well i hope he got a shoot,as i have tried the same thing,no letters and just calling over 2 days and i tried previously as far as wales.
anyway i eventually got a shoot on a golfcourse and would you believe it,it was the first one i called at but,i did have to call back and boy was it worth it,i then got another some time later.
so keep trying and never give up,i know it is not easy and anyone can say keep going and it can be disheartening at times but,the rewards are good for those who keep going.
atb

jon
ps,,met a guy off here who has been trying for a shoot for over 5 years and not got one,so i took him on my shoot to help perk him up and it did revive his enthusiasm for a shoot of his own.