List the attributes of a typical fishery and this would tick boxes for many nature reserve managers too. They consist of naturalised wetlands, often with a diverse range of habitats in one site. Many areas have low footfall and remain largely undisturbed. What human visitors there are keep a low profile and remain quiet and still for much of the time. There are regular (often daily) patrols to identify issues or changes in the environment that may affect the health of the site, such as changes in water quality and health and safety concerns. Dedicated teams of volunteers (in the form of committees and work parties) maintain and manage the fishery, often for decades.

I have lived within the Colne catchment all my life. My earliest involvement in club management began nearly sixty years ago, on a stretch of the Wraysbury River in West Drayton—a very different river in those days.

I remained closely involved in club management, holding various roles almost continuously until around 2012, when I began to focus more of my efforts on the work of CVFC.

Alongside this, I have periodically served as a Director of the Colne Valley Regional Park, including representing the organisation at the Heathrow Spatial Planning Group during the early stages of the airport expansion proposals. For over two years, I also acted as co-host of ColneCAN (the catchment partnership), working in collaboration with the Chiltern Chalk Stream Project team.

I currently chair the ColneCAN Water Quality Working Group and, of course, CVFC.

The ongoing degradation of our natural environment has presented—and will continue to present—more than enough challenges for a lifetime. Nevertheless, I remain committed to striving for its protection and improvement for as long as I am able. It would be fair to say I have never been one to shy away from a challenge!

This experience enables me to offer advice on most fishery, club and environmental management issues.

My fishing time is now limited, but in spring and summer especially, any opportunity I get is devoted to pursuing big eels—a quarry that remains as mysterious today as carp did when I fished for them in the 1960s and 70s. If I still have an angling ambition to fulfil, it would be the capture of a double-figure eel—though I accept that this may remain out of reach!

I started on my fishy path at the age of 14 when I convinced my mum and the local tropical/Koi fish shop that I was indeed old enough to have a job. Given this career path it seemed only appropriate to choose to study Marine and Fresh Water Biology at Queen Marys University. Following my graduation I got a job at the Zoological Society of London working on a project (in conjunction with Chester Zoo) to develop microsatellite markers in captive populations of African Cichlids using PCR analysis. These markers could then be utilised to test male reproductive success in the captive populations.

On leaving this job I spent the summer building Koi ponds for a few clients but then my Mum forced me to get a proper job (or start paying rent !!)

I have now worked in the Speciality chemical industry for over 25 years, where I reluctantly manage a small/medium global company (not mine). There are no fish involved at all !!! One bonus being we were able to offer a home to the Colne Valley REAP container. It isgreat to have regular visits from the REAP team and to be able to help with logistical support.

It wasn’t until I snuck onto the first round of the CV Angling & Nature Conservation course that my fishy path picked up momentum again. Following the course I became the Fisheries Manager for West Hampstead Angling (and now Conservation) Society. Over the past 6 years the club has worked on various projects with the HMWT, Affinity Water, The Chiltern Society, EA and the Lottery Heritage Fund. The CVFC has utilised my background/connections in the chemical industry to help in the recent CVFC River Colne water analysis project.

I still love the fishing, but find that now I"m "hooked" on the conservation work, and it is these projects that keep me coming back for more.

Paul is a qualified accountant with thirty years experience in Corporate Finance and Treasury. Having recently "retired", he is hoping to now find some time to dust off his fishing tackle and go fishing.

In addition to his role with CVFC, he is also the Treasurer for the North Harrow Waltonians Angling Society as well as The Elms Angling Society.

For both clubs he implemented and manages their websites. Paul can provide guidance to any local club that is looking for a website solution but wants to avoid the costs associated with commercially available systems.

If any clubs are considering applying for grant funding for their fishery, it may be worth talking to Paul about his experience at The Elms. He has been successful in obtaining several grants from the Angling Trust / Environment Agency and that funding has enabled the club to undertake a number of projects which otherwise would not have been possible, including the installation of otter fencing, a composting toilet, dedicated fish handling equipment storage and solar aeration.

Despite being a member of CVFC, Jess freely admits she couldn’t catch a fish if it leapt into her lap! Passionate about protecting natural habitats and the countless species that call them home, she brings both curiosity and admiration of the CVFC's efforts. With a keen interest in river ecology, she values the delicate balance between water quality, aquatic insects, plant life, and fish that keeps rivers healthy and thriving. She is also values being part of such a welcoming and supportive fishing community, whose shared knowledge and camaraderie make all the difference.

