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Alkali (with Preesall) Angling Club

Earliest Alkali Club Committee Meeting Minutes available date to Weds August 1st 1962, but there was clearly already a club and structure in place at that time, the early records for which have been lost. Meetings were held at The Social Club (ICI club Gamble Rd Thornton). The Club was then called ‘ICI (Alkali) Angling Club’. Minutes for early Preesall meetings have been lost. While we do have official meeting minutes for this period, a lot also happened in the background ‘on the quiet’!

At that time we shared the rights to The 3 Flashes with Preesall Angling Club. Our other water was the pond known as ‘Morris’s, off West Drive, now filled in, but we were also being offered the reservoir at No5 pumping station, to use for trout. Enquiries were also made about a stretch of the River Wenning (tributary of the R Lune) which had become available. Subscriptions were 15 shillings (75 pence)

An away trip was held to Windermere – bit of an all-dayer! Coach 7am, a 3 hour match at Cockshot point, with pleasure time afterwards. Dinner was at 6.30pm, with the evening spent in Bowness and the coach leaving for home 11pm !!

Matches were fished on the Flashes and Morris’s, but also on the Lancaster Canal, ‘Works res’ (location not now known) and ‘Branwoods (later filled in for housing)’. These were every Sunday up until end of October, and Wednesday evenings up til mid September. To avoid confusion, a match rule was introduced ‘no livebaiting or spinning in matches’.

At that time, the AGM was a separate event to the Presentation of trophies, and in 1962 there was an effort to make the Presentation more of an event by having a ‘Dance’ at Thornton Lecture Hall, with a band, bar, and a buffet, which was provided by member’s wives.

Although there were equal rights on the 3 Flashes between ICI Alkali and Preesall Clubs, owing to friction between the 2 clubs – ICI Alkali felt it got a raw deal as far as cleaning, stocking and the selling of day tickets by Preesall, despite landowners ICI banning sale of day tickets. Approaches were made by The President, Mr Seaman, to ICI as to whether Alkali could take over the Big Flash as our own water, and so the Alkali club was born.

We were approached by Thornton Council about running an angling competition for them, in the Swan pond on Victoria Rd, with the Council providing all prizes.

1963

Away trips to Windermere and Elton Reservoir
Membership limit imposed at 150, with 40 of those being Juniors.
3 visiting angling clubs were given permission to fish, namely Hillhouse AC, ICI Blackley, and The Boars Head (Wigan).
It was agreed to purchase our own net, and net local ponds to stock the Flash, although early efforts were not productive, so 3000 mixed coarse fish were ordered, at the cost of £42 and £8 for delivery.

1964

AGM – for the first time, advanced written warning of ‘notices of motion’ requested. Proposal that the club name be changed to Alkali A.C. Thornton, so as to avoid confusion with the new Angling Section of the ICI Recreation Club.
Discussion about Morris’s pond receiving heavy pressure – junior match schedule to be cut from 12 matches to 6 and groundbaiting to be banned with feeding limited to maggots only
Away trip – Ulverston Canal Elton Reservoir. Matches also held at Glasson Dock and on River Ribble @ Walton-le-Dale and Alston
Club Bailiff sacked for reselling club and Northern Anglers membership cards
Enquiries made to Lancashire River Board about suitability of Alkali to be stocked with trout – outcome not recorded
Presentation Night to be different format – held in February @ Social Club with a film show by the Irish Tourist Board.

1965

AGM Subs increased to 16 shillings, OAPs and juniors 6 shillings (30p)
Committee meetings relocated to Thornton Lecture Hall
Away trips Ulverston Canal and Elton Res
Sea match calendar proposed
Stocking of 250 6” tench and 250 5” king carp, costing £60 plus £8 delivery.
Presentation night – similar format but at Scout Hall, in order that juniors could attend. 150 attended from a club of 179 members.

