Malcolm Grey lived at the top of my road when i was a kid, and he was always replacing eyes and whippings for me when I abused my old Hardy's rods. My grandfather worked for hardy's and so i am fortunate to have several split cane trout and salmon fly rods dating from the 60's/70's.
Malcolm himself worked for hardy's for many years before setting up his own bussiness in the old railway station, and as he became more successful he was bought out by Hardy's.
i've always used split cane for dry fly, and my record to date is a 25lb fresh run salmon on a 9ft 4 piece hardy, caught on a Greenwells Glory just above the dam/weir at Lesbury (my old stomping ground).
I do own a FG 9 1/2 ft trout rod which was bought for night fishing for Seatrout, but the company name rubbed off many years ago, and can't for the life of me remember who made it...possibly shakespeare. Suffice to say it's 30yrs old and still does the job.
As for reels, mine are all hardys, a marquis No 8 is my standard...not sure how much they cost now...not that mine cost anything...thanks Grandad, wherever you are...