Dundee Angling Club marks 90 years of casting and hooking

There is nothing like a fisherman’s tale… the one that got away, the one that was caught, the bait used, the close calls, the friendships made.
One of the town’s oldest sporting clubs, the Dundee Angling Club, this year celebrates 90 years. Dundee Angling Club held their first Annual General Meeting on July 11, 1927. Handwritten minutes are on record and on display in the clubhouse.
On Saturday, July 15, the club will be holding the 90th Annual General Meeting. Surely one of the oldest clubs in the country.
The Club still has some of the first record books eg. an Income and Expense ledger and Competition Records that date back to 1927.

This proud club has produced Springbok anglers, Provincial anglers and has a fine record of honing young talent and caring for the environment while out alongside dams and rivers.

These entries are meticulously written in ink dipping pen, detailing the weather conditions and water conditions on each occasion.
Entry fee to the competition listed at 1/6 (15c) and prize money sometimes 10 shillings (R1)!
This proud club has produced Springbok anglers, Provincial anglers and has a fine record of honing young talent and caring for the environment while out alongside dams and rivers.
Tyrone Milne who joined the Club aged just 10 remembers Dennis Collett, Piet Viljoen, Bob Hully, Wessie van der Westhuizen and Joe Byrnes who were ‘the main characters at the club during the 1970s’. John Purcell and Boet Davell too as they, had such a big role in the building of the clubhouse.
“They were always encouraging the young members and we were not shy when it came to sharing their fishing tips. We always had great fellowship at the Clubhouse which was built by members opposite Dundee Junior School,” Tyrone told the Courier.
Angling Club members were famous for hosting their ‘wors roll’ stand at three-day annual Dundee Show which is sadly no more.
This was the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year.
The Club was also well known for hosting their London pub nights, complete with draft beer and fish and chips in newspaper.
On Saturday, current and former members of the Dundee Angling Club are invited to join in the celebrations after the annual general meeting and prize giving from 3pm on Saturday, July 15. See next week’ s Courier for on the history of this historic club!