New research project, John Darling

jirushi

jirushi

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Hi all, I’m starting research, possibly for a new book, which will focus on John Darling, aka “The Hunter.”

I’ve admired his work for many years and am now hoping to document his life and legacy with care and respect.

If anyone here knew John personally, has memories, or could help point me toward family members (I’d only proceed with their full consent), I’d be very grateful to hear from you.

Many thanks,
Louis

Screen Shot 2026-02-07 at 07.14.36 by Louis van Hövell, on Flickr
 
was he any relation to Grace Darling, the Northumberland lifeboat heroine? That family spread down the East coast due to the coal trade, and a branch settled in London before spreading out again.
 
As well as hunting he wrote about fishing, both in Sea Angler and books on the subject.
He had a small open fishing boat, and I remember him towing a stranded boat on one occasion.
Pretty sure he had an army career, and a "colourful" life thereafter.
 
I still have my copy of The Hunter's Handbook 👍

IMG_2923.webp
 
@jirushi
This information may help …..

Back in the mid 80s I worked with a chap named Charlie May and he fished with John Darling over the wrecks in the English Channel.

The Coker family have had a charter boat business at Dover for many years and may well have taken Charlie and John out over the wrecks in cod fishing back then.

Below are the contact links for the Coker boats and it may be worth contacting them in case they have any memories of the duo on their boats.

Good luck with your research, and Charlie always told me that John was a decent chap to fish with and that they always had good time during their adventures.


 
I was 11 years old when I read my first the Hunter piece in AGW and I was hooked my dad use to get me the mag every month and he was my favorite and hero black and white photos of him and his dog roost shooting in the woods I eventually had all his books and vhs tapes when he passed I think it was 2002 I was gutted I can still see those old photos now great times and a great man.
 
Mole trapper said:
I have his hunting book, plus this excellent book on bass fishing, I believe he was as passionate about bass as he was about airgunning.
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The first time I met John I told him I wanted to talk to him about sea fishing; he replied that he wanted to talk to me about photography.

We didn't discuss airguns at all.
 
I was very fortunate to meet him several times, I worked in a tackle shop in the West End, it was a meeting place on occasion for John Darling, Brian Harris, Gerry Berth-Jones, and others,it was late 60s and I was in awe of him,he was so pleasant to me,asked where I fished,etc, a Great guy, Mitch21 🙂🙂
 
J.d was one of the best reads along with bulmer does a strip and the bowkett files(plus a couple of the others)for me.
If this goes ahead,id absolutely love to know what happened to his venom 80 and his rapid7 as j.d Influenced my love of these rifles and purchase of many of them over the years🙂🙂
 
Triggertime said:
J.d was one of the best reads along with bulmer does a strip and the bowkett files(plus a couple of the others)for me.
If this goes ahead,id absolutely love to know what happened to his venom 80 and his rapid7 as j.d Influenced my love of these rifles and purchase of many of them over the years🙂🙂
Click to expand...
It has to be one of airgunnings great mystery's as to what happened to those two rifles.
 
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