I started fly tying over 50 years ago in my native North East. My apprenticeship in fly fishing was on the Rivers Coquet and Tyne. My sole source of instruction in fly tying was Edson Leonard’s book Flies, which I used as a bible for many years.
In the late 60’s and early 70’s I attended Derek Bradbury’s classes at Old Trafford college and joined the Flydressers’ Guild. Following a move to Sussex, where river fly fishing was the pursuit of the rich and famous I fished exclusively on stillwaters; places such as Bewl and Chalk Springs.
Under the guidance of the late Donald Downs I obtained my APGAI qualifications in the early 90’s and helped with the classes of the Sussex FDG, where I still attend on a regular basis.
For a number of years I was secretary and finally chairman of the Flydressers Guild.
Now retired from real work I spend my summers guiding and teaching on the Test in the Summer and helping on a pheasant shoot in the winter.
I enjoy all aspects of fly tying, using both traditional materials and experimenting with new synthetics. I gain greatest satisfaction in helping someone master the art of tying their first fly.
In the late 60’s and early 70’s I attended Derek Bradbury’s classes at Old Trafford college and joined the Flydressers’ Guild. Following a move to Sussex, where river fly fishing was the pursuit of the rich and famous I fished exclusively on stillwaters; places such as Bewl and Chalk Springs.
Under the guidance of the late Donald Downs I obtained my APGAI qualifications in the early 90’s and helped with the classes of the Sussex FDG, where I still attend on a regular basis.
For a number of years I was secretary and finally chairman of the Flydressers Guild.
Now retired from real work I spend my summers guiding and teaching on the Test in the Summer and helping on a pheasant shoot in the winter.
I enjoy all aspects of fly tying, using both traditional materials and experimenting with new synthetics. I gain greatest satisfaction in helping someone master the art of tying their first fly.