(Malcom Miller - Founder of the WLAC)

West Linton is a historical conservation village nestling at the base of the Pentland Hills in Peeblesshire, Scotland. Its history stretches way back in time mainly in connection with being a stopping place for cattle herded from the North on their way down into England and had a market on what is now the village green.

The angling club was formed in 1979 mainly due to Malcolm Miller, a gamekeeper, putting a notice in Bells shop, the local newsagents. George McGill, the local policeman, contacted him and very soon had rustled up in his own inimitable style, several local enthusiasts. Over a few but frequent drams, the concept of the club was formed and on 26th September 1979 (curiously at the end of the fishing season), a meeting was held in the Linton Hotel with, I quote, 'over 20 people, all males attended'. So the club came into existence. Once decided to form the club, almost immediately there was a lobby for sea fishing and a lively debate decided that the club should be for the noble art fly fishing only. A shield was offered for the best angler of the year by Robert Burnet owner of the Gordon Arms Hotel in the village, one of many trophies we acquired eventually over the years. It was decided to have 3 Loch and 3 River outings and to see if one or two days could be obtained on one of the local lochs- Westwater.

George McGill was appointed as Chairman, Dr McKenzie Secretary and Roy Hatton Treasurer. The first committee comprised of Frank Fiddes, Marshall Hayton, Peter Jeffrey, Alan Lindsay, Peter Martin and Malcolm Miller. It was decided to invite Colonel Sutherland a local landowner, to become Honorary President. The meeting decided to hold monthly winter evenings with films, talks etc. The high light of these evenings was fishing video - a great rarity in those days.

In subsequent committee meetings, held initially in members homes and later in the old Church Hall, the subscriptions were set at £3 and £1 for juniors under 16 and a Rules and Constitution were drawn up.

Subsequently, arrangements were made for fishing on the local lochs at Westwater, Baddinsgill in West Linton and North Esk in Carlops.

Malcolm Miller was appointed Vice Chairman in November of that year. A boat was donated by Frank Fiddes - a local clock shopkeeper, albeit damaged but it was soon repaired by W Mark owner of the Ninemileburn Sawmill, at a cost of £250 plus VAT.

The first Annual Meeting was held on 27th October 1980 by which time other trophies had been generously donated. The first winners were -

Malcolm Miller - Club Champion - The Robert Burnet Shield and Goblet.

Frank Fiddes - Runner up- a priest.

Peter Wills - Junior Champion - Mark Sinclair & Son Shield and a fishing bag.

Nigel Farmer - Junior Runner up and largest fish - Fly tying vice.

Peter Martin - Biggest fish - Goblet.

George McGill - Heaviest fish on West Water.

Subsequently, it was decided to restrict membership to 40 members from West Linton and local districts. This remained until around the turn of the millennium when it was expanded to encompass Dolphinton and to include invited anglers from other areas. Perhaps the spirit of the club was illustrated at an AGM by the following in the Secretaries Report on the River Lyne outing, recording that 9 rods produced but one fish - "A suggestion that the individual concerned should be reported to the Police for taking an undersize fish was vetoed by the Chairman, the culprit himself''.

Brian Todd