1966

Away trips Ulverston Canal and Windermere
AGM – subs increased to 1 guinea (£1.05) and 10 shillings for juniors and OAPs owing to increased subscriptions to Northern Anglers Association. A stocking levy of 1 shilling (5p) was included. Match fees were 2 shillings.
Due to a change in ownership, we lost the rights to Morris’s pond, but we took over a 5 year lease to ‘Wilkinson’s Gravel Pits’ (now the lake at Willowgrove caravan park) at £50 per year. It was the intention to sell day and season tickets at 2/6 (12.5p) and 10 shillings (50p). Morris’s and various other ponds were netted – usually ponds farmers refused fishing at, or those due to be filled in. Branwoods was netted prior to being filled in for housing developement, and fish transferred to the Gravel pits. A new net was purchased and estimated 12000 fish stocked into the Flash in this way in 1966 season
Presentation night at Ashdell café, with Irish tourist Board films again, and a potato pie supper

Affiliation to Northern Anglers involved attendance at NAA meetings. At one such meeting it was reported that NAA intended to stock the Lancaster Canal with pike. There were also plans to net the Rivers Ribble and Lune, and transfer all coarse fish taken into the Lancaster Canal. It was estimated that 3 million fish might be moved into the canal from the Ribble alone.
Pike matches initiated.

1967

AGM at Ashdell Café. Match venues for coming season discussed – 2 to be on Canal, 1 on R Ribble, the rest on the Flash and the Gravel Pits. Club badges to be investigated.
Secretary Harry Robinson died – Memorial Shield
Crane hired to deal with ongoing weed problems at Wilkinsons Gravel Pits, but despite this several pegs proved unfishable, which was causing problems with group bookings.
Away trips to Ulverston Canal and Elton Res
Committee meetings back to Ashdell Café
ICI Recreation Club applied to ICI Estates to have our lease of the water terminated, as they wanted water for themselves. Alkali decided to ask Preesall to donate The Bottomless (then known as Westfields ?), and in return Alkali would let Preesall fish the Big Flash. While this solution was obviously not followed through, at a lengthy heated meeting of both clubs, Hillhouse Angling Club, ICI Estates and Northern Anglers, a compromise was worked out whereby Hillhouse were allowed to schedule a number of matches on both club’s waters, with full membership offered at 1/3 of the normal price but this would not allow them to fish our normal matches.
Prize Presentation – Irish Tourist Board film night at Lecture Hall. Club ladies catered for 200.

1968

AGM at Ashdell Café . Proposal to ban bloodworm in matches failed. Match venues discussed, and owing to poor form no trips to Canal or R Ribble. Away trips to Windermere and Rydal Water. Matches were popular – noted that once all pegs drawn latecomers were being turned away unable to fish.
4 weigh in points were established. Disappointment expressed at poor turn out to working party. Access/parking issues arising – access via ‘Softening Plant’ now banned. Access now to be adjacent Wistonia or from Preesall access.
Prize presentation – Film show by local company to include film by Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Catering was by the Chairmans wife, as this was her trade, to give Committee ladies a rest
Pike were felt to becoming a problem, so in association with Lancashire River Board a test netting of The Shallows was carried out. 2 sweeps of the net brought in 30 000 fish but only 4 pike.

1969

AGM at Ashdell Café. Away trip to Coniston Water. Senior aggregate trophy proposed and passed.
Preesall invited us to share their parking area, which they planned to extend. We agreed to share costs.
Presentation Night – Film show by Irish Tourist Board. Catering arrangements by club/committee wives
Subscriptions to go up in 1970 owing to NAA subs rise. 25 shillings for seniors, juniors and OAPs 10 shillings
New club sponsor came forwards, in addition to Hallets Ironmongers – Cleveleys Outdoor Centre

1970

AGM at Ashdell Café, 38 attended. Away trips to Urswick Tarn and Windermere. 5 year lease on Wilkinson’s gravel pits not to be renewed due to ongoing significant weeds issues, which had necessitated cancellation of several club bookings that year. 2.5% interest on our Post Office a/c was queried – could we not get a better rate? Agreed that other options be looked into. Yearly honorarium proposed and introduced for main club officials – free membership voted in rather than monetary amount.
A request from a member of the public for 6 blue perch for scientific purposes was discussed and agreed to. Mr Roy Butterworth was told to attend a match weigh in, but he did not turn up.
R Holland volunteered to be Trip Organiser
Account set up with Halifax BS paying 4.25%
2 committee meetings held in the ‘Civil Defence Hut @ Four Lane Ends Thornton, the remainder at the Lecture Hall.
Prize presentation @ Lecture Hall, film show by local film service

