Graham Elliott - A statement

Part 1 /
Dear All,
Due to a large amount of emails I have received, telephone calls, and rumours from BFW and BS members and other websites regarding my relationship with Twyford and District Angling Club, I hope that those with an interest will indulge me and allow me to set the record straight.

Three weeks prior to the recent AGM, I was contacted by a senior member of the Club Committee. He was very concerned that new rules to be imposed in would have a detrimental effect on the fishing of Pleasure and Specimen anglers.

I also discovered that the AGM notification would not include any details of the rules to be imposed and that the Match anglers on the Committee would separately notify the match anglers to attend and support the rule changes. (for information, when one of the new rules was voted on the year previously, without this planned manipulation, it was turned down by the general membership 3 to 1! The Committee still imposed it!)

A group of friends of mine got together in an attempt to balance out the Committee at the next AGM and managed to get three of us voted onto the Committee. Having been a past Chairman and a current Trustee of the Club, I was delighted to be voted on as Treasurer. This was important to me as legitimately the Committee have not the power to impose general rule changes without a 2 to 1 vote of the members. This fact has been abused over the past few years. (let me explain)

A number of years ago, when I was Chairman, we wanted to purchase a water. As the current constitution, meant that members voted each year on the amount of the membership fee, The Committee could not purchase it without a pre knowledge of annual income. I called an EGM, explained the situation to the attendees and asked for a Constitution change to allow the Committee to set fees and also included a needed amendment to allow the Committee to change general rules in any emergency situation, eg. The landowner wanted change of access mid term.
It is this Constitutional change that is being abused and letting the Committee change general rules without reference to membership.

In fact what has happened is that a Group on the Committee is now block voting and basically running the club as they wish. Exactly what the membership votes were meant to prevent!

Part 2/
Just prior to the end of the AGM, after we had been voted onto the Committee, one of the ?group? decided to add to the agenda a motion that guiding should not be allowed on the Clubs waters. This would have no affect on me, so I declared it was a good idea. A number of people spoke up for me. The motion was heavily defeated.

About 20 minutes after the meeting, as I was talking with a lifetime member and another angler, a previous Barbel record holder, I was attacked from behind by the Committee member who had raised the guiding issue. I was grabbed by my collar and kicked in the back. Despite being told to get away, he said, ?That?s the last time you make a fool out of me? and attacked me again and I defended myself. We were pulled apart and his friends led him out of the hall.

10 minutes later, I left with the Chairman of the Club and on my way to the car he attacked me again. This time I avoided the attack apart from some bruising and made a point of not defending myself.

He was later charged by the Police and pleaded guilty to ABH. My witness statements were investigated by them and they pursued the matter.

The Committee decided to hold a meeting to discuss the incident, unfortunately the timing coincided with a Holiday overseas with me, but I was assured that it would be handled fairly. I knew two of the Committee members had clearly seen the incidents and I included in my statement details of the two witnesses that I had been talking to at the first attack.

Whilst overseas I received notification that I was found guilty of Gross misconduct and been banned for 5 years! I discovered my attacker had been allowed to talk to the Committee personally and that none of my witness statements had been included or contacted.

Once this information came out, a significant number of club members and trustees contacted the Chairman and asked that the sentence be reviewed. I asked that I be allowed to talk to the Committee and give my verbal evidence and also that they take account of my witness statements.
Meanwhile, one of the Committee members that had supported my version of events was telephoned by my attacker and asked to change his story. He refused but resigned from the Committee.

I was asked by the Chairman to attend a meeting last week, to give my version of events. However, prior to me going into the meeting the Committee voted 7-6 that the sentences should stand and I would not be allowed to give my evidence or present my witness statements.

This led to two further Committee members resigning in disgust at the unfairness of it all and walking out of the meeting. Meanwhile my attacker has, despite a 7 year ban, been fishing as a Club Match member on Twyfords waters on a guest ticket with the support of 3 of the Committee.

The Secretary has also resigned since and has written a very strong letter to the Committee regarding the handling of the incident.

