Company History
Kay Potter, Ken Walker, Jim Bruce and Brian Potter
Bruce & Walker was formed over 50 years ago when Jim Bruce met Ken Walker. Jim Bruce's family business B. James & Son, where he worked with his father, had been making split cane rods. In the 1950's Jim could see that the life of the split cane rod was numbered. He moved himself and his family from London to Upwood and the partnership of Bruce & Walker was made.
The company has been located in the peaceful village of Upwood since January 1959, sitting quietly in the flat plains of Fenland, East Anglia. Between Jim and Ken they manufactured the first British made fibre glass fishing rods. They were world pioneers in the development of carbon fibre, and for years Bruce & Walker 15' salmon rods were regarded as the very best any salmon fly fisherman could use.
In the early 1980's Ken Walker's daughter and husband, Brian Potter, joined the family business. Both keen fishers, Kay still holds the family record of a 26½ lb salmon, caught on Lower Newtyle on the Tay. Jim Bruce sadly passed away in the millennium year and in October 2000, Ken Walker handed over the business to the next generation, his daughter and son-in-law.
Today Bruce & Walker is still a family business with Kay and Brian Potter at the helm. Although Ken is now retired (in his early 80's) he still comes into the factory most days to make sure things are being done right. In Brian's words "when it comes to hard work, he leaves us young ones standing".
Ten years ago the original workshop was pulled down and a new factory built. Bruce & Walker continues, as it always has, to make bespoke fishing rods most fishermen aspire to own.
Kay Potter and Daisy (2008)
Brian Potter with the catch of the day - Daisy! (2008)