Janet

Yes, the man who took the photograph is sure that the man on the boat was Mr King. They did the Hatton flight together, although he was unaware that the boat was the subject of a search until he got home. He says (I quote from his post on CW) Janet

We have had a positive sighting of Holly, confirmed by Middlewich Narrowboats. The guys who spotted her luckily took photographs. She has had the cratch and cratch cover removed and has been repainted blue, but is still identifiable as Holly. Picture of the hirer:- Mr David Graham King Picture of the new "blue" Holly As you can see from the thread on Canalworld, the boat could be anywhere now. Please keep a look out for her if you're on the canals! Janet

Latest update, from Middlewich Narrowboats, the owners of the missing narrowboat Holly. "Hi I can confirm that the boat has been spotted on the Hatton Flight on 29 March. A gentleman has sent us a picture which our Manager and engineers have confirmed is Holly, now painted blue, the cratch covers and cratch boards have been removed and so the boat does look totally different. I have sent a picture to Jon and hopefully he will get this up as soon as possible. The gent. on the boat said that he was heading to Oxford doing up the boat and selling it. If anyone wants a copy of the picture, please pm me and I will send one to you. Trish" Keep your eyes open guys. This guy has had us all worried, thinking he may have had an accident. Now it seems like he's just a common thief, and has tried to disguise the boat and do a runner. I'll post a picture when I get one. Janet

Chris, you're dead right. This LION POO is on sale at various places. I use it. Bought it from B&Q garden centre. It does work. Makes them think there's a bigger animal that has territorial rights over them or something like that. And you, my dear, need to get a life and keep your virulent and obnoxious poison to yourself. If you can't post something constructive, then just go away and play with your building bricks, that's if you can pick your knuckles up off the ground.... Janet

Unfortunately there are more than 30 boats on the canal system registered with the name "Holly", and many more named "Holly-Anne" etc. It's amazing that this boat has managed to get "lost" for so long. On the canal forum where it was first reported, we've had nearly 14,500 views of the topic, so that means many people are aware of the situation, but still no resolution. All very strange! The last time a boat went "missing", the towpath telegraph, and a very vigilant BW woman located it within just days. Let's hope there's a positive outcome to this, and it turns out the guy has just lost track of time and it's nothing more sinister. As he left his car and credit card details with the boatyard, it doesn't seem as though he's just tried to steal the boat, but after all this time, nothing can be discounted. Many thanks to all of you who are following this, and looking out for this boat when you get chance. I'm sure your efforts are much appreciated by his family, who must be absolutely frantic with worry. This man has been reported by them as a missing person. Let's hope we find him soon. Janet

Seems perfectly logical to me. What's your problem? Janet

It's Friday night Josh! Give them time. I'm sure you'll get responses soon! It does tend to get a bit quiet on here over the weekend - I think people may be out fishing! Janet

Following the recent sightings, I'd expected to hear today that Holly had been found, but she's still missing. How on earth has he managed to evade everyone for so long? Janet PS. Ferret, if you do get out on your bike, make sure to wear some sunblock! It's going to be a scorcher.

After checking the EA website, and my local club regulations, I read that rule as meaning that all of us decent, licenced anglers are perfectly within our rights to check the licences of other anglers. Am I wrong? My club membership says that we are all bailiffs on our own club waters, and licences, tickets etc can be, and should be checked by other club members. Janet PS. Not that I'd dare to, after tonight's incident!

I agree with Peter too - this topic has probably been done to death, but I'm so hopping mad tonight that I have to add my tuppence worth. On my way home tonight, as usual when the weathers's good, I took the long way home along the banks of my local river, thinking how good it would be when I can fish it again. I was incensed to see SIX anglers at my favourite spot, all using maggot feeders, and not a landing net between them. Two of them were just kids, but the rest ought to have known better. While I was there, one of them landed a lovely chub, and just dragged it up onto the pebble and sand bank, ripped the hook out and literally chucked the poor thing back. I was blazing angry, but what could I do? When I casually said "I thought it was closed season?" I got an absolute torrent of foul abuse, and left quickly, feeling very scared and intimidated. Needless to say, I didn't bother to ask to see their licences! To$$ers! Just who do I call about this, and will anyone actually listen and DO something, or do I just grit my teeth and let these muppets get away with it? Janet

I know someone who has a pair, and he just couldn't understand why I collapsed in fits of giggles when I saw him putting them on. Poor deluded soul (sole?) Janet Now, where did I put my camoflauge knickers?

MESSAGE RECEIVED FROM MIDDLEWICH BOATS TODAY We have had a message left on our answer machine overnight of a possible sighting on the Leicester branch of the Grand Union Canal in or around the Foxton area. We have also been told that Mr Kings mother lives in or around the Leicester area. If anybody in or around that area could keep an eye out for the boat, we would be very grateful. p.s. There will also be an appeal on BBC 1 - North West tonight from 6.30 pm today, Thursday 12.4.07 and hopefully on BBC news 24. I will keep you informed of further sightings. pps. whilst writing this, we have had a further sighting of Holly at Husband Bosworth Tunnel yesterday. Is anybody in this area??? Not sure which direction he is going. Please keep an eye out if you're in the area. Janet