I wanted the opportunity of clarifying, what to many must seem insignificant, however??a message I believe, amongst many, that must be heeded, is that all specialist and pleasure anglers MUST contribute to the running of any club they belong to, to prevent it being hi-jacked by a minority group with self interest, not membership interests at heart.



Good Fishing.

Graham

After the message had been posted on BFW and The BS websites.

Thanks again all my friends for the support in this.

I value all advice. My first instinct was to walk away. Take the easy route. Keith, I value your imput as always.

I must say however, that the number of emails and posts that have also advised to battle against this gross injustice have far outweighed my initial instincts.

Typical is the email I recieved just a couple of hours ago from a person I have only met once before. Name omitted.

"Hi Graham,

I am sure you have had hundreds of messages along the same lines, so I will keep this brief.

Over the last couple of days I have both read about what has happened to you and spoken to others with information regarding Twyford DAA, and I would like to say I am absolutely disgusted with the way you have been treated!

If you do decide to take legal action against the club, I would be more than happy to donate ?100.00 towards any costs you may incur.

On a better note, I hold exclusive rights to about two miles of a really beautiful private stretch of the middle Trent that holds some fantastic fish, so if ever you fancy a day out, then please get in touch.

Best wishes,"


I have declined the offer of monies, from this kind person and many others.

There is a campaign, now started, to take action regarding the abuse of members democratic rights and the Assault incident and other matters, like the other banned member being allowed to continue fishing TDFC waters with 3 of the current Committees approval.

Despite this we do believe that the sentence of a 7 year ban on the person concerned was savage in the extreme for 2 moments of madness in a long career as a top match angler and will be recommending that it be changed (with the New Democratic Committees approval )to 2 years

A post detailing the action to be taken, and how TDFC members can contribute will be here soon.

It is key, that those who are members make the campaign known to as many members as possible.

Win or lose, we will have tried.

I wont add to this post again, and thank you all who have waded through it.

Look for the post and how to help. And tell everyone you know please.

Kind regards and heartfelt thanks.

Graham

Good luck,Graham and the membership of TDAC.

We must not let bullies damage our enjoyment of fishing,so keep your eyes and ears open ladies and gents.

Good luck Graham, sure the end result will be the just one.

Personally, if somebody kicked me in the back I would cut the phqas nuts off.


Mental note to be logded in brain of anyone thinking of kicking me in the back....have life insurance upto date.


Good luck Graham

Absolutely disgusting and unforgivable behaviour by this club and its cover up committee.

Anybody can have a disagreement. That is what happens amongst members. But for a committee member to act in this way and resort to violence is totally unacceptable.

In the very least your attacker should have recieved a lifetime ban and be blacklisted throughout the country.


I wish you the very best of luck.

Would the NFA be interested in this clubs actions?

I was considering joining this club having looked at and fished some of their waters via another club's exchange ticket system.

I have spoken to some people who know a bit more than me on this episode and they generally concur with your view. However, they seem to prefer to "lie low" (fair enough).

Despite the excellent fishing on offer, my money will now go elsewhere.

With respect Graham and not wanting to cast any doubt whatsoever on what you state (as I have no knowledge of the goings on) there are always two sides to a story. Interesting that the other side hasn?t responded with its own statements of events?

Based on your statements, and in the absence of comment by the other side, it does appear to be a travesty of natural justice and akin to an Australian animals court.
May be the Australian boxing animal would like to respond to this thread?

Or is it sticking its head in the sand like a similar flightless African bird to the Emu?

Absolutely disgraceful behaviour.

Well done to you Graham for standing up to these bullies and protecting not only your rights but others too.

I've witnessed the bullying that goes on first hand, but took the easy option and got out.
Fair play to you mate, corrupt committees stink! They should all stand down and a new committee should be elected.

Good luck Graham.
Steve.

Graham, being a local club I felt tempted to join this year, but on your earlier advice I held off.

It's a shame because Twyford should be and could be such a good club. A shame because someone always seems to upset the secretary or the chairman, sometimes good hard-working people, and they resign. It seems to me that a lot of the problems is short-sightedness and I could point to a couple of other instances there.

