BUNGAY CHERRY TREE ANGLING CLUB

A BRIEF HISTORY

Pictures taken on October the 10th at 9.15am 1948 out side the club head quarters

the Cherry Tree pub in Bungay where the club members still meet to this day

Back Row - Eric Brighton / Hugh Thurtle / Jimmy Fisk / Frank Austin / George Howard

Fred Rowland / Major Hartley / Jerry Myles / Archie Thompson.

Front Row// Percy Sprake / Robert Olley / Jeffery Buck / Robert Sprake.

And now the sign is gone from the wall and the old pub sign is at the side of the pub but the club remains and the anglers fish on!

Mr Olley the man who started it all back in 1947 pictured here with a 3lb5oz roach that he caught from the river ant in Norfolk. At the time one of the 12 largest roach ever caught in the country. This is the original photo that was featured in Angling Times on Friday august the 12th 1955.Mr Olley's famous roach is still in the clubs ownership here's a recent photo of it in all its glory.

Bob Olly and Mrs Olley Landlord and landlady of the Cherry Tree Pub Bungay.

Note the Fishing licences sign in the window.

Licences could be obtained from the pub at a cost of Ten shilling.

Pictured with various cups and trophies for the club including the Suffolk Championship Cup

(opposite Mrs Olly) denoted to the club by a Mr Huddlestone in the early years of the club.

The matches where fished around Fullers Farm at Flixton with over a hundred anglers taking

part and second prize would be the charity cup. Roach over 2lb where in those days common place sadly not the case today.

Opposite From 1971 a newspaper cutting of Bill Coote member of the club for many years holding the Suffolk championship cup. He won the match with 34lb7oz of River Waveney roach from Bungay common on section 2.He also served as match secretary for a period of time.

Pegged on the Bungay Cherry Tree Club water above the town, Bill at the time a 39 year old self employed carpenter hauled out a superb catch of roach probably the best ever to win any significant Waveney Contest. His first ever open match win following a six year spell that had given high placing on a number of occasions but never the top spot. Notice that the fisherman at the top of the cup seems to have lost his fishing rod maybe he needed a new one! Billy still fishes with the club today and is a great angler.

We have all heard of  Mr Angling John Wilson, but his good friend John Davey hit the headlines here with a 25lb 2oz pike from the Waveney. A past member of the Club and now harbour master at Beccles Quay John caught the big pike on  free lined ledgered herring. Mr Davey who lives at Bungay said: I have been waiting 20 years for a fish like this.

If you have a story to tell from the past and are, or have been, a member of the club please let us know and we can put your story on the history page.

Keeping the records straight. Ian Gosling with the clubs minute books going back to 1946 and the founder members.

Much of the clubs history can be found in the old minute books detailing the meetings held by the clubs present and founder members. The great John Wilson himself is mentioned in the late 70s as presenting  talks and slide shows for the junior match section on several occasions he also mentions his time with the club in his autobiography when he came to the now demolished Bungay watch house inn to fish the Waveney. It was also on the river near Wainford Mill that John caught his first 2lb plus roach saying in his book it was the fish that made him a roach angler for life. Here are some interesting snippets from the early minute books.

April 22nd 1947

The Hon.Secretary G.Buck announced the presentation of a cup to the club to be know as the Roach Challenge Cup for the heaviest roach caught during the season.

{Roach of 2lb or more were common in those days.}

Dec 7th 1948

Mr P. J. Sprake, who had attended the Town Meeting that evening, informed the club that the donation of £31 to the nursing institute has caused quite a stir when the accounts were read. This was by far the largest donation received by the institute, and had brought the Cherry Tree Angling Club well into the limelight of the Townspeople. He had also been approached by Mr G. Le Estrange in regard to an article to be prepared for entry in the Bungay town guide book which was hoped would again put the club on the map.

May 1951

The chairman agreed that it was the first time business had been finished so early and concluded by agreeing on a darts match, old-uns versus young-uns. The teams were lined up bringing in one outsider and the old-uns beat the young-uns after an enjoyable game.

