Season 1, Episode 7: Flyfishers' Club Annual Dinner
Fennel had the honour of introducing the Guest Speaker at The Flyfishers' Club Annual Dinner 2018. In return, we're granted access to all of the after-dinner speeches. So sit back and enjoy an hour of talks that provide a glimpse into the upper echelons of angling.
Transcript of The Contented Countryman Podcast
Episode 7 – 18 November 2018 – The Flyfishers' Club Annual Dinner
Welcome to a very special edition of The Contented Countryman podcast in which we get a rare and privileged glimpse into the upper echelons of angling. We’ll be listening-in to the after-dinner speeches at this year’s Annual Dinner of the Flyfishers’ Club of London. This Club, of which Prince Charles is patron, was formed in 1884 by the eminent fly-fishers of the day. Its membership reads as the who’s who of fly-fishing, today including 650 of the most connected and passionate Flyfishers from around the world. I’m honoured to be a member, secured through my contributions to angling literature – including my regular articles in the Flyfishers’ Journal. I’m also the youngest and most recent recruit to the General Committee that governs the Club, so tradition dictated that I would introduce the Guest of Honour at the Annual Dinner. Hence why I took to the stage and, dressed in black-tie and dinner jacket, made the most important speech of my life: introducing famous cricketer John Barclay.
You’re lucky, too, as I’ve been given special permission to share the recordings of the event with you. You’ll hear Club Secretary Paul Varney announce grace, Club President Patrick Laverty raise some toasts and report on the Club’s successes, then I introduce the Guest Speaker, John Barclay, who delivers his keynote address sharing stories of fishing and cricket with famous names such as Imran Khan, Michael Atherton and Viv Richards making an appearance.
Timing of the after-dinner speeches
1:54 – Welcome and Grace by Paul Varney, Secretary of The Flyfishers' Club.
3:11 – Toasts and President's Welcome by Patrick (Paddy) Laverty, President of The Flyfishers' Club.
17:10 – Introduction to the Guest Speaker by Nigel (Fennel) Hudson, General Committee Member of The Flyfishers' Club.
21:30 – Keynote Address by John Barclay, Principal Guest of The Flyfishers' Club.
48:30 – Presentation of The Speaker's Fly, and Closing Remarks by Patrick Laverty, President of The Flyfishers' Club.
Photos from the event
Fine dining at the Flyfishers' Club Annual Dinner 2018. (Picture courtesy of William Daniel.)
Fennel Hudson introduces the guest speaker. (Picture courtesy of Theo Pike.)
LTR: Fennel Hudson, John Barclay (with Speakers' Presentation Fly), Patrick Laverty. (Picture courtesy of Theo Pike.)
Further information
If you’d like more information about The Flyfishers' Club, please visit www.flyfishersclub.org.uk. Or you might like to read the new book about the Club’s history, written by Dr Andrew Herd, that’s due to be published in 2019.
If you like this blog, you might like Fennel's book Fly Fishing. You'll also like Fennel's Blog: Fennel's Priory dinner at The Flyfishers' Club which provides more information about The Flyfishers' Club and its history, and The Savile Club in which it is located.
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