If you fish the Sports ground or at the Haysden Country Park you must know Norman, as he patrols the waters in both these areas every day of the year. He has probably asked you for your membership ID as he collects day ticket fees from those without a current membership card so you will know he is always friendly smiling and a joy to meet.
However there are some things you may not know about Norman. Norman Frederick James Ayling was born on the 8th January 1939 (Yes he is 70 despite looking as fit as a butchers dog so there are advantages in walking our waters every day!) He grew up in Hildenborough and attended Bank Street School in Tonbridge. From there, he went on to Sussex Road Secondary on leaving school he was apprenticed as a wrought iron worker for five years at Hyders in Plaxtol.
In 1958, Norman went into the Army, spending fourteen months in Cyprus as a dispatch rider and then in charge of the armoury. He was eventually made up to Lance Corporal, short lived though after an officer walked in on him throwing one of the jungle knives at the door!
After his time in the forces, Norman worked for a while as a courier for Huntersill which took him all around the South Coast and then for more than 25 years he worked for Newvell Engineering in East Peckham.
In 1964 he married Ann and they had a son Steven. They stayed happily married for over 30 years then, tragically, Ann died in 1996. Three years later, Norman married his neighbour of 24 years, Anita Bailey who had also lost her husband, Tony (another life long angler), the same week as Ann, both to cancer. All were very close friends as Norman, Tony and Anita used to fish together. Anita and her daughter Lisa are both good anglers with their names repeatedly appear on the Society’s Ladies cup.
Although Norman is now retired he still works on a farm in Southborough and on his own allotment in Barden that he has maintained for over 25 years; here he built his own chicken run housing over 20 chickens. He still grows vegetables, but his chickens have become his main priority, producing fresh eggs for local people. This takes up a lot of his time, but in his "spare" time, he works extremely hard as our Bailiff, always willing to assist to clear swims and introduce new stock to our lakes, spending more time supporting the Society than actually fishing! Norman is always willing to share the wealth of knowledge gained whilst working as a Bailiff, so next time you see him take the time to have a chat with him, you will be impressed at what he knows about fishing our waters - and life in general.
