clubs history
1952 - THE BEGINNING
The following notes on the club’s history was kindly written by Peter Dyer who is without doubt the club's longest serving member. On Sunday mornings, a dozen or so anglers, mostly Stowe staff and a few permit holders, fished the Eleven Acre Lake. During one of these sessions someone suggested that a club should be formed. Some days later an invitation was sent out to all parties concerned, to attend a meeting at Stowe School to discuss the idea. The exact date is unknown but it was possibly late June 1952. Those who attended, after some discussion, agreed a club would be formed, that club to be known as Stowe Employees Angling Club, with a maximum membership of 30. Officers elected were:- President-- Mr K. Box (Bursar of Stowe School) Chairman-- Mr Cyril Atkins (also Acting Treasurer) Secretary-- Mr Bert Reynolds Match Secretary-- Mr Charlie Carder (Mr Pete Dyer held the position from 1956) Past Club Secretaries M/s S. Kennedy, B. Reynolds, R. Herring P. Dyer, D. Harris, A. Jeffs, J. Freestone The club's first trophy, the 'Strange Boston Cup' was given by Charlie Boston, a member of the school staff, the member scoring the highest number of points from eight matches to be declared the winner. Mont Clark was the first winner, anyone winning three times to keep the cup, which was achieved by Peter Dyer. The cup was then replaced with the 'Cyril Atkins Cup'. During the summer months competitions were held on the Eleven Acre Lake, weights consisting mostly of roach, rudd and perch. On the first Sunday in November competitions moved to the Octagon Lake were a large head of perch around the half pound mark would feed throughout the winter months. Inter-club matches were held against Buckingham, A.C.Delco, Hunting Aircraft, Bletchley Social Club, Deanshanger & Old Stratford and Bucks Fire Services. The club's first away match was on the River Great Ouse at Thornton against Buckingham. The club was an active member of the Bucks Angling Association during the 1960s, winning the County Championship in 1967 at Marlow. Ray Robinson had the heaviest weight for the club. Club membership of the B.A.A was withdrawn in the 1970s. Three Saturday evening Open Competitions were held, the proceeds going to local charities. These were very popular events, with as many as 40 anglers taking part. The first prize giving and social evening was held in Chackmore Village Hall (see more:- old photos of Stowe A/C), thereafter moving to Dadford Village Hall, were it became an annual event for many years. Tom Stokes would tell stories and Mr Nesbit played the piano. Jim Jennings always presented the prizes. |