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Richard Stangroom Features 26-03-2024 13:41:33

Like Insta, But For The '90s

Richard Stangroom rummages through his slide box to pull out 23 absolutely nostalgia-soaked bangers from the '90s!

The Legend (image above)
During the ’90s, Carp Society regional meetings were in full flow, with around 40 active regions holding two or three meetings per year. They were truly great social events which I know are missed by those who were around in those days. In this photograph, we see the legend that was Rod Hutchinson alongside one of his best mates, Mally Roberts.

Julian and Tim at a late ’90s Junior Carp School on Horseshoe Lake. Julian can be seen here explaining the power of a prayer to the Carp Gods. It certainly seems to have worked well for him over the years.

On our way in one of many coaches that were heading south to France for the first-ever World Cup Classic at Lac De Madine in 1998, which was eventually won by England’s Paul Rayment.

Irene Johnson from Tyram Fisheries in Doncaster presenting old-school angler Andy Little with his prize and looked on by another old-school angler, Bob James, one of aPassion For Angling. The other star of the show being the legendary Chris Yates, a former British carp record holder.

I can’t remember where this was, but it was certainly a star-studded line-up. From left to right, you have Dave Chilton from Kryston, the late Chris Ball from Carp-Talk, tucked away behind is the late Marsh Pratley from Oxford’s Orchid Lake and finally, a young Terry Hearn representing ESP!

Another shop and another group of well-known anglers from the time, and although all of their faces are very familiar to me, I can only remember the names of the two in the middle: Howard Barclay from Big Fish Adventure, alongside Kevin Maddocks, who back in the early ’80s wrote what was for me the bible of carp fishing, Carp Fever.

The winner of a charity fishing event at Tyram Hall in Doncaster in the late ’90s received a beautiful Brian Mills carving. The carving was presented by Terry Hearn and premiership footballer Lee Bowyer who was playing for Leeds United at the time. After retiring from professional football, Lee went on to buy and manage a carp lake in France.

Whilst the adults at the first-ever World Cup Classic were battling it out on the 2,700-acre Lac De Madine, a group of Carp Society juniors were pitting their wits alongside them on the adjacent lake known as Little Madine. These juniors included Richard Seeds, Joseph Earl-Wright, Charlie Goult, Peter Higgins and Ben Oconnor.

I’m pretty certain this was an early ’90s social fishing event on Horseshoe Lake designed as a fundraiser to help with The Carp Society’s bid for the Lake. This photograph was taken in the garage on the headland, and from memory, Alan Atkins had cooked up a lovely barbecue for everyone.

Towards the back end of the ’90s, The Carp Society held its first Junior Carp School on Horseshoe Lake. With the help of many big-name anglers at the time, the event was a huge success, and many fish were caught, including these braces of carp caught by Mike Hill and James Hayden.

Towards the back end of the ’90s, The Carp Society held its first Junior Carp School on Horseshoe Lake. With the help of many big-name anglers at the time, the event was a huge success, and many fish were caught, including these braces of carp caught by Mike Hill and James Hayden.

After most regional meetings had finished, there was the regular group of faces who would always hang around for an after-hours lock-in. In this photograph, the three at the back—Brian Sefton, Marsh Pratley and Mary Paisley—have all sadly passed away. The two youngsters in the front row are Mary’s daughter Pip and John Walker.

I’m struggling with this one. I’m not sure where we were, when it was or why we were there, but it would’ve been during the late ’90s. From left to right, we’ve got Terry Hearn, Nick Helleur, Keith Arthur from Sky Sports Tight Lines, Martin Locke of Solar Tackle fame and Carp Society Supergroup bass guitarist Lee Jackson. I’m pretty certain whatever it was, we had a good time!

Big social fishing-related events were regular occurrences during the ’90s and they didn’t get much bigger than this one on the night before the 1998 ‘Fish With The Stars’ event on Horseshoe Lake. Fifty big names from the industry coming together for a few drinks and a bit of fishing, including this lot: Terry Hearn, Danny Fairbrass, Jamie Smith, Ian Chillcott and Lewis Read.

Another photograph from the charity fish-in at Tyrem Hall. At one point, I was winning this match, but if memory serves me correctly, Jim Foster who at the time was the editor of Total Carp magazine, ended up pipping me to the post. Some of the faces you may recognise in this photograph include Lee Jackson, Rob Tough, the late Jan Porter, Andy Little, Andy Murray, the late Keith Napier and the one and only Ray Del Smith from Carp ’R’ Us.

Frank Warwick and John Brynn deep in tactical discussion during the run-up to a Carp Society Junior Carp School on Horseshoe Lake. John used to hand-manufacture some of the best spods on the market—I think everyone was using them at the time!

Not entirely sure what they were looking at, but this is the late Keith Napier, a Carp Society Regional Organiser who had obviously got the attention of both Terry Hearn and Lee Jackson. Being in the late ’90s, it was before smartphones, and so I can only guess Keith was showing them how to tie a rig!

When someone caught one of the A-team from RMC Angling’s Horton, it was a huge event. This photograph, taken in 1996, shows the late Harry Haskell with a 46lb carp known as CP’s (named after Chrissie Pearson). Others in the photo included: Barrow Mac, Johnny Moult, Reg, Symon Bigfoot, Frimley Mark, Ham & Eggs, Snowy, Gary Bond, Ollie, Phil Thompson (author of one of the most collectable carp books Waiting for Waddle), Kodak, Del the Bailiff (RIP), Ian Welch (who managed RMC Angling at the time) and Jim Shelley.

The late Harry Haskell was lucky enough to come first out of the ‘start of the season draw’ back in 1996 and picked one of the favourite swims on the lake known as The Plateau. During the session he managed to land two of the A-team: Heart Tail and CP’s. As the photo shows, any fish caught was a big deal and attracted a large audience of fellow anglers.

Despite the event being in full swing, there was always time to relax over a pint. Here we see James Hayden, one of the juniors fishing the event, sitting with instructors John Brynn and John Claydon. Also in the photo are The Carp Society’s administrator, Daphney Davis and Fishery Manager, Gareth Nuttall.

Backstage at the Queensway Hall in 1997 and the band getting in some last-minute rehearsals before hitting the stage at The Carp Society’s Winter Conference. Band members included Clive Gibbins on drums, Andy Bolder (RIP), Jan Porter on rhythm guitar, Lee Jackson on bass and Terry Chessmen (RIP).

A great little junior event down on the Yateley complex in September 1997, where we were joined by West Sussex Regional Organiser Paul Boichat, John and Ben Hofgardner, and the legendary Terry Hearn.