After the meetings the club members would stay for a pint and a game of darts in the cherry tree pub. As the club grew in numbers many cups were donated and added to the clubs collection and matches were held in many venues alongside other local clubs. Reading through the collection of minute books gave me an insight to the clubs many members and loyal anglers who over the years have kept the club alive and passed there knowledge and expertise on to the younger anglers in the club. When you join the club you are becoming a part of that history. Long may it continue.

Ian Gosling long standing secretary for the the club and keeper of the records will be retiring in April 2007. I asked him about his time with the Club and his hopes for the future.

 I started on the committee in 1957 then in early 1960s I was assistant to the salt water section then took it on. In 1969 I took on the secretaries job and have been doing it since. I have served the club overall for over 50years.Ive seen good time and bad times lots of different people chairmen committee members match secretaries and lots of meeting. Its been a very enjoyable job but like everything now it getting to a situation where well how shell I put it like all clubs things don't run as smoothly as they did years ago simply because more people are taking the sport up. You have to contend with different things recently we had problem with the otters also commercial fisheries have taken the clubs membership levels down.

Over the years we have done well to keep our heads above water, we belong to the NFA and have our own national team which we never head years ago. A lot of the lads fish for the nationals which is good for the club especially when they win things. Dave Gladwell came in 4th on year over all the club got promotion 2 years running and this year one of our members Julian Cob came 4th individual's. I still feel there is along way to go we are lucky you know, we have good stretches of water that we did not have years ago. George Howard was chairman for a lot of years he used to call me the managing director of the club, that wasn't so it was the committees decision these members have been hard working and very good. If I named them all it would be unfair but the present president Richard Patrick has served the club longer then me and you name it and he's done it. Its been a pleasure working with them. I've done the job to the best of my abilities for the amount of time of done but its been a long time 38 years and the secretaries job is not with out hassle.

I remember some one calling me about a bull attacking him which lost a section of water because the owner wasn't prepared to pay for insurance to cover the anglers. There's a lot of little things you don't have the old village coppers these day so the bailiffs have a tougher job. One time the old police officer for Ditchingham checked on an eel trap only to find it was put there by an eel trapper and was perfectly in order and legal so you have to be careful what you pull out of the water. Also when the vicar took over the Cherry Tree pub I had to remind some of the club members to watch there language from time to time. We used to have darts matches with the Southwold sea anglers and social event's with dinner evenings and music we had many good nights and some very good times.

Yes I shall miss it but for my sins I am also secretary for the bowls club so I will still be kept busy.

You have printed all the club card on your own printer for years is that correct. Yes I have an old press in my shed which we still do the club card on a printer called the model printing press from the early 1950s.The old club badges are a rare sight if you have one hang on to it. Made in the very beginning of the club. Below Ian at the Bungay Cherry Tree printing press.

 So to sum up I hope the club will go from strength to strength it was formed back in 1947. We have said, if we can keep the level of membership up all should be well. We still have some good officers the only thing that's missing are youngsters, most of the older member are 50 plus but we have some new committee members who are younger so we just have to keep the club going. While we have the present waters we have good prospects for the future. Its not necessary the secretary himself but the members of the club who put the effort and hard work that make the club what it is. The part I like most is that your promoting angling in the town and I think Bungay would not be the same with out the Bungay angling club.

Thank you Ian for all your hard work and dedication that has helped shape the history of this fine club.

Proud Cup holders from a sea fishing match in 1960 left to right

Eric Brighton, Gerry Read, Jimmy Fisk, Charlie Gerould,

Harry Canham, Ian Gosling, Jack Dove, Reggie Dent, Fred Bliss.

Some of the many cups and trophies the club owns click here to see them all

Prize presentation night was held once a year in may and June

for match wins and achievements.

Long standing President of the club Richard Patrick

 3rd front row with former members proudly holding there trophies.

Founder members of the club taken in 1947  it says on the back of the picture

J.Buck B.Olley Major Hartley Percy Harmier

In the early days of the club this collection of stuffed fish where kept in the

Cherry Tree Pub including Mr Olley's Roach.

Harold King inspect the clubs collection of stuffed fish at the cherry tree inn Bungay where the club still meets today.

When the fishing was good, very good.

  Eric Brighton from the 1994 newsletter.

The Club pit being netted in 1951.

 Below.

Sam Searle Bob Olley and Geoff Buck preparing to net the club pit 1951

Click the thumbnails images for a larger shot.