About Fountain Lake Angling Club

Our Angling Club History

In 1957 a group of local boatman and fishermen got together to form the Fountain lake Angling and Boating club. The original location was a stretch of foreshore between the Ship and Castle pub and Whale Island Bridge. The club held their meeting in the Ship and Castle with some of the members converting an old stable out the back to use as a club room. Following a change of ownership of the pub the club relocated to the Co-op club in Kingston road for the monthly meetings

The Old Foreshore

The first president was Ernie Trice and the first Chairman Ben Coombes, amongst the first members were some of the old Rudmore families that had earned their livings from the harbour. Ernie remained President until the mid-sixties when he was replaced by Ben Coombes. In 1971 the club formed a junior section under the stewardship of Ben with most of the juniors still being active or committee members today. In fact the three current club officers stem from the founding junior members.
During the early days the club improved the foreshore which was basically mud by laying large amounts of shingle to form a hard standing on which to work on the boats. A quay was added built by the members using old granite sets purchased from the council and utilising waste concrete donated by Pioneer and ready-mix concrete. An old portacabin was obtained and used as a tea hut until it blew down during the 87 Hurricane. Further improvements were made by the installation of some old wooden pontoons sourced from the admiralty. In the eighties the club took on the lease of the foreshore from the Crown estates which was a bold move at the time but proved to be a blessing as during the mid-nineties Portsmouth council wanted to expand the ferryport onto ground the club leased, following protracted negotiation’s led by the then secretary Mauri Jones and Chairman Alf Horn and committee a deal was struck which has lead the club to its present location and facilities.

Hard Standing Area