We had another good attendance including a tableful of friends from SMDAC, starting at the earlier time of 6:30pm to fit in with the Marina Bar winter hours. We had the added attraction of a guest speaker, but first things first – Club business.

Competition Standings are below. The Bass Cup competition has closed with the end of the bass open season and Mark Banks seals first place. The Cod Cup and Cod Pool look remarkably similar, Dan Lumsden leading with 5lb 8oz and Tim Andrews in second place with 2lb 13oz. This is a sign of the times, when a Specimen cod is still listed at 20lb!

Fish Of The month was awarded by vote to Dave Newnham’s 24lb Blonde Ray which was just 1lb short of Specimen, even though Dan’s cod was in the present circumstances perhaps more remarkable.

The Cod Pool has 35 entrants and only Dan’s cod to beat, so it’s well worth the money.

The next debate was whether we will lose contestants from the Cod Open on Sunday 11th, as they might get too excited and bevved watching England v. France the previous day. We agreed to poll likely contestants (post meeting note: overwhelming Yes to carry on, weather permitting)

The Mandela Cup will be fished on 27th December, 8am to 2pm, weigh-in by 3pm (members only).

Our Curry Night will be after the January 2023 meeting which will be held a week later than usual on 10th January because of the New Year. A quick meet at 6:30pm, then whip upstairs for a decent curry.

Neville thanked members for their purchases of Fairtrade SMAC hoodies and explained that the supplier’s (Koolskools) MD Andy Ashcroft will be visiting the cotton growers and hoodie factory in India during December. He plans to bring back a few photos to show the benefits that our Fairtrade purchases bring to the workers.  We’ll also send them some photos of their hoodies in action with our club members!

Finally, we had a fascinating talk on the story behind the wreck of the Flag Theofano at Dean Tail led by Steve Hunt, in a “fireside chat” with Neville. Steve has been actively involved in researching the events leading up to the wreck and afterwards. He has been assisting the commercial diver Martin Woodward who is the author of the book “The Forgotten Shipwreck”, and campaigning for more recognition of the loss of so many lives so close to Portsmouth. Although the book has a lot of information, there is still more to tell and yet more to discover.

Steve, an experienced local mariner (Royal Navy, Pilot coxswain and Langstone Harbour Board assistant harbourmaster), is hugely knowledgeable and explained both the known facts and the remaining questions very well. He showed us charts, reports and images that are adding to the published story. In fact Steve himself bought the grave of the only casualty to be buried in Portsmouth, Ibrahim Hussein (aged 19) and persuaded Southampton Ship Owners Association to fund the memorial gravestone. Penny Mordant MP and the local Council have also put their support behind his campaign for more recognition of the wreck and those who lost their lives, and a memorial plaque on the seafront has been promised.

We are very grateful to Steve for coming along and giving us such an interesting talk.

There is a review of Martin’s book here (where you can buy a copy too) and I will also be publishing a follow-up article listing the unanswered questions. I have a feeling the story has not yet ended. There are almost certainly 14 bodies still in the wreck, only 3.8 miles from shore.

Next Meeting: 10th January because of the New Year. A quick meet at 6:30pm, followed by our Curry Night for those who wish to stay.