The Legends Collection • Volume One
Kevin Ashurst
My All-Time Angling Hero
Clive Branson with Kevin Ashurst
A Personal Tribute
My All-Time Angling Hero
During more than sixty years in match fishing I have met, competed against and become friends with some of the greatest anglers our sport has ever produced.
But if you asked me to name the angler I admired above all others, my answer would be Kevin Ashurst.
World Champion, England international and a master of virtually every method, Kevin represented everything I admired in a match angler.
“Kevin Ashurst was my all-time angling hero.”
— Clive Branson
The Story
A Champion Among Champions
Kevin Ashurst belongs to one of the great angling families. His father, Benny Ashurst, was himself one of the most influential figures in northern match fishing, and Kevin went on to build an extraordinary reputation of his own.
He became one of England’s finest international anglers and achieved the ultimate prize when he became Individual World Champion on the Newry Canal in Northern Ireland in 1982.
What always impressed me about Kevin was his versatility. He wasn’t simply brilliant at one particular style of fishing. Whether the challenge involved rivers, canals or different methods, Kevin possessed that rare ability to work out what was needed and then make it look almost effortless.
For anglers of my generation, names such as Kevin Ashurst became part of the fabric of match fishing. We followed their results, watched how they fished and learned from what they were doing.
Over the years I was fortunate enough to get to know Kevin personally. That makes this tribute particularly special to me. The man I had admired as an angler became someone I could talk to, share memories with and ultimately pay tribute to through this project.
THE STORY BEHIND THE MUSIC
Why I Wrote This Song
Kevin Ashurst was my all-time angling hero. Long before I became a World Champion myself, I admired his extraordinary ability, determination and achievements on the international stage.
Over the years, that admiration became something much more personal. I wanted this song to celebrate not only Kevin’s achievements, but also the inspiration he gave me throughout my own journey in match fishing. It is my way of saying thank you to an angler I have admired for a lifetime.
— Clive Branson
The Music
Watch the Musical Tribute
I wrote this musical tribute to celebrate Kevin’s remarkable career and to explain what he has meant to me throughout my life in angling.
Listen to the Song
Kevin Ashurst
My All-Time Angling Hero
Prefer to simply listen? Press play below to hear Kevin’s complete musical tribute.
Original musical tribute from Legends in My Lifetime
A Very Special Reaction
When Kevin Heard the Tribute
Of all the reactions I could have received to this project, one of the most memorable came from Kevin himself.
“Kevin phoned me after watching the tribute. He thanked me and told me it had brought a tear to his eye.”
— Clive Branson
Memories & Reactions
What Kevin Means to Other Anglers
“Thank you so much for doing this for my grandad. He’s the best person I’ve ever met and has been the greatest role model for me. This just shows how much he means to others too. Thanks again, and what a great song for a legend.”
— Lee Wingfield, Kevin’s grandson
The response to Kevin’s tribute has shown just how highly he continues to be regarded by anglers who watched him, learned from him and grew up hearing his name.
The Archive
Kevin Ashurst Through the Years
From the young match angler learning his craft to World Champion and one of the most respected names in the sport, these photographs capture just a few moments from Kevin’s remarkable life in angling.
Legends in My Lifetime
Part of the Complete Legends Collection
Kevin’s story forms part of Legends in My Lifetime — a celebration of the remarkable anglers, characters and champions who have been part of my life in fishing.
The project brings those memories together through the expanded book, original musical tributes, photographs and films, with the music collection available on CD, USB and digital download.
Continue the Journey
Discover the Complete Legends Collection
Kevin’s tribute is part of a much larger celebration of the anglers, champions and characters who have shaped my life in fishing.
Discover the book and explore the music collection on CD, USB and digital download.
EXPLORE THE LEGENDS COLLECTION →
The Anglers • The Stories • The Memories • The Music
Great anglers live on in our memories.
— Clive Branson