50 YEARS OF SEA ANGLING FOR THE RODBENDERS
The Rodbenders Sea Angling Club is celebrating half a century in existence, having been formed in 1968 during a period when Plymouth was a centre of the nation’s boat angling.
Many other local clubs developed about this time too, ranging from workplace groups like City Engineers, the Post Office, Plymouth Telephones, and the Co-op, although the Rodbenders’ members were drawn from all walks of life.
It is believed that several individuals were employees of a cement company or various printing firms. All were keen boat anglers; they met in the original angling centre, then located on the marina at Sutton Harbour, and agreed to form a club.
The founder members included Albert Taylor (chairman), Ed Jackman (treasurer), Arthur Mills (secretary) and Peter Lewis. Peter, the last survivor of these four, passed away in 2014.
The club’s total membership peaked at 79 in 1988, but like many clubs, both
locally and nationally, numbers have shown a slow decline. While some clubs have disbanded, membership of the Rodbenders has steadied and remained in the low forties for many years.
The club has a badge depicting a goldcoloured fish against a yellow and green background; these colours were chosen to be different from those of other clubs.
Shortly after its establishment, the club joined both the National Federation of Sea Angling Clubs and the Plymouth Federation of Sea Angling Clubs, formed in 1965, that organises inter-club competitions.