"We managed to get into Napier quite easily as there are loads of holes in the fence, once inside we walked around the area of the pond and the bunkers down the road by the old rifle range.

We visited the pond 4 times in 1 week. I remember fishing it more than 22 years ago when I was on holiday to see my brother who was in the army at the time. We caught loads of carp in those days and I remember it as some of the best fishing I have ever experienced.

On our second visit to the pond we met an 83-year-old man and he and Norman started talking. The old man said that he looks after the pond now as it’s a nature reserve and it’s his job to stop people fishing in it, however that didn’t stop Norman from trying to persuade him to ‘look the other way.’

Each time we visited the pond we took a loaf of bread and threw some in the water, sure enough the carp were still there, coming up to the surface and taking the floating bread. We saw some carp, which must have weighed in at 20 lbs or more.

I find it very sad walking round the pond and the old bottom half of the camp even though I was never in the army."

Yours Sincerely

Andy Butler