Blandford says farewell to Conyers stalwart Cyril Gordon
CYRIL Gordon, who died aged 82 on Thursday 28th February, was one of the few remaining people to whom the term 'man and boy' applied, working for 66 years in Conyers shooting and fishing shop in Blandford.
He was a top notch gunsmith and fisherman, able to make water flow uphill and infamous for taking Spetisbury back to the dark ages in the 1970s.
Cyril decided that his favourite stretch of the Stour in Spetisbury needed improving, so borrowing a customer's excavator with a long jib and bucket he set about dredging the river. Deciding to move further along the bank, Cyril forgot about the jib and brought down the main electricity cable. The whole of Spetisbury was left without power, including a farmer in the middle of his milking.
Cyril was born in Spetisbury, where he lived all his life. After leaving school at 14 he started working in Conyers garage. Rather than concentrating on the cars, he was fascinated with the work of the gunsmith and began his apprenticeship, subsequently taking over the role. In 1981 he became co-owner with Bob Stagg until 2004 but, instead of retiring, Cyril continued working as gunsmith until he was 80.
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Through his work, contacts and network of friends, Cyril developed a great store of knowledge which he applied to his hobbies and interests, including his fine collection of vintage guns and centre-pin reels. He happily shared his technical knowledge with others such as Wimborne and District Angling Club when Hyde Lake was dug in 1972; performing the magic feat of making a stream run uphill to create a natural feed, and the building of the outflow at Buckland Newton.
Cyril was a founder member of Blandford and District Angling Club, instrumental in negotiating the waters the club uses today and for stocking grayling in the Stour. He was a great ambassador for the club, always welcoming and friendly, willing to impart his knowledge to everyone, regaling all with tales of the famous Bent Nail Peg in Crown Meadows. The club owes its survival to Cyril.
Cyril did not achieve his lifetime's ambition to catch a 3lb roach, his best weighing in at 2lb 15oz. Any fisherman would consider this to be a fish of a lifetime. Cyril was not tempted to add an ounce saying: "What pleasure is there in telling a pork pie?"
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