The Old Lennensians’ hard-working and uncomplaining secretary, Neville Fickling, has been voted onto the governing board of the Angling Trust.
Neville’s first record zander, at 12 lb 6 oz, came from the Relief Channel (aka New Cut) at Stow Bridge in the KES summer holidays of 1970.
Neville, a pupil at KES from 1964 to 1971, explains: “The Angling Trust is the representative organisation for angling in The UK. Representation and the ability to talk directly to government is vital. The appointment to the board is a three-year term.
“My main input will be getting more members, illegal fish removal (particularly in the Fens), getting zander the same protection as other fish. Also the situation in the Norfolk Broads.”
Neville has been involved in angling politics at a national level for over 30 years. He is also one of the world’s most celebrated predator anglers, with the unique achievement of breaking the British pike and zander records (the latter twice, in 1970, when he was in the Sixth Form at KES).
Both record zander were taken from the Great Ouse Relief Channel near Stow Bridge – not far from Stow Bardolph, where Neville was born. His record pike was taken in 1985 from the River Thurne, on the Norfolk Broads, comprehensively smashing the coveted previous record of 40 lb exactly, which had stood since 1967.
Neville’s 41 lb 6 oz record pike from the Norfolk Broads in 1985.
These days, Neville is married with two grown-up children and lives in Gainsborough, North Lincolnshire, from where he runs successful fishing tackle and bait businesses. But he still finds time to help with Old Lennensian Association, as a valued secretary and committee member. It is his way of putting something back into a school that gave us all such a great platform from which to build future achievements.
For more information on the Angling Trust, including how to join, go to https://anglingtrust.net/
