Talk:Hugh Stoker

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Talk: Hugh Stoker...... Anglers like myself who have been sea fishing since the 1950s have probably been influenced by the legendary Hugh Stoker. Sadly, it has come to my notice that Hugh passed away some two years ago.I have not seen an obituary in the angling presss or the internet, hence have been moved to write a few notes in his memory. Hugh regularly contributed articles, in the form of "A Longshoreman s Notebook", to The Angling Times. These articles were often based on his unique sea anglingn trips along the South Coast in his 10 foot wooden dinghy "Blue Gremlin". His series of guidebooks to Sea Angling are now held in such high esteem that they have become collectors items. Laterly, Hugh also extended his authorship skills to include Walking guide books. As a sea angling teenager in the late 1950s and 1960s,, I avidly read all of Hugh's articles and books,and followed his advice. I was very infuenced by his then innovative ideas, even to the level of keeping a regular log of my catches. I visited Hugh at his cottage in Seatown, Dorset in the year 2000. Although my visit was unexpected, Hugh welcomed me and I had the privelege and honour of seeing "Blue Gremlin" -now in retirement!= in Hugh's garage. The angling fraternity has lost its most innovative and prolific angling journalist, now that Hugh has passed away.I can only hope that he has found the angling heaven that we anglers all dream of. Mike Draper 2011.