G. Eric Hodson

[The Monk]

My original post was prior to the article appearing, its come out very well Ron, yes I remember you taking the picture which was the last time Eric attended an SAA meeting before his illness took over. The photograph shows a very impressive line up of anglers, which includes, Tim Marks, Chris Burt, Phil Hackett, David Bird, David Lumb, Mike Heylin, Steve Richardson, Leon Rosk (sorry Leon I could never spell your second name)and many more

 

[Cakey]

R.I.P

 

[The Monk]

I`m surprised more people havent responded to this thread, I think the trouble with Eric is he never promoted the stuff he did and he never did get round the writing his book, although for many years I always told him he owed the angling world a book, I suppose also a lot of the old school have died out, we lost Dr Rex Elgood a few years ago, Tag Barnes, Peter Stone and so many others from the 60s catalist of the big fish movement, so much has been written in isolation over the years but never a complete journal of development and I doubt we now have many left who could take on such a mammoth task, such a task would have to be written from the early years by a number of writers who were involved through the NSG, NASG, NASA, SACG and SAA with it all being compriled in one volume, Kevin Clifford has written some excellent stuff on the carp fishing branch of the sport, but nothing complete on the organised big fish movement has ever been written to date, apart from Erics booklet, how sad this would be if this history was just allowed to be swept down the rivers of history, and what a rich history the specialist movement has.

 

[Ron 'The Hat' Clay (ACA)]

Self-aggrandisement was not Eric's scene mate. He liked nothing more than to achieve his goal and then slide quietly into the background. The fact that he did not claim expenses for what he did is truly astonishing.

The fact that he was incredibly successful at what he did,was not liked by a certain section of so-called angling luminaries. I'll not mention names but they know who they are and what they did was frankly quite dispicable.

It's been suggested by a few that I write a book about the early years of specimen hunting. Quite honestly, I am not the one to do this. I spent much of the formulative years of the NASG out of the country.

All I can and will dois keep the memory of Eric alive whenever I can, along with the memories of **** Walker, Fred J Taylor, Peter Stone, Tag Barnes,and many others who gave so much to the big fish scene, which most today, take totally for granted.

 

[Nicola Carr]

Should anyone wish to join the service or the following gathering to celebrate Erics life, the details are noted below.

The service will be held at Brimington, Chesterfield, Crematiorium at 1:30pm on the 21st July.A gathering to celebrate Erics life will be held after at the Lockoford Inn, Lockoford Lane, Tapton, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S41 0TQ, Tel: 01246275844.

Nicola

(Erics Grand-daughter)

 

[Ron 'The Hat' Clay (ACA)]

Thanks Nicola.

 

[Nicola Carr]

Your more than welcome. I'd like to pass on a huge thankyou also on behalf of my Nan, Irene, and all the family, for your kind words and also to everyone who has passed on condolences.

 

[The Monk]

thank you very much Nicola, I will be there, Eric was a very dear and supportive friend and I will never forget him or the time I was fortunate to spend in his company.

 

[Steve Richardson 2]

Dear ALL......

A man that will besadly missed.......a big man with forward thinking ideas......that he liked me and considered me a friend is an honour I'm more than happy with.

Rest in peace Mr. Eric Hodson.

I shall try to attend the service on behalf of my friendship and as a representative of the National Anguilla Club.

Yours With Respect.....

Steve.

 

[The Monk]

thanks Steve and lovely to see you posting mate, yes Eric had a lot of respect for you and people like yourself who have done much to continue the continuation of the specialist movement

 

[Donald Bain]

I've said this on another link but Eric was one of the founders of modern angling, without him the sport we enjoy today would not be the same!

But Eric was one who did not seek fame or fortune from his beloved pasttime, he did it for pure love and the benefit of others. He was an inspiration to me and others of my generation who took up the sport in the sixties and we grew up with Eric and have benefitted from his legacy.

Ina fair world he would have got an OBE at least for his services to Angling and it would have been well deserved, moreso than many that are given out!

My thoughts are with his family at this time.

Don

 

[Ron 'The Hat' Clay (ACA)]

Extremely well said Don.

 

[The Monk]

yes very well said Don and I totally agree with every word mate

 

[Nicola Carr]

Eric would be so humbled to read all these messages, dad will be sorely missed by all, our thanks go to Ron for setting up the site for dad. On behalf of mum and I we would welcome everyone to the funeral on Monday 21st, it will be lovely to say hello to all those people who fished with dad. As a family we have many happy memories, one of which comes to mind when he bought a fish home which was put into the bath, till he could move it the next day!!!!

Even though Alzheimers robbed him of many things, and us of a loved one, what it could not take awat was his cheery smile every day xxxx

Once again thankyou to everyone your kind words are us all at this terrible time.

Lynda

 

[The Monk]

Eric was a legend Lynda and his legacy will live on much longer than any of us here, I can still see him now sat at the front of his bivvy in France, 1 week in, a clean shirt and tie on and smoking his pipe.

 

[Ron 'The Hat' Clay (ACA)]

And he always had a smart sports jacket, cavalry twills,Tattersall shirt and silk tie, even under his one piece thermals when he went fishing.

 

[Nicola Carr]

And another thing which I remember was when he made his own bait at home, god knows what went in it, but you did not want to be any where near the ktichen when that concotion was brewing I can tell you. Or the countless winter nights we all spent making nets, or the countless times, when during a winters night, out would come some fishing rod he was in the process of making, or, the times he wanted something typing up and then duplicating - WHAT a job that was - typing up the stencil, and then fixing the fiddling thing to the duplicating machine - and wow betide me if I hade made a spelling mistake, I'd not hear the end of it for weeks!!!! Or the time when we had organised a party, he nipped off to bed early as he was driving to Yugoslavia next day - never mind that this country was at war with itsefl...............

Lynda

 

[The Monk]

he never did anything in short measures your dad Lynda and was very self sufficient, I can remember taking him for a run out around wigan and warrington when the exhaust fell off my car in, right in the middle of wigan town centre, I went off to phone the AA, but before I knew it Eric was under the car tying up the exhaust to enable us to get to a garage, he must have been in his 70s then. On another occasion we were in France and he needed some electrical extension plugs to extend his bite alarm system, we drove out to this small village and found a small electrical store, it was like one of those old Western towns complete with tumble grass blowing down the main street, but neither of us couldnt communicate with the owner, Eric, after spending a good ten minutes drawing pictures of the plugs he wanted, eventually went behind the counter, had a look around and picked up what he was looking for, paid for them and left, it was dam funny watching this happen and seeing the owners face at the time, a bit like a fawlty towers sketch.

 

[Ron 'The Hat' Clay (ACA)]

We went down to Dunstable for a Carp Society meeting. We had some time to kill so I suggested to Eric that we go and have a look at **** Walker's stretch of the Upper Ouse.

Not satisfied in having a look from the Thornton bridge,Eric drove right into the farm, and right up the meadow. We looked into all the famous swims and found some chub, then we drove out after having a look at the hut; it had not been burned down at this time. As we made our way past the farmhouse, a man came out as though as to stop us. "We are for it now." I thought.

But instead, the guy tugged his forlock and waved us on our way.

I'll bet he thoughtEric was the local squire!

Eric could be cheeky at times.

 

[ED (The ORIGINAL and REAL one)]

RIP Eric

Sincere condolences to Family and Friends ...