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I am issuing this statement to inform members who use this forum as to how the Committee has dealt with this issue. I hope in the process to correct some misinformation that is contained in some other postings on this site and elsewhere.

The verbal and physical exchanges involving Dave Wightman and Graham Elliott that followed the AGM in April were considered in detail by the Committee at the scheduled Committee Meeting on Wed 10 May 2006. Dave Wightman and Graham Elliott were given the same opportunity to present their case. Dave did so in person and produced two statements supporting his account of events. Graham had a pre-arranged holiday and agreed with me in advance of the meeting that he was happy to have his account submitted in writing. Two statements supporting his account of events were also presented to the meeting.

Having considered the evidence presented and debated the issues vigorously, two matters were voted upon. The first confirmed that the penalties for Dave and Graham should differ, with Dave’s being the greater. The second decided that Dave Wightman should be banned from TDFC membership for seven years, Graham Elliott for five.

Graham’s ban meant that he was unable to take up the Treasurer role to which he had been elected at the AGM. John Green has kindly returned to the role, although he is happy to relinquish it at the next AGM should a viable candidate emerge.

Several weeks later it came to my attention from several sources that Dave Wightman had been fishing TDFC matches, by getting another member to purchase a Guest Ticket for him. This was absolutely not the intention when the ban was put in place, so this was stopped immediately that I became aware of this practice. I wrote to Dave Wightman and Graham Elliott to confirm that the ban meant:

1. Banned members are not allowed to fish any Twyford & District Fishing Club waters as a guest of a member, in a match or otherwise, for the duration of the ban.
2. Banned members are not allowed to fish matches on Twyford & District Fishing Club’s waters as a member of a visiting club for the duration of the ban.
3. Banned members are not allowed to represent the Twyford & District Fishing Club in away fishing matches, for the duration of the ban.

I also wrote to Match Secretary Vic Sexton to make these conditions absolutely clear. He has confirmed to the Committee that they will be observed.

As a result of approaches from several Committee members and other members through June, the issue of the penalties imposed on Graham Elliott and Dave Wightman was added to the agenda for the most recent Committee Meeting, which took place on Wed 19 July. After a vigorous and at times heated debate, a vote was taken and the proposal to review the penalties was defeated. It was therefore not possible to allow Graham Elliott to present his appeal in person, which was his intention.

At the Committee meeting Fisheries Officer, Arron Mulvany, and General Committee Member James Fish resigned. George Smith had already tendered his resignation prior to this last meeting.

No decisions have been made about replacing these members on the Committee. Item 3 in the Club Constitution allows the Committee to invite people to take up Committee posts that fall vacant during the year, but requires that such decisions are supported positively by members at the next AGM. In view of the recent turmoil on the Committee, I believe we should take some time to consider options. Anyone interested should contact me.

Regarding Trustees, all four are still in place (Colin Rumney, Peter Lewis, Bill Bourner and Graham Elliott) despite some rumours to the contrary. Graham has the right to remain a Trustee even though he is not a member now, following his ban. Under article 9 of the Constitution, Trustees may only be removed by a two-thirds majority vote at an AGM or an EGM.

This has been an extremely difficult sequence of events for the Committee to deal with, with some very strongly divided opinions. In these situations it is inevitable that there will be a number of members who will disagree with the outcome. All I can offer to those people is my assurance that the processes we have followed have been based on the Club’s Constitution and Rules wherever possible and that democratic principles have been observed.

Stuart Spindler – Chairman, TDFC