The Samurai of the BFCC
Well, what can I say about the BFCC and the Sportfish Reading Open Show?
Jan (my beautiful and long suffering girlfriend) and myself turned up on a grey Saturday morning at 8.30 a.m. with a slight drizzle in the air.
We went into the giant marquee, to be greeted by the boss (Michael Marshall) with a big grin on his face.
That lifted my spirits straightaway, as with all our other instructors away on other commitments, or far too ill to take part, I was a bit nervous, as to how we would cope.
Sure I can get the clients to have a lesson, but Mike who was our only instructor for the day is not a man in his early thirties, so I would have to pace things out. I was about to be proved wrong.
It was very slow to start with but by 11 a.m. when people realised that it was going to be a dull weekend, weather-wise, they probably thought “stuff this I am not going to let a bit of rain beat us”, the whole place started to buzz.
Mike Marshall took up his starting position, made up his trusty rod with the same care that an old battle weary warrior would do with his weapon of choice and then shouted out to me “send them out Rog”.
It was then that the British Fly Casting Club swung into action. I have done this a few times and it was with the ease of familiarity that myself and Jan started to take our eager clients out to meet Mike.
I was staggered that by 4.p.m. when things eased off, he was not only still standing, but turned and said to me “is that all you got” with that same big grin on his face that he had from 8.30 a.m.
Mike had not had a single minute’s break
Sunday was virtually the same as Saturday, but with the arrival of Alex Titov, another of our instructors it meant that we cranked things up a gear, which is just as well, because there were three times as many people to get through.
Truly an astonishing weekend.
I cannot leave this report without warm thanks to the following:
Firstly to my girlfriend Jan for the smiles to our clients, endless cups of tea and also selling some of the books.
Matt Hayes for letting me drag him over for a picture session. Thanks Matty.
Gary Coxon of Sage. Thanks for the pics Gary (from your favourite West Indian)
Jerry Siem of Sage. I tried to get the girls (Jan and Tracy) to wriggle against him during the pics, but I did not get a free Sage Rod. What a nice guy.
Simon Gawesworth, who stopped his book signing session to be photographed on our stand, and also stayed for a cup of tea and a chat. Quite a unique person.
Alex Titov, has recently qualified AAPGAI, what a feat. He has only just returned from teaching in Russia. Over there you have to be extremely good as they will still send you to Siberia, or worse, make you recite all the words from the film Taras Bulba.
Congratulations Alex.
BFCC Members James Evans and his lady Tracy Thomas for being there and helping out. Thanks Tracy and James.
Gilly Bate, a friend of Mike Heritage. Thanks for stopping by Gilly and making me laugh. By the way Gilly, the BFCC has its eye on you for the future.
Thanks to Richard Tallents of Masterline-Cortland for his donation of a Flyline to the BFCC.
Thank you to new members:
Mark Kirkhouse
Sally Taylor
Mick Copeman
Alan Corker
A very big thanks to all our new clients, you are the real stars of the show, we hope to see you at other “friendly” get togethers at the BFCC.
Sometimes the guys say to me “what is your secret to getting people to stop and talk to you”.
The answer is there is no secret. Fly Fishers, along with most anglers are kind, friendly, patient and very approachable, that is why they are the stars of the show, it makes what I do a real pleasure.
I will close now by saying that none of this would have been possible without our man on the inside, Jonathan Tomlinson, who worked like a beaver to make it all happen
Thank you very much Jono.
Roger Miles
Comments
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May 26th, 2010 at 7:56 am
Hi Roger, what a lovely review of what was a superb event at Reading. It was a pleasure to meet you and fantastic to have a lesson with both Alex and Steve. They are terrific instructors, full of fun and great guys. And yes, Jonathan was clearly running on adrenaline but still smiling and helping everyone on the Sunday, what a star.
Yes, Mike has said he’d like me to come along and help with the beginners and I’d love to help. Please let me know when you guys are at Reading, it would be great to see you all and get involved,
kindest Gilly