Our campaign for Wilson memorial

Angling Times is launching a campaign for a memorial blue plaque in honour of John Wilson to be erected where his Norwich tackle shop once stood.

John, who was voted ‘The Greatest Angler of All Time’ by AT readers, died just under a year ago, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy of TV programmes and books that inspired generations.

Plans are afoot for a memorial bench to be installed at one of his favourite fishing spots, Lenwade Mill, but we believe that John deserves to be immortalised further in the form of a blue plaque being placed on the wall at the former site of ‘John’s Tackle Den’ in Bridewell Alley.

Blue plaques typically commemorate a link between locations and famous people, and those already present in Norwich form part of a programme to promote the city’s cultural heritage, of which John is undoubtedly a part following a prolific career that spanned 160 TV programmes over 20 years, dozens of books and long-standing columns for Angling Times and the Sunday Express.

Initial conversations with Norwich City Council have been positive, with a spokesperson saying: “A memorial plaque for John is certainly something we could do. He was a very popular figure here in Norfolk, so I’m sure it would be well received. It would no doubt bring tourists into the city as well.”

Memorial plaques of sorts exist for several famous anglers, notably Peter Stone and Ivan Marks, at their favourite fishing locations, but no official blue plaques.

Steve Fitzpatrick, editor of AT, believes that if anybody deserves to be the first, it’s Wilson. He said: “Through his shop and then all of his writing and filming achievements, nobody has done more to promote coarse fishing in this country than John. It would be a fitting tribute to have him remembered in this way.”

Angling Times has made an official application to Norwich City Council for the plaque to be erected. Watch this space for updates!