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Jim's Diary |
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| Current Jim's Diary | ||
| Jim's Diary Archives | ||
| November 08 to Jan 2009 | ||
| August to October 2008 | ||
| April to July 2008 | ||
| February to April 2008 | ||
| July 2009 |
What's Happened to Jim recently?Those of you avid Jim’s Diary followers may have wondered why he’s not been updating his record of life along the river recently. Well, he’s not been well recently and has been advised to rest up and not cover the miles he usually does on foot, not something he has found easy to do!It’s not all been sitting with his feet up though, he’s been out accepting awards. No doubt you’ll here about from him when his diary resumes, hopefully in the near future. Anyway, here’s the news of his award – Jim ‘The Fish’ wins Award Jim Smith from Isfield received the prestigious CLA Long Service Award to Riverkeepers & Ghillies at the CLA Game Fair held at Belvoir Castle in Lincolnshire on Sunday 26th July 2009. It is given in recognition of the outstanding service he has shown to the Ouse catchment for over 25 years, for The Ouse Angling Preservation Society Ltd. He received two further recognition bars for the preceding 20 years, (one every 10 years) a total of over 45 years! dedicated service to the Society and the River Ouse. In the late 1950’s, a young, Jim Smith started work with The East Sussex River Board where his first duties were that of a banksman. He soon progressed to the Pioneer Gang. He recalls the gang working on the Longford Stream one day where they found and had to remove hundreds of empty wine bottles which been ‘liberated’ from the wine cellars at Sutton Hall by Canadian soldiers billeted there in the Second World War. Typically all were found to be empty, much to Jim’s annoyance! In 1963 Jim started working for the Ouse Angling Preservation Society as part-time keeper/bailiff, the following year he was taken on full time. The immediate tasks included dealing with people fishing without the required rod licenses and permits, to a fairly major poaching problem. Having good local contacts, excellent relationships with the local police and being well respected by the Magistrates were a great help; the scale of the problem is indicated by the fact that in one day fifteen offences for variouse fishing infringements were brought before Lewes Magistrate Court. Many still tremble when the name ‘Jim The Fish’ is mentioned! In the mid 1990’s Jim, together with other local conservation minded people, help establish The Sussex Ouse Conservation Society (SOCS). a now flourishing catchment conservation group with river restoration at its heart. Jim recently spent some time in hospital and had a toe removed! We are pleased to report that he is now making an excellent recovery and is more or less back on the river bank. So be aware! You have been warned!
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