A Sketch by H.H

Introduction

The Angling Diary of Horace Hastings is a fascinating document dealing with the
passion for fishing of a humble clerk from Eastbourne at the turn of the Twentieth
Century.

Horace's adventures with a rod and line are lovingly detailed. Seeking the very best
spots for angling in the area, he sets out, frequently in the early hours and just as often
with his ‘chums' Jack and Alf, in search of that ‘wily tribe' the fish, being clearly
captivated, especially, by the carp. Horace not only gives us a record of his catches but also
of ‘the ones that got away'. Here, however, he is not the boastful fisherman the size of
whose haul reaches unbelievable proportions, but more the punctilious clerk, giving
reasons why his efforts failed, from sheer carelessness to technical errors.

Horace is by turns wry, amusing and regretful. As an Eastbourne man, he is
jealously protective of the local fishing ground against ‘intruders' from Brighton or Bexhill,
while never sinking to insult. His descriptions of weather conditions, wind directions and
the state of the waters he fished give us an insight into his personal attitudes. One feels
with him at the lashing rain, while enjoying with him the splendours of a sunny day.

Not only does he record his own plunder but also those of his companions, once
more not complaining if they are more successful than he. He recounts mishaps, little boys
falling into the river and irritants, other little boys being noisy, for example.

Fishing takes a back seat in the central part of the diary, when his cycling
expeditions take over. An indefatigable rider, he regularly rode home to Eastbourne on
two wheels when he secured a job in London. Not many people these days would do the
116 mile round trip almost every weekend. He even ventured further afield when his
friend Jack moved away.

A common factor between fishing and cycling may be observed in Horace's turn of
mind when it came to the technicalities. He was obviously good at improvisation, making
running repairs to tackle or bicycle as and when necessary. He also was able to turn his
hand to designing a new type of reel for his tackle and even to fish taxidermy. He also
acquired a fine knowledge of bait, while being rightly proud at re-covering the saddle of
his bicycle.

Horace is also thoughtful. He has clearly read ‘The Compleat Angler', which he
cites at one point, and never is bored at sitting quietly on the bank, instead quietly
contemplating the scenery or devising new ways of tempting the fish to his hook.

He may sometimes set out early, but on other occasions he is all too human and
sleeps late, though he does not fail to mention this when his chums suffer the same fate!

In the latter part of his narrative, his interests broaden, taking in watching the
Harriers, in their original sense of hounds hunting hare and then shooting. He was
becoming an all round countryman and it is notable that he hated ‘smoky, foggy London'.

His personal life seems to revolve round his hobbies. We are not permitted to enter
the more intimate side of his relationships. ‘M' becomes ‘May' later on, but when
picknicking with Jack the word ‘lady' is discreetly edited out before ‘friend'.

Being neither an angler nor a cyclist, it was surprising to find myself wrapped up
in the tale from almost the first page. It was a delight to follow it through to the end, a
pleasure which it is hoped will be imparted to the reader.

It is important to mention the editorial guidelines followed in this little book.

Firstly, every word that Horace noted down is reproduced. His crossings-out are
also given, since they demonstrate the care which he took over the entries. These were
made, clearly, on small sheets of paper, presumably on the spot, and then, it would
appear, transcribed into the volumes. As far as possible, Horace's own syntax and
grammar are preserved, even where these are at odds with present-day usage. Only very
occasionally are alterations made, primarily in the punctuation, but mostly even this is
retained in order to retain the flavour of the original. Mis-spellings are also retained,
marked "(sic)" - one or two words obviously causing Horace some problems - though for
the most part Horace shows himself to have been well-educated and careful with his
English. As far as possible, the original layout is also retained.

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