IT WAS a proud moment when young Iris Gosling landed a fishing trophy.
She had taken part in the North Oxford Angling Society’s children’s competition in 1935 and beat several hundred boys and girls to win the Grimbly Hughes Cup.
The cup, named after the well-known Cornmarket Street grocers, was awarded to the child with the heaviest catch.
Iris, then aged eight, came from a family of keen anglers – her brother Stan won the cup the following year.
Our brief mention of the Gosling children’s success (Memory Lane, June 15), on the Thames towpath between Medley and Godstow, found its way to Nottingham, where Iris, now Iris Walker, lives.
She writes: “I was so pleased to see the write-up in which you mentioned that Stan and Iris Gosling were both winners.
“I remember it so well, as I am Iris Gosling, my name before marriage. I am now 82, unfortunately the last in my family.
“My uncle, Tom Sanders, was a member of North Oxford Angling Society.
“He enjoyed taking my brother Stan and me with him and entering us in competitions.“ She has kept a cutting of the Oxford Mail photograph showing her receiving the trophy from councillor Percy Hide.
She tells me: “I also had a medal and a suitcase as prizes.
“The cup had to be handed back each year.
“It was well worth a day’s fishing.”
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