freeline-98 - Flipbook - Page 167
DICK GAYNER
i n which I was involved. Howeve r, a c ha n ce c o nve rs ati o n ,
whilst attempting to obta i n a p a i r o f ‘o ld s c h o o l ’ f i b regl a s s
ro ds a couple of years ago f ro m o u r mu t ua l f ri e n d , G eo f f Ho a d ,
b rought an unexpected re wa rd . Wh i l s t G e o f f wa s h u n ti n g
t h rough his collection, he em erg e d w i t h a p a i r o f ro d s i n cl o t h
b a gs. “Have a look at thos e ,” h e s a i d . I n s p ec t i o n reve a l e d two
ro ds bearing Vic’s name an d b o t h b u i lt by t h e te a m o f B r u c e
A s hby and Mike Harris. I lef t th a t a f te r n o o n w i t h a p a i r o f ro d s
t h at I was originally after, to g e th e r w i th a g e n e rou s g i f t o f o n e
o f Vic’s rods as a keep sake o f d ays g o n e by. T h a n ks a ga i n , G e o f f .
O n further inspection at h o me , I fo u n d t he ro d , o n e of t h e
re nowned ‘Ashby Specials’, to b e i n g re at co n d i t i o n w i t h o n ly
m i nor blemishes in the varn i s h a n d t h e o r i g i n a l s i ngl e - l e g Fu j i
r i ngs undamaged . It bore th e n um b er ‘ 6 ’ a t t h e s p i g o t an d
Vi c’s name, in the unmist aka b le w ri t i n g o f M i ke Ha rr i s , b u t
FR E ELINE 45
