Colin Golding - I Did It My Way

It is a sad ending to 2023 with passing of Colin Golding aged 87 on New Years Eve.

Colin Golding Born 21^st November 1936 in 24 Queens Road, Kingswood Bristol, and still lived there up to a few days ago. In some ways this sums up Colin or as some named him “Mr Pastry” or “Our Col”.

Colin married just the once which lasted six months, but both remained good friends.

Colin did an Engineering Apprenticeship, becoming a Draughtsman specialising in detail Gear design. This occupation required mathematic dexterity and hand printing skills, which Colin has in abundance – Never made a mistake in calculating the pools. Colin spent the majority of his working life at Rolls Royce Engines at Patchway, Bristol. Colin had a fall out with management about promotion and went on strike, as he reminded us on a good few occasions he is technically still on strike after some 40 years.

We often use the word Angling Legend lightly. However, in Colin’s case this without doubt applies. Colin is a Legend in Match Angling not only in the South West but is also well respected throughout Anglings fraternity.

Colin was coached and encouraged by his father George both fishing for the local club Adults AA. Father and son are renowned for there post match arguments over how badly each other  fished. Colin won his first senior open match at the tender age of 15 after previously winning the Adults AA Juvenile cup a few times.

 In 1956 at the age of 19 having qualified for the Bristol and West All England Team Colin was elected team Captain. A big honour back then as it was hard enough to qualify for the team. The team finished 26^th out of 94 teams taking place on the River Witham. It was during the 1964 National Championship representing the Bristol and West fished on the river Severn that Colin caught 500 Bleak for 14lb 6 ½ oz for 5^th overall out of 1,284 competing anglers. Catching these small fish was a skill Colin had honed catching Dace on the  Bristol Avon. 

Colin was the most consistent angler in the South West for 17 years. Regularly winning and framing on a majority of venues, especially the Bristol Avon and River Huntspill. Colin Captained the Golden Carp AA South West Winter League Team which regularly won the league to take on national team winners in the finals held in Ireland.

The pinnacle of Colin’s angling career came in 1973 when he was selected to represent his country in the World Championship to be fished on a Lake in Chalon-Sur-Saone France on July 22^nd. The final team of five to fish was picked the day before the match and unfortunately Colin ended up as Reserve. On his return Colin having been on “Strike” started work with an agency and low and behold he arrived in the next drawing office to my design office. How lucky was I, we spent plenty of time chatting about fishing. It was Colin that recommended I join a winter league team, because it was the best place to learn and develop. He was right.

George Crookes was one of the few anglers to threaten Colin over a long spell of domination on the Bristol Avon until Mike Jones appeared on the match scene in the 1970’s taking over his crown. During the 90’s Colin turned his attention to fishing the King of Clubs in Ireland making a name for himself battering Sid Huggins of the next peg a few times which Sid found hard to take especially having taken the piss out of Colin because of the state of his tackle. The then World Champion Bob Nudd said of Colin “It’s amazing what Colin does with such crappy tackle”. I’ve got news for you Sid, Colin (or Mr Pastry as you named him) has been battering us in the south West for five Generations. Colin has continued to win and frame regularly up until a few years ago, winning a match at Acorn Fishery in 2012. 

I was lucky enough to fish in the Golden Carp team under Colin’s captaincy in one of the top winter league teams with the largest number of teams taking part at the time.

Colin is not only a legend with regard to his angling but equally because of character. There are endless stories. Ask anyone that has fished with him, they will have a story or two. I would love to sit down with the likes of Bob Price and Bill Ferris to pen some of the better one's.

Just a few of Colin's achievements: England Cap France - Gladding Masters final – Woodbine Final Denmark – AT Winter League Finals Ireland. I was lucky enough to borrow Colin's scrap book which can be seen in this blog labelled "Coilin Golding" or copy paste the link below.

https://silverfoxangling.blogspot.com/search/label/Colin%20Golding%27s%20Scrap%20Book

Colin would never be influenced by fellow anglers whether it was match pegging, pools, payouts, tackle or how to fish. In fact the reverse was often true. Colin influenced many of his peers with them mimicking his top and bottom Peacock floats. What anyone may say about Colin – HE DID IT HIS WAY for which he was admired. RIP Matey.

Some of my favourite pictures.

Landing a 10 lb Carp of Withy Pool:

His rig box comprising his Peacock Floats on home made carboard winders:

Typical condition of Colin's tackle - Fooled many into thinking he would be easy to beat: