know that the likes of PETA target school children with their particular views and I find it troublesome that the angling bodies do not appear to be offering the true view.

Matthew Black · Apr 14, 2004

Peter, AGBs have targeted schools and have been successful in many cases, however, some school heads are, shall we say, 'anti-angling' and won't 'let them in'

The Minister of Sport, Rt. Hon. Richard Caborn MP, was made aware of this by myself at the first Angling Summit held in the House of Commons two years ago, and he promised to "Educate the educators!"

Indeed, Les Webber at Angling Projects has achieved getting angling on the curriculum of one school (in Surrey I believe) and has told me that by September 2004 he fully expects another 20 to follow suit.

PETA is body to wary of but not frightened of, provided we are alert to their activities at all times.

The trouble is that those who supposedly run our sport are often reactive rather than being pro-active.

So what's changed there then?

Wolfman Woody · Apr 14, 2004

Getting back to Barrie's article and his comments on the use of barley straw. Has anyone tried using this?

I know of a few clubs that have. They get one big bale of straw and chuck it in expecting it to work and half the time it has no effect. So they are told to put more in when what they should have done is broken the bale up and pushed the straw into a net tube (like Christmas tree tubing).

One of those 10 foot long does the work of 5 solid bails and uses far less material. CAn't think why Europe would want to ban it unless some countries have overdone it? Why?

Peter Jacobs · Apr 14, 2004

Matthew,

Thanks, I didn't know about the AGB effort.

Not wanting to hijack this thread but I have to wonder where is the "education" in a headteacher not allowing access to views that differ from his/her own?

Having lived in the US for quite a while, I know more than I ever needed to know about the folk from PETA.
At my children's school in Texas PETA used to lurk outside offering literature. That is until a concerned father made them an offer that they couldn't refuse

Barrie Rickards

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