Dennis Watkins Pitchford was an illustrator and naturalist of great note, but is more familiar by his nom-de-plume. As BB, he was a prolific writer of children’s fiction and countryside pursuits. His Bedside books are still great favourites – not least the Fisherman’s selection, whereas his Confessions of a Carp Fisher captures the psyche of an angler almost perfectly. You need a touch of mad fanaticism to fish for carp – fortunately BB had plenty.