Vice President News - Derek Stritton
The Carp Society is delighted to announce that well known, respected angler and long term Carp Society stalwart Derek Stritton has agreed to become a Vice-President of the Carp Society. He joins Carp Society officers President Mike Wilson and fellow Vice Presidents, Tim Paisley, Brian Skoyles, John Seal and Bill Ward.
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Last year Derek Stritton stepped down as Chairman of the Carp Society, and some time after as a member of the board. His stepping aside from the administration-and the well being of the Society- was a sad day, but he felt that it had to happen sometime, and felt that was the right time. We are close friends and we often talk. At the time I felt that stepping-down was a knee-jerk reaction in a pressured moment- and Derek has faced more than his share of such moments during his lengthy involvement in the running of the Society over the last 40-plus years.
I have a number of friends in carp fishing who have wisdom beyond their years, and Derek is one of them. During our recent conversations I started to get the impression that he was regretting his decision to step aside. As a result I mentioned to him that there was the possibility of a Vice President appointment subject to board approval. Would he be willing to accept such an appointment if it were offered to him? He prevaricated very briefly, then confirmed that he would.
The board have made that offer, which is a matter for some joy. Derek’s never been away of course. Officially involved ,or not, he has remained a focal point for many in terms of both Ashmead- purchased during his tenure as Chairman- and the Society museum. He is a Society fixture and now, happily, that status is confirmed. I have worked and socialised with him on and off, for 43 years, and I know how special he is. Long ago he grasped the essence of the Carp Society. Like my two other fellow Vice Presidents Brian Skoyles and John Seal he has wisdom, diplomacy and an intimate knowledge of what the Society stands for. They are essential attributes when the going gets tough, and I’m sure we are all delighted that he has accepted the role of Vice President, and publicly re-aligned himself with the destiny of the great institution that is the Carp Society.
Tim Paisley October 2024
Tim with Society stalwart Derek when he was honoured for his part in the ‘boardroom battle’ success of 2016. He has since had the Society Museum dedicated in his name
