A FISHING club that was formed by five men in a pub just before lockdown has continued to reel in members throughout the pandemic.
Ron Taylor was among the group who set up Mottram St Andrew’s Fly Fishing Club in the village’s Bulls head pub back in January 2020.
At the time they were not to know that two months later people would be told to stay at home as Covid took hold.
But lockdown did not dampen people’s enthusiasm for the new club and by the time it was lifted membership was in double figures.
And now members are waiting for the season to begin next month and restrictions to be lifted – as are people on the club’s waiting list to join.
Ron said: “The success of the club which has now reached capacity during the worst pandemic of a lifetime is truly inspiring.
“It just shows what can be achieved by determination and imagination if participants have a passion for a sport.”
Ron and fellow founder members including Nick Metcalfe also needed somewhere for the club to fish.
To this end they managed to secure a three mile stretch of the River Bollin, which is the only river to flow through Mottram, in Cheshire, and is said to contain plentiful trout.
And also a spot on the River Dean has also be obtained.
Members work with the Wild Trout Trust to improve habitat for the fish.
Ron added: “When five blokes sat down together in the pub none of them could have foreseen, as the pints were placed on the table, the turmoil that all our lives were about to experience – but also the amazing progress that the new fly fishing club they were there to discuss, was going to make.”
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