Windmill Angling Club March 2021 Meeting Report

As everyone knows, this wasn’t a fully-fledged meeting, it was more of a get together to talk about our mutual interest and do a bit of club business at the same time. So, we discussed the proposed rules and, generally, they were approved. I have to make some changes to rules 8 and 12 – and I’ve updated them, the changes have been warmly welcomed, so they are now live.

We also talked about the work that had been done and there was some concern that, as there are/will be lots of new plants and seed starting to germinate, too many people walking in these areas may damage them and make the land even more boggy. It’s a fair point – and all we can say is that every user of Hunters has a responsibility to take care of it, apply common sense (if the ground does look the worse for wear) and also post on the group any areas of concern that they see.

I’ll be there with Bob on Thursday and I’ll clean the mirror at the top of the lane. As far as I know, the last time it was cleaned, I did it in November. However, this is another issue that anyone can help with – please if you see something you can sort, please attempt to – don’t just leave it to someone else. However, please make sure the work is safe and allowed in the current climate and, finally, please clear what you want to do with Bob.

There were a few orders taken for the “Windmill Angling Club” branded clothing. I’m compiling a list now, but I have to have several orders of any particular item before I can fulfill them – so, please do have a look at https://windmillanglingclub.org/wac-clothing/

There will be a Windmill Angling Club Charity Match this year (hopefully in September – T.B.C.) This is, loosely, based on an idea from Paul Davies. The full Committee (6) will fish against the, yet named (6) and, as it was his idea, Paul Davies is Captain of the other team. It’s a fun day – the committee are raising funds for the East Cheshire Hospice and the member’s team for their charity of choice (again T.B.C.) We’ll try and get some prizes for a raffle etc, the entrance fee will be higher than a normal match – to help donate to the chosen charities. The winning team will get to donate a higher percentage of the prize fund to their charity etc. There has already been an offer of prizes, but, nearer the time, I’ll hassle you ALL for something (but, of course, it’s not obligatory!) As this is the first time we’ve done anything like this, we’ll need as mush help as possible in terms of, not just organising, but ideas as well.

Nick Metcalfe and a few others have donated plants for the West Bank – please, if you have plants that you think would benefit Hunters, talk to Bob. It really is going to look fabulous later this year, but if you want to influence its layout and look, now is the time to shout.

That brings me on nicely to a high-point of the night. Stu Drabble announced that the committee had been talking and were all in agreement to make Bob Hallworth an Honorary Member (it was Stu’s original idea). Bob has been a member of the club, apart from a small break, for pretty much 30 years. There are pictures of him on the website participating in working parties probably in the 1990s and he often goes down there in his own and spends a full day working at Hunters – even though it’s a 50 mile round trip for him. Indeed, when we start to fish the West Bank, or the area near the shed, you’ll be surrounded by the work he has done and, much of it, financed himself. We were then over the moon that all the members on the Zoom call agreed!

My connection was a bit iffy after the announcement, but, I’m sure I then heard Bob promise to fund a free bar at our next get-together in the pub!

That’s pretty much it – please, anyone, if I’ve forgotten anything, please let me know in the usual way