James Burns
A collection of fishing permits from 1955 offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of a Hull angler and the Association’s early history.
Born in Hull in 1882, James Burns was one of ten children and spent much of his working life in the city, first in the shipbuilding industry and later at Smith & Nephew.
Fishing was a lifelong passion. James regularly visited local waters and often took his grandson, Ian Macdonald Wallis, along with him.
Thanks to Ian’s wife, Elizabeth Wallis, who kindly shared James’s original fishing permits, we can look back at what angling membership was like more than 70 years ago.
Born in Hull
Historic Permits Preserved
Annual Hull Permit
Regional Fishing Licences
Fishing in 1955 — A Different World
James’s collection reveals how differently fishing was organised in the 1950s. Membership was inexpensive, local clubs were plentiful, and anglers often needed separate permits for individual fisheries.
A Hull & District adult membership cost just three shillings, while membership of York & District Angling Association cost seven shillings and sixpence.
A Piece of Association History
Two Associations, Shared Waters
The special lady and juvenile permit was issued through a joint arrangement between the Hull & District Amalgamated Anglers’ Association and the Hull Angling Preservation Society. The two organisations shared fishing waters before eventually coming together.
Melton Pond — Now Welton Waters
Among James’s collection is a permit for Melton Pond, now known as Welton Waters, near the Association’s Brough Complex.
At the time, the water had a direct connection to the Humber and was famous for its unusual mix of freshwater and sea fish. It attracted anglers for its flounder matches and was also known to produce exceptional roach and perch, some approaching 3lb.
The pond was later affected by industrial pollution concerns and fish losses, illustrating how much the local fishing environment has changed.
Forgotten Angling Clubs
James was also a member of the Norfolk Piscatorials, a Hull angling club whose origins are not entirely clear. It may have been connected to the Norfolk Arms public house in Norfolk Street, as many early clubs were based around local pubs.
Its President, Stan Medcalf, was a well-known local fisheries inspector, while Secretary Charlie Herring was also involved in the administration of Hull & District Anglers’ Association.
Before the National Rod Licence
Today, a single Environment Agency rod licence covers fishing across England and Wales. In James’s day, anglers needed separate licences issued by regional river boards.
James held four: Hull & East Yorkshire, Yorkshire Ouse, Trent and Lincolnshire.
One of his licences was issued by Jack Dyson, a well-known Hull angler who ran a tackle shop at 40 Wright Street. Dyson had been a member of the Hull team that won the National Angling Championship in 1938.
Len Harmes — A Remarkable Match Angler
Another fascinating discovery in James’s York membership book is a list of match winners from 1954, dominated by Len Harmes of Bradford AA.
Len later moved to Hull and became an outstanding member of the area’s match fishing teams, winning numerous competitions. He was said to have learned many of his techniques from the renowned Leeds angler Jim Bazley.
The photographs and match records below provide a glimpse into the achievements of one of the region’s notable anglers.
Len Harmes’ 1955 Match Results
An original record of his impressive competition performances. Select the image to view the full-size document.
Preserving Our Angling Heritage
James Burns’ collection is a reminder that every membership book, photograph and fishing permit has a story to tell.
Our thanks to Elizabeth Wallis for sharing these historical documents and helping preserve a small but important part of the Association’s history.
