Winlaton ( Northern) Bus Depot Fishing Club?

[Paddlesac]

Does anyone here, remember this little fishing club?

I'm talking the mid to late 1970's.

I was a junior member, as my Dad was a driver for the Northern at Winlaton.

I'd be pleased to hear from anyone who remembers the club or the trips but I'm particularly interested in the boat we used to go out of the Tyne on, must have been almost every other weekend I think She was all wood, with wheelhouse and long, low cabin and two masts with rust coloured sails.

We had a few memorable trips but the one when we were caught out in a bad southerly squall, coming back down from St. Marys Island, certainly sticks in my mind, as does the time, in the middle of winter, when we picked up a pot rope inside the harbour and had to wait hours for another boat to turn up with a diver!.

Anyway, any info would be much appreciated

cheers

Steve

[paul.longstaff]

It coulld be john leathleys bridget lass by the sound of it.

[Paddlesac]

Bridget Lass definitely rings a bell! as does the Skippers name, I seem to recall his son was also called John.

I think her hull was dark blue, with a white or light blue cabin etc, she was a lovely boat though.

I think we must have picked her up at Mill Dam though the last time I was there, it didn't look at all familiar!

Does anyone have photo's of the Bridgett Lass by any chance and is she still about?

thanks

Steve

[paul.longstaff]

John passed away a few years ago,he has two sons john and billy. Try getting in touch with sam harris on here he was a regular with john on his next boat the briar.

[lug]

from an old nesa post

john sold the briar to two lads in north shields it was the bridget lass what went down south

[Paddlesac]

Cheers Lads

[sam harris]

The "Bridget Lass" to my knowledge is still moored somewhere on the Thames being used as a houseboat. I believe the "Briar" went to Sunderland, I did hear sometime ago that she had sunk, I don't know if that's true or not though. John Leathley's was the first wreck angling boat out of the Tyne. I've got lots of photographs of John and the "Briar" and some of the fish taken on her.
The president of the Winlaton Northern club was Maynard Atkinson (Silver Grey of the Evening Chronicle) who passed away a long time ago, I was the Vice President of the club. It was an excellent club with some great members, we had some some very memorable trips, both boat and shore.

[Paddlesac]

Thanks Sam

I certainly remember many a cracking trip, on what was a beautiful boat. I really would love to set eyes on her again.

Some of the names I remember were Jimmy "Jinky" Taylor, Ian Leech,Derek Wilson and Freddy Martin, all drivers from Winlaton depot and some real characters

Any chance of posting a photo or two?

Thanks again

Steve