Bristol Channel Federation Of Sea Anglers

“Memories”  from President Don.

Last year I gained access to some of the earlier writings, reports, rules etc. of our BCFSA.  Unfortunately, happenings during the 70s and early 80s. were omitted and with just Keith Reed, the ever-present Fish Recorder as myself still active,  but as pensioners,  from the original ‘gang’,  I feared that our history would be lost forever unless a few facts could be recorded.

While my memory gets a little ragged at times when  it comes to shopping or remembering  a grandson’s birthday,  thankfully, the light still shines bright on angling matters so before it is “switched off”,   here are a few thoughts of those very early times in the sixties.

The inaugural meeting was held at Weston on 27 May 1961 and attended by six clubs to discuss the interest in forming a united front.

The next meeting, again in Weston was on the 1 July 1961 when it was proposed that

the clubs present would form a Federation.   The founder clubs were the Tor SAC., Watchet SAC and the Weston SAA.  Our title would be the Bristol Channel Federation of Sea Anglers.

To assist funds an Open was quickly arranged at St.Audries Bay for 22 Oct. 1961. Quite well attended, I recall that it was won by a Tor angler who trekked to the northern end of the beach and landed two sizeable conger to weigh-in approx. 16 lb.

At this time there was a tackle/gun shop near Broadmead, Bristol named “Browning” whose owner, or may be only the manager, George Mackay, a very keen saltwater angler, again I believe, was a member of the Bristol Sea Anglers offered a trophy to be fished only within a Federation event and the then committee elected that it be for an annual team match between the affiliated clubs.  Hence we had the Browning Cup, won the first time at St.Audries Bay on 25 November 1962 by a 10-man team from the Weston SAA.  In those days sport was good as I recall starting fishing a good 30 minutes late due, as the secretary, to both organising the match and accepting late entries (Strange, there still seems to be a lack of support in some quarters!) and finishing some 20 minutes before the close.  However, during the limited time a big thornback ray, a well insize conger and a brace of dogfish chose my bait to help my team to success.

What do you know about the Vincent Coules trophy, the Federation’s major individual award?  I knew Vincent St.Froude Coules quite well, a retired barrister who lived in a delightful cottage at Ashcott, where I often called during my business life and where his housekeeper always brought me tea in a beautiful china cup which had a matching saucer.  Vince was already well into his senior years and delighted, but it frightened many, when he would announce the start of our earlier competitions at St.Audries with a blast from his double-barrel shotgun.  He was a founder committee member (Tor SAC) and a past chairman, sadly passing away in the late sixties.  A grand old gentleman but whose trophy lingers on.

Don Metcalfe,   Founder Member BCFSA  

PHOTOS

If you have any photographs that you would like to show the rest of the world of fish caught if you would like to email me angiejcox@btinternet.com or if they are not in a digital format you can post them to me 11 Walnut Tree Close, Wells, Somerset, BA5 2NL.