Tonight as I went to renew my subscriptions for the 2003 year it was with great sorrow and much shock that I was to learn that after 39 years in existance that the Glebe Angling Club, MY club that had been part of my life for all that time is to close and no longer exist.
(pending decision at AGM)
You will forgive me if I tend to babble a bit but it has come as a bit of a shock.
Way back in 1963 the Glebe A.C. was formed by a group of friends who fished a small gravel pit opposite Billing Aquadrome and behined the sewage works in Northampton.
It was formed after a gang raided the works trucks and stole 1000's of pounds worth of tools. The then manager of the site wanted to know who fished down there and we were asked to form the club and submit a list of names and addresses of members. Who were asked to keep an eye open and report anything strange going on.
Being under 18 at the time I could not obtain a membership of my own, but, however I could fish on my dad's ticket which was just as good, as far as I was concerned.
On that lake I was to learn a great deal from the older members, who, I got know well.
In 1970 after many years of waiting I was to receive my very own membership card and boy was I the proud one, at last I could vote at A.G.M's God I could even stand as an officer of the club.
This I did from 1976 to 1986 10 years on committee, which saw the introduction of 5000 carp, stocked as a result of a rental rebate from our landlord (and quite poss. the cause of the club's present demise)
Over the years the lake changed in shape due to landscaping by the owners, entry began to be restictive as new works were built, but we still fished it.
This year it was my eldest son's 17th birthday, and he would have been the third generation to have joined the club from my family, my dad, me, and Kirk. However this was not to be.
This summer the rental was up for review and the club, not being in a strong finacial position (after all it was only a small club 50 members + O.A.P.'s 60 total) was gazumped by a rich carp specimen group.
Words cannot describe just how sad I feel about the loss of this water it seemed just like a second home to me. I knew every gravel bar, every deep hole, it could be a real b***h to fish at times but the rewards were well worth it.
As I write this I wonder if this is the way of small clubs in the 21st century, will they have to join bigger clubs to stay alive or will all waters go to rich sindicates.
A couple of years ago our then match secratery wrote about the demise of the small clubs in a magazine was that foresight or did he know????
Anyway I'm glad I've got you crazy buggers, it eases the loss a little.
Born To Fish
Forced To Work
(pending decision at AGM)
You will forgive me if I tend to babble a bit but it has come as a bit of a shock.
Way back in 1963 the Glebe A.C. was formed by a group of friends who fished a small gravel pit opposite Billing Aquadrome and behined the sewage works in Northampton.
It was formed after a gang raided the works trucks and stole 1000's of pounds worth of tools. The then manager of the site wanted to know who fished down there and we were asked to form the club and submit a list of names and addresses of members. Who were asked to keep an eye open and report anything strange going on.
Being under 18 at the time I could not obtain a membership of my own, but, however I could fish on my dad's ticket which was just as good, as far as I was concerned.
On that lake I was to learn a great deal from the older members, who, I got know well.
In 1970 after many years of waiting I was to receive my very own membership card and boy was I the proud one, at last I could vote at A.G.M's God I could even stand as an officer of the club.
This I did from 1976 to 1986 10 years on committee, which saw the introduction of 5000 carp, stocked as a result of a rental rebate from our landlord (and quite poss. the cause of the club's present demise)
Over the years the lake changed in shape due to landscaping by the owners, entry began to be restictive as new works were built, but we still fished it.
This year it was my eldest son's 17th birthday, and he would have been the third generation to have joined the club from my family, my dad, me, and Kirk. However this was not to be.
This summer the rental was up for review and the club, not being in a strong finacial position (after all it was only a small club 50 members + O.A.P.'s 60 total) was gazumped by a rich carp specimen group.
Words cannot describe just how sad I feel about the loss of this water it seemed just like a second home to me. I knew every gravel bar, every deep hole, it could be a real b***h to fish at times but the rewards were well worth it.
As I write this I wonder if this is the way of small clubs in the 21st century, will they have to join bigger clubs to stay alive or will all waters go to rich sindicates.
A couple of years ago our then match secratery wrote about the demise of the small clubs in a magazine was that foresight or did he know????
Anyway I'm glad I've got you crazy buggers, it eases the loss a little.
Born To Fish
Forced To Work
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