1971

AGM 39 present at Ashdell Café New trip organiser J Percival. Away trips to Windermere and Elton Res. Proposal to allow lady members defeated. Sea matches to be reintroduced. A proposal received by the Committee from Thornton Council that the Club change its name to include ‘Thornton-Cleveleys’ was discussed and rejected. Club badges and building stagings to be investigated.
New owner stopped Club parking at Wistonia – parking to be at No5 pump station
Both club trips poorly supported and made losses
Club badge progressed – blue perch on yellow background designed by R Holland, 100 ordered

1972

Presentation at Lecture Hall – Film show – Irish Tourist Board, catering by Streets Cleveleys @ 13p per head. Catering for 120
AGM at Thornton Lecture Hall 36 present. Vote to allow lady members again defeated

1973

AGM Lecture Hall 35 present. Away trip to Redesmere. Vote to allow ladies to fish with their spouses – carried 15-14
No5 Pump station netted, 2000 fish transferred
Presentation and Film Night similar format, catering for 100

1974

AGM Match fees to rise to 15p. Away trip to Aspatria Record fish list to be established
Annual Presentation – Hot Pot and Dance at Doric Hotel
Weed control esp in Shallows an increasing problem. In addition to normal cutting/dragging some pegs had black plastic sheet on a wood frame laid down on the bottom as an experiment in permanent control.
1975 AGM Proposal for membership to increase to 225 defeated. 50 pegs – would need more pegs! Groundbait ban in Sunday matches. Keepnets must be at least 4’6” long
Night fishing banned – fishing dawn to dusk
Away trip Aspatria
Annual Presentation – Hot Pot and Dance at Doric Hotel

1977

AGM Lecture Hall 32 present Away trip Foulridge res. Proposals to reintroduce groundbait and increase membership both defeated
Annual Presentation – North Euston Fleetwood buffet supper dance and bar

1978

AGM Lecture Hall 43 present Proposals to allow use of groundbait at all times, and fishing hours to be 4am til 11pm both carried. Subs increase to £1.50
Away trip Horns Dam
Committee meetings moved to Burn Naze Hotel
Presentation – Dinner Dance at Chequers Hotel
Poor fishing noted – enquiries made with NWWA. No junior had caught a fish in the junior matches, so the trophy was awarded to who had attended most matches! £540 spent stocking approx 3000 mainly 5-7” bream roach and perch

1979

AGM Lecture Hall Lecture Hall 39 attended. Membership increase to 250, with subs up to £3 and £1 Away trips to Horns Dam and Foulridge
470 6-10” perch and bream stocked cost £250

1980

AGM Lecture Hall 38 present Away trips discussed – poor support that year, but majority at the meeting wanted trips, although it would be too late to organise for coming season. Motion to bring AGM forward to December carried. New club rule that propositions or amendments to rules to be in writing to Sec 14 days before AGM. Membership up to 300
Presentation – Dinner Dance at Chequers
Surveys by D Isaacs (member – Lancaster Uni) and Ron Feltham (fish supplier)
Match Rules developed
Use of weedkiller to control excess weed growth considered
AGM (2) brought forward Teanlowe Centre 23 present. Fishing allowed 30 mins before sunrise/after sunset. No away trip due to lack of support. Membership reduced to 250, subs to stay same. Match fees increase to 50p. No restocking this year while survey recommendations implemented and assessed.

1981

Dinner Dance/Prize Presentation at North Euston
Sea matches all to be on North Pier. Sea match calendar abandoned after 2 matches with nobody catching a fish.
Cormorants reported on Flash. Tommy Taylor was happy to cull
NWWA consulted with regard to poor fishing. Edges of Flash to be fertilised with triple super phosphate. Recommended that Shallows are deepened.
Record claims for Tench 5lb 2oz, Rudd 2lb 3.5oz, Bream 4lb 2.5oz and mirror carp 9lb 12oz all accepted
Junior cup fished on points system, 3 winners – cup not awarded
AGM Thornton Lecture Hall 23 present. Proposal to deepen the Shallows approved. Free membership to OAPs approved. Fishing ban prior to a match approved

1982

Account opened with Yorkshire Bank to allow cheques to be written, 2 signatories
Dinner Dance/Prize Presentation at North Euston
Stocking with 1000 4-6” crucians and 500 mixed roach/bream/perch, courtesy of Civil Service Angling. In return 2 pairs of tench to be donated for CSAA restocking program
Shallows dug out at cost of £1500
Record claim 5lb 2.5oz tench accepted. New match record 47lb
Pike match reinstated. Away trip Horns Dam
AGM Thornton Lecture Hall 28 present. 2 rod limit and donation of £50 to LMR restocking fund approved

