Author writes book about famous Newark fisherman

A book has been written a book about a famous Newark fisherman from more than a 100 years ago.

Dorset author and keen fisherman, Peter Rolfe (pictured) has written a book about J. W. Martin who used to fish in the River Trent.

The book, The Trent Otter, celebrates Martin’s life and looks at his work and contribution to angling through extracts of his writing and anecdotes.

Martin was born in Lincolnshire in 1852 but moved to Newark in the 1870s where he fished in the River Trent and by middle age had established himself as a professional fisherman, reputable tackle merchant and angling author.

Peter said: “His success was all the more remarkable because of his disadvantaged childhood in Lincolnshire; he left school at 10 years old and endured years of poverty and manual labour before he moved and found success in Newark on-Trent.

“He never forgot his roots and was proud of the fact that he had made his way up the social ladder by providing fishing tackle and instruction at prices that men like him could afford.”

After spending time in Newark, Martin moved to Huntingdon where he fished the Great Ouse and then London before his death in 1915.

Peter said: “When I began to research The Trent Otter for this book I uncovered a fascinating story, much of which involved the River Trent and the many years he lived in Newark.”

“Even after Martin had left for Huntingdon and London, he still advertised his business as that of ‘The Trent Otter’, late of Newark-on-Trent, the place where he had made his name and that had inspired his affection.

“I have never fished the Trent or visited Newark, except on YouTube, but Martin’s writing brings all of that alive for me, and I hope that my book will enable others to enjoy the same experience.”