New Chairmen at Angling Trust and Fish Legal

The Angling Trust has announced that Stephen Marsh-Smith has resigned as Chairman of both the Angling Trust and Fish Legal and that Stuart McPherson has resigned as a Director of the Angling Trust and Committee Member of Fish Legal and Chairman of the Marine Committee.

The Angling Trust Board thanked Stephen and Stuart for all their voluntary work which has contributed to the formation of the Trust. The Fish Legal Committee expressed their thanks to Stephen for 8 years’ service to the ACA and Fish Legal.

Michael Heylin was elected as Chairman of the Angling Trust at an Angling Trust Board meeting on Friday 4 September. Roger Furniss was elected as Chairman of Fish Legal at a Fish Legal Committee meeting shortly afterwards. Both appointments were supported unanimously by the Directors of Angling Trust and Trustees of Fish Legal respectively. A new Chairman of the Marine Committee will be recruited as soon as possible.

Michael Heylin said: “I am privileged, humbled and honoured to be able to Chair the Angling Trust, an organisation which I believe is absolutely vital for the future of angling in England. The Board and I are determined that the organisation will be transparent, accountable and listen to its membership and that we will take action to protect the interests of all sea, game and coarse anglers throughout England.”

Roger Furniss said: “I have seen how valuable the work of Fish Legal is to its member angling clubs and riparian owners at first hand on many occasions and I am looking forward to the opportunity of helping expand and develop this work which benefits all angling. The Fish Legal Committee and I will be looking at ways of increasing the resources available to this unique organisation in partnership with the Angling Trust in England and with the relevant governing bodies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.”