Branch and Members' News
If you have any news about Branch or Members' activities that you would like to include here, please get in touch with Caroline Emmet on member4@flydressersguild.org.
New branch of the Guild forming in Devon - UPDATED - 15th May
Roadford Lake Country Park, Lower Goodacre, Broadwoodwidger, Devon PL16 0JL
(between Okehampton & Launceston)
Roadford and District Flydressers Guild are pleased to announce that their first meeting will take place at The Water Sports Centre at Roadford Lake Country Park on Tuesday 11th June - 7:00 pm for a 7:30 pm start. Charles Jardine will be in attendance. Thereafter, meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of each month, with 2-3 meetings at Stithians Lake near Redruth in Cornwall. If you are interested, or for more details, please contact Wes Ower on wesower@yahoo.co.uk.
Directions: from the A30, exit for Roadford Lake. The entrance to the sports and sailing club can be found on your right about a mile past the dam follow this lane and the meeting site will be next to the fishing permit office.
Herts Banch and The Royal Anglian Regiment
December 2012
The Hertfordshire Branch have recently got in touch with The Royal Anglian Regiment, their local regiment, to offer free membership of the branch to any of the troops who would like to come along during their down time, or whilst rehabilitating from injury or trauma.
The Branch felt it was a way of showing, in some small way, their gratitude and support for the sacrifices the Regiment makes on our behalf. At present, the regiment is serving on another tour of duty in Afghanistan; on their return, the Welfare Officer will advise them of the offer and put anyone interested in touch with the Branch Secretary.
The Guild encourages other branches to follow suit. If you need help securing a contact at your local regiment, please get in touch with Caroline Emmet on member4@flydressersguild.org, who will put you in touch with someone who has offered to help.
Worcester Fly Dressers at the Malvern Autumn Show
September 2012
The Worcester Branch of The Fly Dressers' Guild organised the Fishing Discovery Zone at the Malvern Autumn Show at the Three Counties Showground.
The marquee and the area around it covered a range of activities including fly tying, pond dipping, coarse fishing and fly casting on the pond, as well as stands from the RSPB, The Lenches and Cob House fisheries, rod makers and fly tying material suppliers.
Representatives of the Worcester Fly Dressers and the national Guild had their work cut out, attracting an audience of all ages.
Herts Branch Open Evening
September 2012
The Hertfordshire Branchof The Fly Dressers' Guild held an open evening in September for members and guests, friends old and new and anybody who wanted to find out what the Herts Branch is about. The event included:
- Fly Tying Demonstrations and Tuition
- Advice of Fly Tying and Fly Fishing
- Raffle
- Refreshments!
Everyone was invited to come along, have a chat and see whether fly tying could become their new pastime, whether they fished or not. There was no obligation to join and beginners were made especially welcome.
As a result of this and other activities over the summer, the Herts Branch has signed up eight new members, with the promise of three or four more to come in October - many congratulations to the branch and a warm welcome to all new members!
Northwest Branch at the Chesire Game & Angling Fair
August 2012
Several members of the Northwest Branch of The Fly Dressers' Guild took part in promoting the Northwest Branch and the Guild at the Chesire Game & Angling Fair in August.
Despite a bad weather forecast, the sun kept shining and the show went well. Plenty of visitors came through the tent area with our Northwest Guild members creating a lot of interest. Dave, Peter and Howard did a sterling job at the helm, not forgetting Dan, who kept the refreshments flowing well in his usual jovial manner.
There were also one or three Tackle Tarts helping out … that is when they had not gone missing, sniffing round the tackle tents. So good day had by all.
North Kent Branch at the Edenbridge & Oxted Agricultural Show
August 2012
The North Kent Branch raised £250.37 at the Edenbridge and Oxted Show for the Leukaemia Research Fund over the August Bank Holiday.
The Branch was a bit disappointed by the result in that it was way below last year's figure of £365.00, but perhaps the economic situation is having an effect. Nevertheless, the show proved to be an enjoyable couple of days.
Northwest Branch at the Weslow Mere Charity Day
July 2012
Members of the Northwest Branch supported the Weslow Mere 30th Anniversary Charity Day and Fishing Competition, organised by Congleton & District Fly Fishers, with proceeds going to the Northwest Air Ambulance.
The event counted with the presence of Dr Malcolm Greenhalgh (Author, Fly Tyer and Fly Fisherman) and included:
- Charity Fishing Match
- Fly Casting Demo/Tuition
- Fly Casting Competition
- Fly Tying/Fly Fishing Fair
- Fly Tying Demo/Tuition
- Barbeque/Refreshments all Day
The event raised a whopping £1,400 for the Northwest Air Ambulance. The members of the Branch who took part were: Dave Palmer (on Daddies), Graham Alexander (with Max at the front with his vice) and Chris Watson (with new Friend).
Alan Middleton completes Hadrian's Wall fund raising walk
July 2012
Alan Middleton, former Chairman of the Guild, has recently completed the Hadrian's Wall Walk -
84 miles - in six days. He was collecting funds for the Wild Trout Trust.
Please click on the image to the right for a brief report on his "short excursion".
Scottish 2012 Inter-Branch Fly Fishing Competition
June 2012
The Ayrshire and Luggiebank branches of The Fly Dressers' Guild hold an annual fly fishing competition on the Lake of Menteith on Father's Day each year.
The teams had a great day this year and caught a load of fish. Ayrshire Fly Dressers won the competition, with one of their members (Peter Edge) also winning heaviest fish and the heaviest bag).
North Kent Branch fund raiser for Cancer Research
May 2012
The North Kent Branch of The Fly Dressers' Guild raised £590.20 for Cancer Research UK from the tying and sale of flies at the Penshurst Craft Fair over the May Bank Holiday 5-7 May.
The North Kent Branch have now been doing two shows a year for around twenty five years, during which time we have raised around £20,000 for Cancer Research UK and The Leukaemia Research Fund.
For anyone interested in organising a fly tying show for charity, please see Tom Lee's article on Organising Fly Shows in the "Other Articles" section of the Members' Area.
John Watkins of the Thames Valley Branch
May 2012
John Watkins of the Thames Valley Branch "flying the FDG tie" whilst recruiting for the Foster Wheeler Angling Club during a recent Social Club recruitment drive.
The Thames Valley Branch at the Sportfish Reading Show
11th & 12th May 2012
Geoff Wilcox and John Watkins promoting the Thames Valley Branch and the Guild at the Sportfish Reading Show in May.
The Bristol Branch at the Westcountry Show
10th & 11th March 2012
Ken Harvey and Steve Moorhouse of the Bristol Branch of The Fly Dressers' Guild doing a grand job of engaging with the visitors at the Westcountry show on the Sunday.
Last modified on 16 May, 2013