This is Wing Commander Ian “Widge” Gleed, pictured at RAF Ibsley, Hampshire, in 1942 with his Spitfire, marked with the little cartoon figure of Figaro the Cat.
Born in north London in 1916, he learned to fly before joining the RAF. In 1940, he survived a terrifying accident when his Spitfire broke up in mid-air. Thrown clear and briefly unconscious, he came round just in time to open his parachute.
He fought in France, flew Hurricanes during the Battle of Britain, and later commanded No. 87 Squadron at just 24 years old.
In 1943, he was sent to North Africa. On 16 April, while leading a patrol over Cape Bon, Tunisia, his Spitfire was shot down. He was just 26.
I would like to give a brief snap shot of my life and introduce myself;
My name is Richard Handel and was born in 1965 in Suffolk. I have worked as a UK Operation & Intermodule Manager for a shipping company. I live in Hampshire now and am married with 2 young children, both girls so I am a bit outnumbered even the cat is a girl!
I have been fishing since I was about 7 years old. I started on small local rivers in Suffolk, then moved onto gravel pits and then carp fishing. My personal best is a 39.08 mirror, over recent years I have started river fishing again, on the Hampshire Avon, this is a nice break from the carp lakes.
My life has turned a big corner this year, the company I was working for relocated their Operation centre to Estonia. I was offered a job at the head office in London. This would have meant a 5 day commute and working in Stratford. As a family, we did not fancy this, as I would hardly spend any time with the children (and the Mrs). So after 22.5 years, I was given a nice redundancy package and with my wife is working full time. I became the house husband.
This has meant a complete turn around in my fishing, as I can pick and choose when I go. I have found a splendid new syndicate to fish this year, which includes 5 lakes and some 8 miles of river with only 150 members. It's an amazing change to the way I am able to fish.
I am now trying to start my own tackle business and make a bit of a name for myself in the world of fishing, as I have retired from real work.
Richard
