Britain's oldest fly

Release time：2024-05-29 02:32:45 Source：Stellar Standpoint news portal

Britain's oldest fly-fishing club which counts King Charles as its patron is facing calls to admit women for the first time ever.

The calls come after the exclusive gentlemen's society The Garrick Club decided to change its 193-year-old men-only policy and allow women to join earlier this month. 

The Flyfishers' Club was established in 1884 and describes itself as a club for gentlemen interested in the art of fly fishing, with around 600 current members.

It has a male-only guest policy, except in the case of events. 

But two keen fly fishing women have challenged the policy by publicly criticising it for being old fashioned.

The Flyfishers' Club was established in 1884 and describes itself as a club for gentlemen interested in the art of fly fishing, with around 600 current members (stock photo)

It is Britain's oldest fly-fishing club and even counts King Charles (pictured in 2021) as its patron 

King Charles is known to be a keen fisherman and took his sons on several fishing trips during the Royal Family's summer holidays in Scotland

King Charles, then Prince of Wales, fishing with Prince Harry at Loch Muick on the Balmoral Estate during a family picnic in the summer of 1993

Marina Gibson, a fly fishing instructor and guide, and Lucy Mantle, the chairman and co-founder of the City Flickers fly fishing organisation, have called for the club to embrace change.

Ms Gibson, who began fishing at the age of five and has written a book about her passion for fly fishing, said she would 'absolutely love' to join The Flyfishers' Club.

She said during an event at the Hay Festival: 'I don't go to London that often but if I did, I would just love to go and sit and read a book and talk about fishing to other fishermen', according to The Telegraph. 

Ms Mantle posted an open letter to the club president on her Instagram which read: 'In light of the recent press reports on the Garrick Club, I thought the timing might be right to raise my concerns.

'I am of course aware that the club was founded in 1884 as a 'gentlemen's club for fly fishers', but it now seems increasingly anachronistic and archaic to continue to ban women given the vast societal changes that have occurred.

'There are many of us - both men and women - who view the policy as indefensible, unsustainable and, above all, unwise for a whole series of reasons.'

Previous members of the club included author David Profumo, son of Sixties sex scandal Tory minister John, and TV's Loyd Grossman (stock image)

King Charles fishing near Balmoral in Aberdeenshire in May, 1984

She said there was a widespread misconception that fly-fishing was for 'old fogeys' or wealthy, elderly men in the UK.

She also said she was sceptical that the exclusion of women is the strongly-held position for the majority of members.

In conclusion, she added: 'Most women anglers that I know have the exact same passion and knowledge of fly-fishing as many eminent current members.

'I am sure this issue has arisen on several previous occasions. But, as the Garrick experience has shown, it won't go away and momentum is building. Please help do the right thing. And yes, I would have liked to join.'

Alastair Collett, president of the club, told The Telegraph the matter was under consideration and may be put to a membership vote. 

The matter was last discussed by the general committee in 2013 as members met on how it would deal with the Equality Act.

The president of the club said the matter was under consideration and may be put to a membership vote

King Charles, then the Prince of Wales, looks at a fishing magazine during a visit to Braunton in North Devon in 2012

But at the time it was not put to a vote and the men-only rule remained. 

Previous members of the club included author David Profumo, son of Sixties sex scandal Tory minister John, and TV's Loyd Grossman.

King Charles is known to be a keen fisherman and took his sons on several fishing trips during the Royal Family's summer holidays in Scotland.

The club has had several homes over its 140-year lifetime but is now based at the Savile Club in Mayfair. 

The row over The Flyfishers' Club membership rules is not the first issue around gender to raise its head in the fishing community recently. 

In 2020, the BBC Europe editor Katya Adler was ridiculed for referring to 'fisherpeople' rather than 'fishermen' during a package on Brexit talks.

In 2020, the BBC Europe editor Katya Adler (pictured) was ridiculed for referring to 'fisherpeople' rather than 'fishermen' during a package on Brexit talks 

Critics at the time said people working in the industry on boats are overwhelmingly men, pointing to a study finding only 2.7 per cent are female.

Piers Morgan railed against the use of the word and hit out at the BBC, saying on Good Morning Britain at the time: 'Here's the point, it's a rough old job, on the trawler boats on the rough high seas.

'I've never seen a woman on a trawler boat doing that.'

Another row broke out last February when singer Sam Smith claimed they dreamed of becoming a 'fisher-them' on BBC's The One Show.

The non-binary pop star, who uses the pronouns they/them, was asked about their fishing hobby before correcting a presenter who appeared to 'misgender' them by asking whether they would like to be a 'fly fisherman'. 

Ms Gibson said she was perfectly happy with the continued use of fishermen instead of fisherpeople.

Another row broke out last February when singer Sam Smith claimed they dreamed of becoming a 'fisher-them' on BBC's The One Show 

The non-binary pop star (pictured at the Brit Awards in 2023), who uses the pronouns they/them, was asked about their fishing hobby before correcting a presenter who appeared to 'misgender' them by asking whether they would like to be a 'fly fisherman' 

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BREAKING NEWS Men-only Garrick Cub votes to allow women to become members for the first time in its 193 year history after sexism storm fueled by celebrity patrons

Meanwhile the pressure on The Flyfishers' Club to admit women could continue to build in a similar fashion to what happened to The Garrick Club.

The gentlemen's club landmark decision to admit women came after celebrity figures such as Stephen Fry and Sting threatened to quit the club unless the policy was changed. 

Top civil servant Simon Case and MI6 boss Sir Richard Moore resigned from the club after their names were published on a leaked list of members. 

The Garrick's 1,300 members, who include, King Charles, deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden and actor Hugh Bonneville, voted the change through with 60 per cent in favour in May.

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