River Spey Anglers Association Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of the River Spey Anglers Association took place at the Eight Acres Hotel Elgin on 2nd February 2010.
Retiring Chairman James Thomas gave a resume of the activities of the Association over the last 12 months and thanked Tony Smith who was retiring from the Committee as Association webmaster.
The audited accounts to 30th September 2009 prepared by Association Treasurer Graeme Mackenzie were approved.
Committee Members for the year 2010 will be Mel McDonald Chairman, Graeme Mackenzie Treasurer, Secretary… post currently vacant, Ordinary Committee members, Frank Clark, Bill Lasseter, Derrik Smith, Walter Polson, Alex Sinclair, and Denise Bedson.
Incoming Chairman Mel McDonald praised the dedicated service and contribution of retiring Chairman James Thomas in directing the Association towards the achievement on many of its challenging aims and objectives since its inception in 2003 and presented him with a gift of Macallan whisky ‘Ghillies Dram’ and a limited edition print of the Spey at Easter Elchies.
He went on to give a presentation showing the successes of the RSAA Junior Section from 2005-2009 with a powerpoint slide presentation. He thanked all the Association sponsors for their donations and support which had resulted in a large number of young people In Moray and Speyside being introduced to angling over the period.
James Thomas presented the Alan Smith Trophy to the most improved junior member, Ewan Cooper.
Roger Knight Director of the Spey Fishery Board gave a resume of the River Spey fishing season and catches and returns in 2009 and touched on various issues concerning the river including the revised Spey Fishery Board Conservation Policy for 2010 and the current issue of Core Paths. He answered a number of questions from the floor.
Ian Gordon, former Knockando Spey Ghillie and champion speycaster, gave a very interesting and amusing talk illustrated by rare film footage of the late A.H.E. Wood fishing at Cairnton on the River Dee in the 1920s and the late L.R.H. Hardy fishing with friends around the same era in the River Aaro in Norway. He answered a number of questions from the floor.
The photo above right shows retiring chairman James Thomas(left) receiving a framed limited edition print of the River Spey at Aberlour from incoming Chairman Mel McDonald(right). Photo courtesy of Derrik Smith.