Jack Hargreaves - ratting sticks, coppicing, wattle hurdles

[Sibadd]

Would that I could pass your kind thoughts to Jack. He would be delighted to think he had helped interest you in fishing. I still have files of letters written to him all of which he answered personally often at length - in later years dictating them to his wife Isobel who died only 4 years after him.

[DumblyBrilliant]

I watched these programs avidly as a boy. It was amazing the way that Jack could draw you into his world with the simple technique of talking to you as if you were there with him. It was Jack who first got me interested in fishing as a lad. Funny thing. Even now when I see these again I notice that quite unconsciously I find myself smiling at the end of the program. Thanks for posting them and thank you Jack for making them.

[Sibadd]

Thanks for your kind comment. I've posted 'Jack Hargreaves - Pigeons' on YouTube but that episode from C4 'Old Country' is not the one you mention which was almost certainly one of the many missing 'Out of Town' episodes that disappeared with the demise of Southern Television. The silent 16mm location film by Stan Bréhaut included in that and most other episodes may be at the South West Film and Television Archive, where many of my stepfather's films and separate sound tapes were deposited.

[crazytom4]

thank you for posting these clips,jacks amazing knowledge and gentle manners are virtues seldom seen these days,a true country gentleman. I remember watching an episode where jack is pigeon shooting with another chap from a bale hide on a very cold winters day,i recall that the pigeons were starving and almost suicidal coming into the decoys so jack stopped shooting and just filmed the birds feeding, A true sportsman with the utmost respect for his quarry. would love to see that episode again.

[browntroutfisherman]

Simply a true gent - I loved these programs and have watched many of them again in recent years.

[Sibadd]

I've just streamed a film from Old Country on the mayfly. Hope you like it.

[gooter555]

great upload, thanks...... rare footage.... love it

[tearlach11]

Thank you very much for posting these videos.they bring back so many childhood memories of a Sunday afternoon, listening to his gentle wisdom.

[Sibadd]

What a pleasure to read such comments! Thank you. Jack would have been delighted. You know I and friends are working on digging out more of my stepfather's films and people still trace me and send me old videos they recorded which I stream as soon as I can. Good fishing. Bless you too.

[SONGSTICKS]

Another gem video.

I've been watching the fishing vids of Jack's, remembering my childhood fishing days with fondness and then this video brings back memories of when I used to make Hazel Hurdles with my best mate Neil, along with Charcoal making and oak Lathes.

Thankyou for posting this, I've saved it as a favourite to show Neil when he next comes round. Bless yer mate.

[Glamagal20091]

A brilliant presenter and unforgettable. Jack was one of my favourites.

[aardvarks29]

Thank you for uploading.

[nephildevil]

special stick or not, whacking a running rat on the back must still take a ginormous amount of skill :o

[Sibadd]

Thanks. Thanks too to the viewer who recorded the live programme in the 1980s and passed the copy on to me 20 years later. I'm aiming to post another episode about every fortnight - also on Vimeo.

[nrlarter]

its great to see this show again it has to remain one of my favorite tv programs of all time not like the rubbish we seem to get these days

[karolgadge]

Jack Hargreaves was - and remains - one of my all-time favourite TV presenters of country matters. I began watching 'How' in the 1970s (in the days of STV) and became hooked on Jack's laid-back style of wisdom laced with quirky insight and knowledge worn lightly.

Although I've always associated him with the counties of Hampshire/Dorset/Wiltshire, there are numerous Hargreaves in the telephone directories of Lancashire and Yorkshire!

[nasamad1]

Great, an episode I have never seen, there must be loads of these sitting on old VHS tapes around the country ! I have finally managed to complete a set of Jack's records in the past 2 weeks and now listen to them on my mp3 player at work.

[locouk]

I used to watch this series when I was young, it's great to see it again. Thanks.

[bsred733]

He seems like a really coll ole fella, I really like like metting old guys like that with a wealth of knowledge, sadly they're becoming few and far between.

[whoknew72]

What an awesome video. I'm going to have to find more of these old shows because I have always been fascinated by "the old ways". Thanks so much!!!