This is where Tony began his working life at the age of sixteen after leaving school to join the family business. His original ambition was to qualify as a commercial artist. However, his sister was by now married and announced that she would be leaving the business to start a family. This created an opening for him and the thought of a half-decent wage packet working with his father, turned his head. So he became the third generation to work at 47b Northgate street.

47b & 47a shortly before demolition in 1977

In 1964 he took his place alongside Tommy, purveying piscatorial paraphernalia:  flogging fishing tackle! By now, the hardware side of the business had all been eroded in favour of the fishing stuff which was his father's greatest passion in life. Clients ranged from the rich and famous to snotty-nosed little kids asking for three penn'orth of maggots. "Through our portals pass the most beautiful gentles in the world"...was the proud proclamation above the shop door!

with a customer examining the maggots

Tommy was an ace angler specialising in coarse fishing. Even though he'd done his best to coach Tony in the gentle art, somehow he could never quite equal him. So he specialised in fly fishing instead and became reasonably proficient - achieving the heady title of "Trout Master 1975" when he beat the then best in Britain competing in a tournament at Draycote Water near Rugy in Warwickshire.

By now, he was writing for publications both locally and nationally, lecturing on fly fishing and fly tying in the evenings at an Adult Education Centre and partnering his father in the family firm. He was an active founder member of the Leicestershire Fly Fishing Association, the Fly Dressers' Guild and the Leicester Handicapped Fly Fishers'.

2nd left back row

But since 1968, he'd also been involved with another activity which was to ultimately change his life.....radio!