1983

Dinner Dance/Prize Presentation at North Euston – poorly supported
Away trip Horns Dam
Record fish claims for tench 5lb 6oz roach 1-12-7 eel 2lb9 oz accepted
AGM Thornton Lecture Hall 30 present. All club officials to be made honorary members while in office approved

1984

Restocking 100lb 12-24oz tench
Dinner Dance/Prize Presentation at North Euston
AGM Thornton Lecture Hall 21 present

1985

Dinner Dance/Prize Presentation at North Euston
Record tench claim 5lb 9.5oz accepted
AGM Thornton Lecture Hall 31 present

1986

Dinner Dance/Prize Presentation at North Euston
5 stagings constructed
16 carp 5.5-9lb stocked cost £275
ICI Recreation Club reasserted its wish to use our water following a lapse of several years
AGM Thornton Lecture Hall 30 present – proposal to increase membership to allow any ICI members into the club without affecting the waiting list – approved

1986

Dinner Dance/Prize Presentation at North Euston
5 stagings constructed
16 carp 5.5-9lb stocked cost £275
ICI Recreation Club reasserted its wish to use our water following a lapse of several years
AGM Thornton Lecture Hall 30 present – proposal to increase membership to allow any ICI members into the club without affecting the waiting list – approved

1987

Dinner Dance/Prize Presentation at North Euston
Record fish claims – Carp 14lb1oz, tench 6lb 1oz and perch 1lb 10oz all accepted
AGM Thornton Lecture Hall 22 present. H Baron resigned as secretary and proposed/accepted as President. T Bradshaw now secretary. Trial period fishing dawn til 11pm from June to end Sep, and following lighting up times posted in Evening Gazette. Restriction fishing 2 rods max relaxed for pike fishing only November to March (3 rods). Subs increased to £5 pa

1989

Away trip Wyreside
2 working parties held: 14 and 20 attended
Record fish claims carp 14lb4 oz and bream 4lb 12oz
AGM and Trophy Presentation Thornton Lecture Hall 22 present. Subs up to £7 with juniors £2 and a £3 joining fee. Dogs to be kept on a lead. Closed Season to run 1st March to 30th April

1990

Away trip Wyreside
Survey carried out by Bruno Broughton, with a slide show and talk at a social evening that same evening. Report recommended treating excessive weedgrowth with Reglone and removal of 100lb of pike
One or two local ponds were netted and provided 37 small tench 300 small rudd, about 25lb of small roach
Membership limit increased to 380, waiting list 2.5 years
Record fish claims carp 14lb 14oz and eel 3lb 2oz
Cormorants spotted on the water
AGM and Trophy Presentation Thornton Lecture Hall 45 present. ID cards voted in. 3 rods for carp and pike November to February. Club constitution written and accepted

1991

Away trip Elton Res and Rufford Canal
Lime and horse manure applied
Record Fish accepted – Tench 6lb 10oz, Bream 5lb 8oz and carp 15lb 7oz
AGM and Trophy Presentation Thornton Lecture Hall 51 attended. Proposal to ban bloodworm and boilies failed.

1992

Away trip (joint with Preesall) Ratherheath Tarn
Social Evening @ Fleetwood Rugby Club. Talk and slideshow by Danny Maguire attended by 25
Record fish – Carp 19lb 23oz Eel 4lb 8oz Tench 6lb 12oz
AGM and Trophy Presentation Thornton Lecture Hall 50 present. Subs increased to £8 for adults

1993

Away trips to Bigland Tarn and Bridgewater Canal
Shooting license granted for cormorant control
Pike stocking approved owing to declining catches
Car parking on No5 pump station lost
Record fish – carp 19lb 8oz
AGM and Trophy Presentation Thornton Lecture Hall 38 present: General discussion about amalgamation of Alkali and Preesall clubs

