President Tony Creasey writes to the Chair of SDWA January 4th 1996

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The formation of the SDWA

After reading the December newsletter I feel I must Jog the Chairman’s memory on the formation of the club. It is well documented in the committee minute book.

The year 1953. The pub in question was ‘The Barge’ Commercial Road, Spalding.

The group of friends, and also, founder members of the SDWA in 1955 were Chairmen Tony Creasey, Vice Chairman Gordon Ward(deceased) Treasurer Bob Willson(deceased)

Secretary Ray Shearer in Australia, Committee Albert Rodgers (deceased)Tony Pates, Gerald Willson, Peter Hall(deceased) Michael Parker and Arthur Barr(deceased)(who was to become an outstanding non shooting secretary). In 1956 we applied to a member of WAGBI (now BASC) and was accepted by John Anderton the new secretary of WAGBI on May 11th 1957. Subscription was 2/6 12  p per year. By 1958 the pressure of shooting on the marshes was getting out of hand, we now had 40 members a President C. Hoskinson, vice presidents Jack Bulmer, and the late Richard Longstaff. From these members we had some outstanding committee members. Jim Brown (deceased) chairman for 5 years, Ivor Cole, vice chairman and to become Chairman for 25years,Tony Creasey treasurer 27 years, Maurice Richardson Secretary, Committee, Ken Barton (still on the committee today) Tony Pates, Gerald Willson, Bob Exley, Peter Taylor and Bill Weatheral, with this committee we managed to obtain leases of the marshes, from the, East Coast Joint Council, East Anglia Joint Council of Wildfowlers, this was from Grimsby to Great Yarmouth, By 1963 The Welland Group, the first in the country, and later the Dawsmere Wildfowling Group.

So, there you are William you now have the information you require for the 40th anniversary of the club, I have only scratched the surface on our problems on forming the club.

Unfortunately, I am the only founder member left in the club, having served on the committee, as chairman 6 years treasurer 27 years and president 8 years, continually since its formation and enjoyed every minute of it.

I only hope more members come forward to serve on your committee because your fight to retain the shooting will be just as hard as our’s was in the beginning.

Jan.4th.1996. Tony Creasey President.