Tom was ‘a gentleman’ whose Rod & Line shop became an institution in Derry

Tom, who passed away on Tuesday of this week at the age of 86, ran the Rod & Line fishing tackle and supplies shop at the bottom of Clarendon Street for 40 years up until his retirement.

The Rod & Line was for generations much, much more than just a shop. Tom had created there a hub for the fishing community and on any given day people entering this treasure trove would find groups of local people conversing on everything and anything over tea and buns. For many, it was a home from home.

Tom was born in Glasgow Street in the Glen area of the city, the youngest of five brothers, and the family later moved to Edenmore Street opposite Magee College, where his mother, who was originally from Burt in Inishowen, lived the rest of her days.

He later moved to Drumahoe and would walk from his home there, up until recent times, into the city and back daily.

In his younger years, Mr Hutchman had spent some time in Canada and in London, and when he came home he met his beloved wife Joan at the Embassy ballroom.

The couple went on to marry and to have two daughters, Jane and Laura and Tom opened the Rod & Line, which was to become an institution in the city.

Some of Mr Hutchman’s relatives told the Journal about how he was a man who spoke to everyone he met and was possessed of a great Derry wit and banter.

He was also an avid football fan and supported Derry City Football Club and Chelsea Football Club, as well as being a keen golfer.

His brother-in-law, fellow Derry man Peter Cassidy, whose father owned the Railway Bar on Strand Road (now The Carraig), speaking from Dublin where he is now based, said: “He had a great Derry sense of humour: when (Frank) Lampard was sacked and (Tom) still very ill, he said to Joan, ‘I wonder would they give me a chance’.

“He just loved Chelsea and when they were playing everything took a back seat.

“He was also a very fine golfer and loved taking money from me! He was also a great man for walking. He was a good fisherman and enjoyed fishing in Culdaff and he loved the outdoors generally.”

Speaking about the Rod & Line, Tom’s relatives described how it was like its own community and a microcosm of Derry with people coming in for a chat every day of the week.

“Tom was a character and the Rod & Line was a real hub in Derry,” they said. “He held daily news discussions with fishermen or great outdoor enthusiasts. A cup of tea was always on the boil even for the passer by!” they recalled.

“He was a cultured man interested in worldly affairs. If you ever walked the Derry Walls with him it could be a long walk because Tom could be found deep in conversation with numerous people he knew on the way.

“His empathy for friends who were sick, always popping in to see how they were typified the man.

“He just loved talking to people and he had a great love for Derry. He had a word for everybody and he never said a bad word about anybody. He was so well liked.

“The word gentleman is used a lot, but it really applied to Tom.”

Tom kept the Rod & Line going until he retired around a decade ago at the age of 75.

Tom Hutchman will be sadly missed by his loving wife Joan, daughters Jane and Laura and their families and his extended family.