kayos
Well-known member
Hi there, I was having a major clearout at the weekend and in the bottom of a cardboard box I found a small plaque. I had completely forgotten all about it, but seeing it again after all these years, some hazy memories came back to me.
I was brought up on the Clyde and my Grandfather owned a yacht, which the family went out on every Sunday, and at the age of about four or five he taught me to fish from the boat. He also owned Cleat's Bar in Gourock and in those days a lot of fishing parties, especially from the north east, drank in his pub, during their weekend excursions to the then famous, Clyde cod grounds.
One time, a party had a space on their charter boat to the Gantocks and invited my Grandfather along and he took me. This was 1967 and I was 7 years old. I cannot in all honesty remember much about the day really, apart from it was cold, wet, but I did catch a fish! I do have distinct memories of of being behind the bar with my Gran a night later. The party were having a prize giving, presumably for their weekend fishing competition. I remember clearly that the guy giving out the prizes(big guy, big beard!) made a speech about a "special plaque" and presented it to me for catching a 7lb cod on their trip. The plaque's inscription has my name, the date(1967), the place(Gantocks), the fish 7lb cod and "presented by the S.S.A.C."
I am certain the party was from the north east and just wondered about the SSAC. Might this be Sunderland sea angling club? Can anyone on here tell me if such a club exsisted back then? I realise no one will possibly remember the events I'm talking about, but maybe some will rememeber fishing the Clyde in the sixties, maybe even remember Cleats Bar! Or maybe someone on here was a member of SSAC and knows what it stands for?
Anyway it was a very kind guesture from a group of anglers to take the time and trouble to present a plaque and make a wee boy feel very special. I can only assume the club would bring the trophies with them and get them engraved up here. It must have taken a lot of planning and organisation, but then to also think of engraving, either a spare one or buying a new one to give to me is quite amazing! I'm welling up just thinking about it again!
So is if there anyone out there who can shed some light on the above, I would be most grateful.
Thanks
I was brought up on the Clyde and my Grandfather owned a yacht, which the family went out on every Sunday, and at the age of about four or five he taught me to fish from the boat. He also owned Cleat's Bar in Gourock and in those days a lot of fishing parties, especially from the north east, drank in his pub, during their weekend excursions to the then famous, Clyde cod grounds.
One time, a party had a space on their charter boat to the Gantocks and invited my Grandfather along and he took me. This was 1967 and I was 7 years old. I cannot in all honesty remember much about the day really, apart from it was cold, wet, but I did catch a fish! I do have distinct memories of of being behind the bar with my Gran a night later. The party were having a prize giving, presumably for their weekend fishing competition. I remember clearly that the guy giving out the prizes(big guy, big beard!) made a speech about a "special plaque" and presented it to me for catching a 7lb cod on their trip. The plaque's inscription has my name, the date(1967), the place(Gantocks), the fish 7lb cod and "presented by the S.S.A.C."
I am certain the party was from the north east and just wondered about the SSAC. Might this be Sunderland sea angling club? Can anyone on here tell me if such a club exsisted back then? I realise no one will possibly remember the events I'm talking about, but maybe some will rememeber fishing the Clyde in the sixties, maybe even remember Cleats Bar! Or maybe someone on here was a member of SSAC and knows what it stands for?
Anyway it was a very kind guesture from a group of anglers to take the time and trouble to present a plaque and make a wee boy feel very special. I can only assume the club would bring the trophies with them and get them engraved up here. It must have taken a lot of planning and organisation, but then to also think of engraving, either a spare one or buying a new one to give to me is quite amazing! I'm welling up just thinking about it again!
So is if there anyone out there who can shed some light on the above, I would be most grateful.
Thanks
