A few weeks back the Fab Four and Grumpy met up on the banks of the Warks Avon and on the way home Bob and I discussed said rod and I said I'd given up hope of finding one.
I phoned Kevin a day or so later to thank him for spending so much time helping and coaching me on the gentle art of chub fishing and the Hardy General again cropped up in conversation.
That evening, disinterested in the TV programme my wife was watching I went on ebay, entered Hardy General in the search box and to my absolute and total surprise there was a listing, "buy it now" and reasonably priced. So without a nanosecond of hesitation, I hit the button!
The rod is in excellent condition, having been owned by an Army officer in the Royal Engineers and I know his name and rank.
The rod was being sold by his daughter in law who kindly provided me with the information.
All the rod needed was a clean and a polish.
This is the first vintage cane rod I've owned with known provenance. I always wonder about the history of rods I've bought, I'm sure I'm not alone in that...
Unfortunately, there wasn't an opportunity to christen the rod this season but rest assured it will be first out the rack in June!
