freeline-98 - Flipbook - Page 180
PAUL WILKINSON
re moved. The lake was a c re sc e n t sh a p e o f a ro u n d f ive a c re s
a n d at its widest point , a p p rox . 6 5 / 7 0 ya rd s . T h e wo o d s o n
o n e side of the property d a te b ac k to t h e D oo ms d ay B o o k a n d
a re known as Snake Wood .
Looking out from the ho u s e a c ro s s th e la ke i s a l arg e s to n e
u r n, which is actually a c u p f ro m a ho r se ra c e , wo n f ro m a
ra cehorse owned from a p rev i o us ow n er. T h e u r n wa s e re c te d
a round 1770. The house ha s ha d m a ny ow n er s ove r t h e ye a rs i t
h a s stood but is now owned by G ra ha m B a r ne s wh o p u rc h a s e d
t h e property in the 19 60 s. G ra ha m ra n th e m a i n h o u s e a s a
g u est house to tourists fo r m a ny ye ars , an d th e l ake wa s ru n
a s one very special car p sy n d i c a te u p un t i l a ro u n d 19 9 4 / 95
when Graham redevelop ed t he ma i n h o us e i n to p riva te f l at s
a n d apartments.
The syndicate at this po i n t c ea s e d to ex i s t fo r a sh o rt t i m e ,
b u t was opened as a day tic ke t f i s h ery. T h e d ay ti c ke t s i t u a t i o n
d i d not last long due to h ow p e o p l e t re ate d t h e p l ac e . T h ere
was no way Graham would a l low s o me t hi n g l ike t h i s to h ap p en
i n what was really his ba c k ga rd en . So w i t h p e o p l e ab u s i n g
t h e place and poaching the l a ke a t n i gh t , a l l f i s h in g c e a s e d o n
t h e lake to the public.
Around 1996/97 a goo d f r i e n d a n d a fo r m e r ow n e r o f DT /
Co tswold Baits, Chris Nico l o a u, a ka S tu d , re c e ive d a c a l l f ro m
G raham Barnes asking hi m to fo r m a ve ry s m a l l i n t i ma te
sy ndicate to look after the la ke a n d to ac t a s s e c u ri t y fo r t h e
water to combat the po ach i n g . T he sy n d i c a te wa s ma de u p o f
f ive anglers: Chris Nicolo a u, P hi l M a n u el , Ro b e rt K i rby, J e f f
a n d Brian. In 1998, I was l u ck y e n o u gh to be a d d e d to th e
ex isting syndicate along w i t h S am N i c o l o au , a n d i n 2 0 0 0 t h e re
was another addition, my b i g b ro t h er Kev i n W i l k i n s on .
FREELINE 58
