CANCER AND PISCES

At the height of the 2013 mayfly season, Mick May takes a call from his GP, who insists he visit a chest specialist. Unperturbed, he spends the weekend fishing but the following Monday learns he has mesothelioma, a rare and malignant cancer linked to asbestos.

The compelling narrative that follows isn’t just about May’s determination and, to date, triumphant, battle with cancer, but includes a successful claim against his former employers.

Despite his predicament, in 2014, May establishes a secure future for his awardwinning charity, Blue Sky, and the following year accepts chairmanship of Kensington Aldridge Academy in time to resolve humongous challenges following the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017.

Fishing is the balm to all troubles, frequently on the Mottisfont beat of his beloved River Test, but also as far afield as Patagonia and Russia. There cannot be many anglers for whom the diagnosis of a killer disease results in a dramatic increase in catches, but Mick May is one of them.

Global fishing success is self-deprecatingly attributed to sheer good fortune, but the impressive records speak for themselves. If fishing, cancer and philanthropy are central strands to this inspirational tale, so too is love of friends and family.

Largely thanks to a remarkable medical team, the writer is in remission, but at his lowest ebb could look forward to “a sun dappled evening in Hampshire,” with a fly rod to hand.

Adrian Dangar

By Mick May Quiller, £15