A new season started on 16th June, emphasis on getting members to help at work parties and new season matches start in July

Members busy at the first work party of the new season

Eight volunteers arrived for the first work party of the new season. There is an emphasis this year to get more of the membership involved as in recent times it has been left to a few regulars to do all of the work. There is a lot to do to keep the South Pond maintained and so the more volunteers who help, the easier the job becomes. As an encouragement a £5 supplement was added to the subs this season which is refundable by attending a work party. The work party dates are included in the calendar and on the web site.

Station Road paths were strimmed, the external boundaries had been strimmed by the Community Payback group the previous Friday. The dead hedging was added to. It was extended from the boundary behind swims 7-9 to the gate. The exit grilles, where the water flows out of the South Pond, were cleared early on and then the paths on the Winchester Road side of the pond were strimmed. A mini litter pick fortunately did not produce much litter, a change from some work parties. Gaps in the boundary behind swims 18-19 were partly closed with fallen branches. The generator was adjusted and a strimmer was repaired. Overall a lot was achieved.

 

For the next work party, there is more to do on the Station Road side and further work is needed to close gaps in the boundary.

 

Further work at an impromptu work party

"Prof" (Paul Moriarty) phoned to organise an impromptu work party to sort out the aerators. The boat was taken out and the aerators were "degunged" and secured level. Both were tested and run for a time in an attempt to clear the Pond's surface of willow fluff/seeds. Partial success on that score. The boat was then paddled around the pond to clear line, numerous leger weights, floats, and sundry leger end tackle from trees and the centre of the pond. There was evidence of the use of banned braid as leger hook length or leader, this will need to be clamped down on when checking membership of those fishing. The floating island was also retrieved for 'refurbishment'. A mini litter pick on Station Road produced mostly beer bottles thrown into hedging from the roadside.

 

July & August activities

The new membership year started on 16th June. Everyone is reminded that a new EA licence will be needed from the expiry date of the old licence. EA licences now run for a year from the date of purchase, rather than by season.

 

The Evening matches take place during July and early August, followed by the Martin Eustace memorial match and the Carp Only match. The 2019-20 Match Calendar is available on the website and a copy can be downloaded for reference. This is an extract of the July and August activities:

An emphasis is being placed this season on getting more members along to work parties. There is a £5 supplement to the annual membership charge this season, refundable for attending a work party.

 

Joining the Club

If you are interested in joining the club please contact our membership secretary Cathy Naylor on 07934-895513 for an application form. Alternatively, applications can be made by downloading a membership form from the website and sending, with an SAE, to our membership secretary (details above and on the web site). The membership year runs from mid-June. Membership renewals and applications for the 2019-20 season are now open.

 

Membership is open to anyone who lives in Bishops Waltham, plus a number of Associate membership places (for those living outside the Parish). Priority is given to Parish membership (especially juniors), but anyone living outside of the Parish wishing to join should contact Cathy for an Associate Membership place.

 

Club web site

For more information about the club and its activities, the club's web site can be found at: www.bwpfc.org.uk

Steve Edge and Barry Jerome