In her ten years as a professional ecologist, Lydia has worked with a wide range of stakeholders in conservation and land management, including planning and development, angling, forestry and gamekeeping. Her main interest is in working with people from different sectors, understanding ecological and management concerns from their perspective, and identifying and implementing joint solutions for nature recovery.

In 2020 to 2022, while working at Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, Lydia delivered the Angling and Nature Conservation project in partnership with CVFC. She had the privilege of working with angling clubs throughout the valley, delivering training and helping to write management plans to mutually benefit both fisheries and wildlife. The project also disseminated funding to help make those plans a reality.

Viv has worked in the fisheries sector for approaching 35 years now and had a range of roles in that time.

Graduating from Sparsholt a long time ago he has worked for the EA and was Fisheries Manager at RMC Angling over seeing over 65 venues, including several in the Colne Valley until he returned to lecture at Sparsholt in fishery management and aquaculture for 12 years. During his time at Sparsholt he started VS Fisheries Ltd, which is now the largest carp producer in the UK, with Simon Scott. Throughout his time in the industry, he has carried out consultancy work for angling clubs and private fisheries both in the UK and France.

Viv has long been involved in angling focused groups for the past 20 plus years being part of the Fish Welfare Group, Vice Chairman of the English Carp Heritage Organisation and presented to the Irish Government on fishery issues. Alongside Bernice Brewster, Viv has run the annual Coarse Fish Meeting for fisheries managers, since 2005 and this event continues to this day. Viv was one of the fisheries experts that helped write and deliver the Colne Valley Fisheries & Conservation Course that ran from 2019 - 2023 (is that right Tony?)

In 2018, he co-founded the Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme, which has so far recycled over 150 million meters of fishing nylon, and more recently became a Trustee for ReAP UK, which focuses on the collection and recycling of all aquatic plastics from our waterways and coastlines.

When not involved in fisheries work Viv is a keen multi disciplined angler and can be found chasing Crucian carp in Surrey right through to Blue Fin Tuna in the West Country or barn door sized halibut in the seas of Norway. If his life isn't "fishy" enough then he also runs a tuna tackle business selling terminal tackle across the UK and Europe.

Mike is a lifelong angler who remains passionate for all types of fishing, and always eager to learn something new.

As a retired health & safety manager Mike can provide guidance to any local club that is looking to create risk assessments for work parties and other activities.

Mike has supported the CVFC for a number of years and is a committee member of both Verulam Angling Club and North Harrow Waltonians Angling Society.

I have worked as a fisheries scientist and freshwater biologist for 40 years, yes, I am that old! My first step along a career path after graduating from London University, was working in the Fish Section of the Natural History Museum, alongside Ollie Crimmen and briefly Wyn Wheeler. Following changes in direction and policies at the Museum, this was no longer a job for me and I left to work on fish health at a koi retailer for three years before branching out on my own.

I have run Aquatic Consultancy Service for over 30 years, specialising in fish health, fish parasitology and fisheries management. My work has brought me into contact with professionals, academics, the EA, Cefas, anglers and fishery managers, and I'm grateful to all as they have contributed greatly to my experience and knowledge.

Sparsholt College had traditionally run a trout conference every autumn but over the years the numbers of participants dropped off until it finally ceased, so teaming up with Viv Shears we decided we would try a Coarse Fish Conference instead. It was an anxious beginning as we wondered whether anyone would want to attend but we were happily rewarded and the Coarse Fish Conference continues - although neither Viv nor I can remember how many years it's been running.

Molecular biology is a rapidly expanding area of science and many will have seen the application of eDNA to monitoring rivers for protected and invasive non-native species. Formed in the last 18 months I am part of a government funded team investigating the use of metagenomics for non-invasive identification of fish microbiome and presence or absence of bacterial or viral pathogens.

In my spare time I am a volunteer with the Living River Foundation conducting fish surveys in the Medway Estuary and this year LRF, in conjunction with Cefas and Natural England participated in a smelt survey, hopefully this will become an annual survey. I also volunteer in a project run by the Zoological Society of London monitoring elvers returning into the River Medway. I couldn't have asked for a better or more rewarding career