However, with regards your own predicament, you know you are welcome to join me anytime you like. (that might be a punishment in itself )

You must have my email address in your book still (I have changed one slightly so contact me through FM if you wish) and just name the day. I've even cleared your swim of weed and the chub are getting bigger!

Thank you for all the messages of support.

Thanks Woody, Thames Chub catcher.

TDFC are a fantastic club with very good waters. Its a club I have given freely of my time over the years to serve as Chairman, Committee member and with additional activities.


Its unfortunate that a group on the Committee are now running it for their own interests rather than the general membership.

The fact that members no longer have a say in the running of the Club regarding rules made etc. Nor are even alerted to rule changes to be imposed prior to an AGM is very sad. Despite that as a Constitutional requirement

Some people want to change things for the better.

I have added a post from BFW for those members of TDFC information.

Kind regards.

Graham


Twyford & District Fishing Club - E.G.M.
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From this thread you are aware of the recent disgraceful events at the Twyford & District Fishing Club surrounding the unfair ban imposed on Graham Elliott after he was assaulted by another Club member at the AGM. As a consequence 4 members of the Committee, including the Secretary, have resigned in protest and the Club is now in chaos. The situation was further exacerbated by 3 of the remaining committee members who knowing allowed a banned member to fish on TDFC waters on a guest ticket. It is our belief that the remaining Committee members have failed to act fairly and impartially, are not suitable individuals to manage the Club and have lost the confidence and support of the vast majority of the Club members.

Consequently a group of TDFC members intend to call for an Extraordinary General Meeting of the club in order to propose the following action:

A vote of no confidence in the current Committee.

If successful we then intend the following:

a) To put forward for selection at the E.G.M. an alternative experienced Committee that will include some of the recently resigned Committee members.

b) For the newly elected Committee to ask members to vote for a change in the Constitution, that would require that all Club rule changes are subject to a vote by the members, rather than being imposed by the Committee.

c) For the newly elected Committee to review the recent bans imposed on two members.

Graham Elliott, a long standing trustee of the Club, fully supports this action and will be actively campaigning in favour of it.

What we ask from you:
We need and would very much appreciate your help in this important initiative.

Initially we need a total of just 10 Full members to request an E.G.M. and expect some of the ex-Committee members to be signatories.

Subsequently, we will need the maximum number of members to attend the EGM itself to vote on the above proposals. Also Associate members support at the EGM will be important, even if they are unable to vote.

If you are willing to offer your support or need further information please contact us at the following email address: TDFC_Members@hotmail.co.uk
When doing so could you please indicate whether you are a full or associate member.

We need as many TDFC members as possible to be aware of this situation and to attend the E.G.M., in order to ensure this is a democratic process and that the outcome reflects the wishes of the members. Therefore, we would be grateful if you could pass these details onto any other members you know and ask for their participation.

If you are a TDFC member then this is your Club and you should decide how it is run. Please give us your support to make this possible.

We look forward to hearing from you.

The TDFC Members Group

Graham,

I'm sure justice will prevail. The current committee sound like they are fascists in the literal sense of the word. Democracy is a misused term (particularly in politics)these days, but a democratic structure is the only way to accurately represent the feelings and views of any association's membership.

All the best, Alex.

These are the dangers of letting what they call a fisherries management committee run the clubs affairs instead of the members haveing a say.

Jeez, so you've got a thread on here too Graham.

Without taking sides on the issue (I don't know Graham or Dave, or have anything to do with Twyford Angling Association) this really isn't anything to do with barbel fishing.

I suggest you desist from posting here and on the (ridiculously long) thread on bfw and get this resolved in a more appropriate manner.

R.

Without taking sides Robin.
I suggest you keep your advice to yourself.

So do I Robin.

Without taking sides Robin I thought yours was a very sensible post,
Don't let them bully you!

He's back and just as clueless!
So Spiros,if anybody wanted the advice of people who register, and run away,they'd ask for it.