One day, when Bits and Pieces has earned him wealth beyond his wildest dreams, Fishpool is going to take a trip to Berkshire and buy himself the finest piece of wood he’ll ever likely own. A piece of Barder.
Edward Barder was always likely to be an angler. His father Richard was a fly-angler of note, and author of the 1976 book, Dry-Fly Trouting for Beginners. As he learned how to fish, Edward also developed an interest in the way things were made—particularly the construction of split cane rods.
A job at Hardy’s in Pall Mall heightened this fascination, and also provided Edward with the opportunity to meet some of the leading rod builders of the day. He developed techniques and sourced the finest materials and in collaboration with Chris Yates (see Things we Like), produced his first range of rods.
In 1990, Edward purchased the workshop equipment used by Constable of Bromley and ever since, from an old Mill beside the confluence of the Kennet and Lambourn, he has been building some of the most highly regarded fishing tackle in the world.