Passing on a passion

Most of us like to think that our off-spring will fall in love with fieldsports, however, it’s easy to put them off, says Richard Negus

- Richard Negus

For many parents there is a heartfelt aspiration that their offspring will not only want to follow in their sporting footsteps but, somehow, better their own efforts. The Pony Club mother who happily sells a vital organ to buy the perfect ‘sports horse’ for her daughter. The father who willingly foregoes days of sport so that his son may shoot in his stead. No expense is spared for the fruits of their loins on high-cost, high-maintenance coaches, trainers and kit. My dreams are more grounded and cheaper. I wanted my son to have a bit of fun, so I simply took Charlie fly-fishing for the first time.

Outdoor education

Charlie will be 10 in September, which is a blissful age most of the time. He is young enough still to want to be seen in my company, yet of sufficient maturity to participate in, rather than merely observe, important things, such as peeling potatoes, feeding the dog or casting a fly.

His education in the latter great importance started on the village green in front of our cottage. Initially I gave him my reservoir rod with an #9 weight line to try.