7. Danger

In the eyes of the Captain, Mapledurham weir is remembered for two things pike fishing and boating accidents.

We have caught many pike over the years from this venue and it was introduced to us by Popeye from Hungerford. Why Popeye because he has one popped eye. Popeye’s eyes defy Huygens law which states that light travels in straight lines, however in Popeye’s case; this is not true since he can see around bends.

And as regards boating accidents the reader should beware.

The Captain told the crew “That he had introduced this spot to the Italian Stallion a.ka. Tony Symonovitz and Burley Frank O’ Farrel about twenty years and warned them not to get too close up to the sluice gates. Italians being of an excitable disposition hooked a large fish and decided to chase the fish down and pull anchor. Frank O’Farrell not being quite awake having consumed 20 pints of Guinness the night before, stood up and moved forward causing the boat to also move forward even close to the sluice gates .The net result was that the boat was swamped with water causing it to capsize with the loss of their boat and a thousand pounds worth of fishing tackle. Luckily for these boys it occurred during the summer months”.

The Captain continued “Another time while fishing at the same weir, once again while pike fishing with an old London mate named Tony Bowhey, the  Captain   noticed that had his  friend’s bait had been taken by a  pike. They both stood up and the Captain told Bo to strike the fish and in doing so knocked the Captain straight off the back of the boat into the weir. Due to the heavy flow of the water, the Captain ended up 100 yards downstream in as many seconds. Did he have his life jacket on?, Well your guess is as good as mine.