The History of Warmington Angling Club

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At the instigation of Sam Todd, landlord of the Red Lion and noted angler, a meeting was held in the pub on Monday 12th February 1951 at which it was agreed to form an angling club to start fishing when the new season opened on 16th June 1951. The club was to be known as Warmington Angling Club and membership was restricted to a 3 mile radius, while officers and committee had to be residents of Warmington and Elton.

The original Officers and Committee elected at that first meeting were:

President: J Bell (Snr), Warmington
Chairman: W Upex, Elton
Secretary: S Todd, Warmington
Treasurer: J Bell (Jnr) Warmington
Committee: J James, Warmington; A W Brudenell, Warmington; J W Upex, Elton; D Dexter, Warmington; G Taylor, Elton

Competitions were originally organised on a sweepstake basis with the exception one match at which a trophy was contested - The Shield. Fifty years on this trophy is still fished for annually and affectionately known as "The Plank". Over the years other trophies have been added and each Spring a social evening is held at which the prizes for the past season are presented, the first social having been held in the Red Lion in 1960 and moving to the Warmington Social Club in 1971.

A Fur and Feather Match open to all comers was held annually between 1951 and 1991, and this match used to raise considerable sums for Club funds, but increasing Winter Leagues and other matches saw it become unviable. In the forty year period of its existence it was cancelled in 1960 and 1967 due to foot and mouth disease restrictions, and in 1974 due to severe flooding.

Following the retirement of Mr & Mrs Todd from the Red Lion in 1963, the Club continued to enjoy good relations with and support from successive landlords, but soon after Mr & Mrs Senior's departure in October 1976 it was agreed, with Sam Todd's blessing, that the Club move its headquarters to the Social Club where there was a separate room for meetings to be held.

Many fine officers and Committee men have come and gone since 1951, too numerous to list here; but special mention must be made of Sam Todd, who was Secretary at the outset and later held the positions of Treasurer and Chairman, and was still President of the Club at his death in 1982. During the preceding 30 years Sam had successfully negotiated the use of the Club's private waters below the locks; had arranged talks by well-known anglers, and tackle sales in the Red lion car park; had donated trophies to be fished for, especially for the junior section which he was always keen to encourage; had encouraged the Club to participate in the County Championship - a competition to which we still send a team; and not least had always been willing to impart his wide knowledge of angling to other members. 

Upon his death his life-membership was transferred to his widow, Madge, who had always supported the Club and has continued to do so to the present day - as has her daughter Mrs Vivienne Heath who is now a Vice President, having been one of the original junior members in 1951.

The Club continues to go from strength to strength and now controls all fishing on the Warmington stretches of water from one field upstream of the old railway to three and a half fields downstream of the locks, and all fishable waters in between. The control of the Club is still mainly in the hands of people resident or native of the villages of Warmington and Elton, and although there is a slightly more open membership (current total about 100) there can be no more than three non-resident members on the Committee, and none can hold higher office.

Many of these rules were introduced in 1957-8 and arose out of stipulations laid down by Mr Alec Gould for the use of his meadows below the locks for W.A.C members only.

Robert Bosworth 2000

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