1994

Social evening held – no details
Car park opened (as we now enjoy) at a cost of £1300
3 catfish were available from a local water and it was agreed to stock them
4 scaffolding pegs constructed
Record fish – Bream 6lb 7oz tench 6lb 15oz roach 1lb 13oz
Away match Pilsworth
Reglone herbicide applied
AGM and Trophy Presentation Thornton Lecture Hall 36 present: Fishing from 4am all year

1995

Away trip Island Dam
Social evening with Vinnie Smith
Record fish – Tench 7lb3oz Carp 20lb 10oz
Clubman of the Year prize initiated
Stocking 200 small tench and crucian/goldfish crosses
Cormorant shooting license refused
AGM and Trophy Presentation Thornton Lecture Hall 44` present

1996

Committee meetings and AGM venue change to Cleveleys Masonic Hall
Initiative to net off the ‘Stock Pond’ and stock with small fish, allow them to grow on and be transferred into main Flash
One catfish finally introduced @ 11lb 2oz
Away trip Cudmore and ‘Dave’s Aquarium’
AGM and Trophy Presentation Cleveleys Masonic Hall 46 present – subs up £4 to cover increased stocking costs and to include membership of British Waterways Board to allow access to the Lancaster Canal

1997

New net purchased
5600 small roach rudd and tench placed in stock pond cost £1200
Stocking further catfish voted down
Social evening and Trophy Presentation @ Masonic hall
Record fish – carp 21lb 2oz
AGM Cleveleys Masonic Hall 38 present, vote to abolish closed season carried

1998

Record fish – carp 21lb 10oz bream 6lb10oz tench 7lb6oz
Stocking 500 rudd, 500 small tench
EA water survey carried out but no results ever received despite numerous follow-up contracts
AGM Cleveleys Masonic Hall 48 present – owing to pressure from farmers, fishing times restricted to daylight hours Sept-April

1999

£5million indemnity insurance secured
Club sponsor change from George’s Tackle to Noah’s Ark
Away match @ Copthorne poorly supported
Stocking 1200 skimmers between pond and flash @ £893. 1040 small roach into the pond. 1200 supplied from an EA rescue – 900 roach and rudd, 200 perch 50 crucians into pond
Tony Jones trophy initiated
AGM Cleveleys Masonic Hall 34 present, subs up £3 and joining fee by £5

2000

Social Evening/Trophy Presentation @ Masonic Hall
Away match at Woodfold
100lb of roach perch and skimmers netted from stock pond transferred to main flash
Stocking – 200lb tench up to 2lb
Record fish – bream 6lb 13oz Mirror carp 26lb 1oz
Membership @290
Pumphouse structure removed
AGM and Trophy Presentation Cleveleys Masonic Hall 29 present- free membership to OAP/Committee removed

2001

Away trip Red Rocks
Foot and Mouth disease caused temporary closure of club water
Stocking 100 tench up to 4lb+
Record fish perch 1lb 12ox eel 5lb 9oz
AGM and Trophy Presentation Cleveleys Masonic Hall 26 present- members restricted to fishing a single peg with multiple rods. Proposal to ban boilies failed

2002

Stock pond netted and 90lb of tench between 1 and 2.5lb transferred – good growth rates from being introduced noted.
Away match Horns Dam
Record fish bream 7lb 1oz tench 7lb 8oz perch 1lb 15oz
EA Survey – only recommendation was to introduce surface weed – water bistort
AGM and Trophy Presentation Cleveleys Masonic Hall 32 present

2003

Change of meeting venue to Norbreck Tennis and Bowling Club
Change of land ownership, from ICI to Northern Properties Estates Ltd
Alkali website established
Stocking of 750 mixed skimmers, mirror carp and small tench @ £2050. Approx 60 mixed into stock pond
License to shoot cormorants applied for but refused
Away Trip Horns Dam poorly attended – not to be run again until sufficient interest
Record fish tench 8lb 0½ oz,, catfish 18lb 12oz
AGM and Trophy Presentation Norbreck Tennis and Bowling Club 53 present

2004

Owing to the death of Cliff Pirie, Secretary and Treasurer of PAC and the lack of anyone coming forward to take over running Preesall AC, we were approached about taking over running of both clubs and a potential merger. Committee considered this, and subject to certain conditions being met (which they were), were agreeable.
Extraordinary General Meeting 1/3/2004 Norbreck Tennis and Bowling Club 38 present, where the decision to merge was agreed unanimously. New club to be called ‘Alkali with Preesall AC’