Latest update from Mod on Canal forum: I've just had a phone conversation with Trish at Middlewich Narrowboats. Trish would like to pass on her thanks to all who have responded so far, as would I. Thanks to your help by reporting possible sightings, a possible route has been identified but this is by no means confirmed. The sightings are all within the first week or so, and suggest that intially the hirer was seen heading towards Chester. He told staff that he did have the intention of travelling up the Llangollen Canal. However, on 18th March there was a fairly certain sighting of Nb Holly and the hirer at Market Drayton. There is then the unconfirmed sighting of the boat heading from Wolverhampton towards Birmingham, another unconfirmed sighting at Hockley Heath on the Stratford Canal, and then again at Braunston on the Grand Union Canal. The dates for these sightings are very general, however based on the information received, this is the most logical route but this is not confirmed. On speaking to Trish, it would appear the Police are doing all that they can to try and located the boat, but it is obviously a difficult search to co-ordinate as most canals meander through a large number of force areas and there is no evidence to point where he might be or might be heading.. His phone has been turned off since the first week rendering a live cell site trace useless at this time. What is of great concern is that there have been no sightings on Nb Holly or her hirer since the 20th March. While Trish is grateful of any information received, she would particularly like to hear from anyone who may have seen Nb Holly or her hirer since the 20th March.. As there have been no sightings, it would appear to suggest that the boat is not moving, or has been disguised in some manner. Clearly there is still concern for the welfare of the hirer as the circumstances of the disapperance are by no means typcial of someone who is trying to steal the boat. His family are aware and also have not heard anything from him. All local boat yards have been informed, but if you pass boat yards it can't hurt to pass the message on. A description of the hirer is a white male, early 50s, 6ft tall with grey receding hair and slim build. He had a cycle with him onboard the boat. Again, if you have any information, please contact Middlewich Narrowboats on 01606 832460. Thanks again for all of your help.

Thanks for that. There's still no sign of the guy or the boat. Hopefully with all the boat movement over this Easter weekend, somebody will find him. Janet

Hiya Wendy, Hope you're going to keep this lot in line! Janet

No, not at all! I was responding to a rather childish PM I'd received - but I posted my response on the wrong site! Does anyone know how to find out which fishing clubs are active in and around that area? Janet

This isn't a joke. There is serious cause for concern about this guy. Please, all of you, keep an eye out if you're on the canal bank this weekend, and report anything you find that may help to the following contacts:- Middlewich Narrowboats 01606 832460 trish@middlewichboats.co.uk (during office hours Monday - Saturday) In the evening or on Sundays please contact Cheshire Police on 01606 480000 Crime Ref. No. 421 dated 24.3.07 Janet

Oh jeeeeezzzzzz! Now we've got an Italian and a German thread to cope with. Ciao! Janet

... and I thought my week had been bad! Good luck with the fishing! Janet

Thanks for that Elton. I'm sure that will raise awareness. Let's hope we can find this guy safe and sound. Janet

This is a picture of the missing boat. Let's hope someone spots him and we get a good resolution to this. However, there are real and very serious concerns for this guys safety. It's not looking good at the moment. His family must be frantic with worry. Can we please pin this topic so that everyone is aware of it? Janet

Hi guys, I hope you canal anglers may be able to help with this. A 47ft narrowboat HOLLY has not been returned from hire. The boat was hired from the 9th March to 23rd March from Middlewich Narrowboats by a man from Hertfordshire who was intending to sail single handed. The boat was not returned, and he is now officially listed as a missing person. A police helicopter has been searching for the boat, without success. The gentleman who hired the boat is from the St. Albans area. He is listed as a missing person with Herfordshire police. His address has checked out with the address he left, and he paid by credit card. The police have traced his relatives and been in to his house, his mobile phone charger was at home, there was no evidence that he had been there since 9.3.07 (when he hired the boat). He also left a vehicle with the boatyard which is registered to the same address. It does not appear that he intentionally booked the boat with the idea of stealing it. There are very serious concerns for his safety. The last sighting of the boat appears to be at Bridge 11 on the Stratford upon Avon heading for Hockley Heath. Further details, and the full story can be found at http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=8050 Contact numbers for any sightings: Middlewich Narrowboats 01606 832460 trish@middlewichboats.co.uk during office hours Monday - Saturday In the evening or on Sundays contact Cheshire Police on 01606 480000 Crime Ref. No. 421 dated 24.3.07 If you're out on the banks, please keep an eye out for this boat. Cheers lads, Janet

Very good Peter. Silly pillock.... Now, after that initiation into the fine art of fly fishing, I went out (on an impulse, as you do) and bought myself a fly rod, reel, line and various bits. I used to have to sneak my impulse purchases (handbags, shoes etc) into the house, and I was pretty good at not being discovered, but how the chuffing hell do you disguise a 2 piece 9' rod? Answers on a postcard please.... Over the Easter weekend I'm off to Newbiggin on the Sea, in Northumberland, to a campsite on the banks of the River Wansbeck, where I believe there may be brown and sea trout fishing available. Can anyone offer any advice on this area, such as where's the best area to fish, local tackle shops, where to buy day tickets etc? Cheers lads! Janet

Yeah right - and leave myself open to prosecution under the Trades Descriptions Act? Janet

I hadn't, as I didn't quite know what a blog was....I don't DO technical! However, I've looked at the blogs on here, and think it's probably the best place, then I could go into a lot more detail about what I've learnt, as I'm sure it would be useful to other beginners like me. Newt, thanks for that, but carp fishing on commercial lakes is just not for me. This may cause me to be banned from the site as a heretic, but I really am not at all interested in catching a carp from a lake. It'll probably have a cute name, an e-mail address and its own website, and a barcode attached to a fin which you call at premium rates to win a pwize.....I know I shouldn't knock it, as I haven't tried it, but it just doesn't appeal to me. I'm still to be convinced that nights spent in a bivvy with several beers, bite alarms and a curry take-away is real angling. (Janet now dons camoflauge knickers and runs for cover! Janet