Fly Fishing: Memories of Angling Days

Product Information

Richard Spitzy’s How We Squandered the Reich (1997) contained a memorable description of Hitler in top hat and tails, “like a cross between a head waiter and a chimney sweep.” Among these were two productions involving the Duke of Edinburgh: A Windsor Correspondence (1984) and Survival of Extinction (1989). Other notable works included Paul Theroux’s Sailing Through China (1983); and Diana Holman-Hunt’s The Artist and the Autocrat (1988), a biography of George and Rosalind Howard, Earl and Countess of Carlisle. The younger of two brothers, Michael Russell was born on May 30 1933, the son of a solicitor in Bournemouth. He crested the hurdles of education with ease, winning scholarships to Rugby and Christ Church. Search is all about hunting stuff down; it requires people make an effort in a world where the effortless is king. What if we could make that easier? People have physical manifestations when something piques our interest or reminds us of an urgent task. With their first child imminent, they decided to leave London, taking on a 21-year lease of The Chantry, a fine house in Wilton, near Salisbury, at a peppercorn rent.

Mr Lumsden had sung at every cathedral in Britain, performing the bass solo from Handel's Messiah more than 200 times. He had also been featured on a BBC recording in 1959, marking the bicentenary of Handel's death. At Oxford, however, academic ambition deserted him, as he registered an Aegrotat in Mods and a Fourth in Greats. Mr Lumsden was better known for his talents as a singer in his youth, as the famous British composer, Benjamin Britten, was an admirer of his vocal prowess. He had been honoured by the composer, who wrote the roles of Peter Quince in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Superintendent Budd in Albert Herring, especially for his deep bass voice.

In the advert, he was seen relentlessly ringing book shops and tentatively asking for a book called Fly Fishing by JR Hartley. Ellis Barker (5 June 2016). "Suffolk mum shares joys of parenthood with wider audience in funny stories written while her baby sleeps". East Anglian Daily Times . Retrieved 2018-01-19. Despite being more than three decades old, 65% of people remember the ad, which rises to 91% among those aged 45 to 54 and 84% among the over-55s, according to YouGov Omnibus. Three-quarters (74%) of those aged 35 to 44 also remember the ad, which given they would have been under 15 when the ad was aired, is testament to its strength.

He performed at every cathedral in Britain, singing the bass solo in Handel's Messiah more than 200 times, including on a BBC recording marking the bicentenary of Handel's death. Ads as culture makers and business developers that go beyond mere ‘promotion’: Nicolas Roope, executive creative director & co-founder, Poke The book, at once funny, knowledgeable and poignant, sold 130,000 copies before Christmas. There were two less successful sequels: J R Hartley Casts Again (1992) and Golfing (1995). In 1952 Lumsden married Irene Palmer with whom he had one son. His wife was a soprano and during the 1950s they appeared in cabaret together, performing extracts from musicals at seaside resorts and London hotels. In 1967 Lumsden returned to the English Opera Group to create the role of Luka in William Walton's opera The Bear at the 1967 Aldeburgh Festival. [4] Later career [ edit ]After Oxford came National Service. Michael Russell was commissioned in the Blues and served in Cyprus, where for some time he fell seriously ill. So, who was the actor that portrayed J. R. Hartley so realistically in the famous advert? Norman Lumsden was a veteran singer and actor, who at 77 achieved national fame by playing the fly fisherman. This was partly due to bad health. In truth, though, the study of Latin and Greek had been annihilated by the excitements of the Turf. Michael Russell developed a spasmodically successful betting system, which enabled him in prosperous periods to drive a Rolls-Royce and pay tribute to elegance: shirts from Turnbull & Asser; shoes from Poulsen Skone.

It was the publisher Roddy Bloomfield, then at Random House, who came up with the idea of making the fictional J R Hartley’s non-existent book a reality. And it was an additional inspiration that he should turn to his brilliant friend Michael Russell for the fulfilment of this plan. Here’s a fun fact: This ad was actually updated in the early 2000s by Yell.com, and I was the creative director.

Article contents

Fly Fishing: Memories of Angling Days, also published as Fly Fishing by J. R. Hartley, is a fishing book by British angling author Michael Russell under the pseudonym of J. R. Hartley. It was published by Stanley Paul in 1991 and was intended to capitalise on the popularity of the J. R. Hartley fictional character. During his long and distinguished career, Mr Lumsden was one of composer Benjamin Britten's favourite singers, with the roles of Superintendent Budd in Albert Herring and Peter Quince in A Midsummer Night's Dream written especially for his bass voice.

Vines, Sidney (November 30, 1991). "A whopper landed by central casting". The Spectator. pp.46–47. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021 . Retrieved May 18, 2021.

Of course, the twist at the end reveals that the delighted senior citizen, who asks the bookshop to reserve him a copy, turns out to be J. R. Hartley himself! On the Turf, however, he progressed from betting to ownership, achieving a notable triumph when his horse Jacintha won the Ayr Gold Cup in 1957. Fly fishing remains a much-loved sport and leisure activity today, with anglers enjoying its challenges - not to mention the spectacular views, and the peace and quiet that a day by the river can provide.