TRIBUTES POUR IN FOR THE ‘KING OF ANGLING’
Thousands pay their respects to John
THROUGH the medium of television, John Wilson was a household name among millions of anglers throughout the world.
The news of his passing prompted an unprecedented response on social media, not only from those who had watched his programmes or met him at shows and events, but also from his many celebrity angling friends and colleagues.
Here is a small selection of tributes we have received here at Angling Times...
PETER AKEHURST PRODUCER OF THE FIRST SERIES OF GO FISHING
“I wanted to produce an angling series similar to the Jack Hargreaves series and decided to find the right angler and make some pilot programmes.
“I found John Wilson, who apart from being a pretty good angler in his own right, was also a very good wordsmith.
“There is a valued postscript to all that’s been said about John in a letter sent to me from the programme controller of ITV, who said: ‘Go Fishing is the best TV angling series ever made and will never be bettered.’ I think that says it all. Thank you John.”
BOB NUDD FOUR-TIMES WORLD CHAMPION
“John was always good company and an excellent angler too. More than that, he was the first angling celebrity. Even if they didn’t fish, people knew who John was.
“He presented fishing to a new audience and we will always be indebted to him for that.”
DICK CLEGG FORMER ENGLAND TEAM MANAGER
“What sad news. John was a lovely guy and fishing to him, I think, wasn’t a job – it was fun. Everyone remembers his TV persona but he was just the same off-screen too. What you saw was what you got.
“I’ll always remember the threelegged match I had with John in the late 1980s on the Witham, Bain and Hampshire Avon as a rematch of the Dick Walker V Tom Sails match. He beat me – that shows what a fine angler John was!”
DAVE HARRELL RIVER MATCH LEGEND
“Shocked and saddened to learn that angling legend John Wilson died at his home in Thailand.
“John became a household name through his television programmes, which were enjoyed by non-anglers almost as much as those who fished. Rest in peace.”
CHRIS TARRANT TV STAR AND ANGLER
“Very sad news. I fished and filmed with John over many years and his contribution to angling through hundreds of films and books was immense.
“John’s energy and enthusiasm were amazing, his knowledge of the sport enormous, and for all his trademark laugh and broken rods he was a brilliant fisherman who for decades consistently caught big fish of every species.”
MATT HAYES TOP SPECIALIST AND TV ANGLER
“I met John and worked with him at angling shows over many years and came to like and respect him. He is undoubtedly one of angling’s greats and his influence will live on. Thanks for the memories.”
ALI HAMIDI CARP ANGLER AND TV STAR
“I could write an essay on what this man has done for angling. John had so many wonderful terms and phrases, so many incredible TV moments shared with millions. Rest in peace. You left a lifelong mark on angling.”
DOM GARNETT AT FAR BANK CONTRIBUTOR
“John Wilson’s shows were quite simply magical. Long before the days of YouTube and Netflix, we’d eagerly-await every single episode. We even copied the one-liners and aped that famous laugh.
“Desperately sad news, but John’s legacy will be the tens of thousands he encouraged to ‘Go Fishing’.”
CHAY JACKSON SPECIALIST ANGLER
“I’m proud to have known John personally and spent many an hour up to my waist in his own lake pulling lilies while we drank red wine and John told many, many stories from down the years.
“I’ll miss you John – thank you so much for everything.” NICK FLETCHER ANGLING TIMES SUB-EDITOR “I knew John from way back, when he ran John’s Tackle Den in Norwich. The shop, in Bridewell Alley, was always a hub of angling chat and John, as we all know, could talk the hind legs off the proverbial. “I can’t feel too sorry for him, although I’m gutted he’s gone. He lived life to the full, was never afraid to broach controversial topics, including otters, and refused point blank to slow down in his later years. I’ll be raising a glass or two of red to my old friend – it’s what he’d have liked.” STEVE RINGER FORMER FEEDER WORLD CHAMPION “John was without a doubt the most influential angler of our time. I remember as a kid sitting transfixed to the telly when ‘Go Fishing’ was on. His catchphrases were also legendary, with my favourite being ‘what a clonker!”
CHRIS YATES TRADITIONAL LEGEND
“I loved watching his programmes. They were very methodical, and he was great at conveying the message that fishing could be fun and productive at the same time.
“What always struck me was the ‘feel’ he seemed to have for the water he was fishing, and indeed the fish that he was targeting.
“He always seemed to have a sense of how the fish were going to behave on any given day. He had that assurance, and that gave him an authenticity. It’s why so many people followed him.
“He never needed to strive for effect – an uncomplicated angler, with a great spirit.” JASON HILL FORMER IMPROVE YOUR COARSE FISHING JOURNALIST “I can remember fishing the Mill Pool at Cambridge in about 2001. There was a young lad legering with his John Wilson twin top rod and he was just buzzing with excitement. He talked about how Go Fishing had really inspired him and wished he could show off his catches to John, caught using his newly-bought Wilson rod. Just how many anglers started off their journey thanks to John Wilson?” MICK ROUSE RETIRED ANGLING TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER “I feel very privileged to have known the great John Wilson. He was probably the finest ambassador angling has ever known. Not only was he a consummate professional on the many occasions when we worked together, but also an angling buddy and a good friend.
“Nothing was too much trouble, we would shoot take after take until we were satisfied we had got it right. It wasn’t unusual to be on the bank at 4am to get that misty dawn shot and then work on until dark to capture the sunset.” JOSH GARDINER ANGLING TIMES READER “The king of angling.”