Bits From Boldon
By Alan Cutting of Boldon AAS, 

This piece first appeared in Fish Forum number 49, printed in September 1979. Fish Forum was a joint venture between South Shields AS (founded 1971) & Basingstoke ADAS (founded 1954) - referred to as BADAS, in the aquarist press until they tumbled  -  and twinned in 1974.  Alan wrote this before his club's success at running Open Shows over the next few years.
He refers to breeding neons; this was a feat in those days because they had long been though of as impossible to breed. 
Some other things need explaining:
A Walljumper is a Scot and refers to crossing Hardian's wall
Tony H is Tony Harmsworth, a Basingbstoke member who later emigrated to Loch Ness in Scotland, worked as a postman and spent his spare time looking for Nessy.
Mervyn is Mervyn Strange of Basingstoke ADAS - He attended all major function in this area and throughout the country.

I went to my first fish show for a few years. I looked on with great pity, as I saw the judges
sitting on chairs peering at the fish, most of them looked the same (a little older) but then I thought good grief they are all blind, they were all holding white sticks.
Later having a chat they explained the FBAS rule (I thought grand idea). Now all we have to do is get the fish to stand still (is Bob Esson working on that?)
The club wanted to know what a walljumper was, so I gave a brief description of Tony H. and the members are now patrolling the wall, so your members can rest easy, he will not get back! (Is there any truth he is trying to get the Loch Ness Monster to breed in a tank, even Mervyn wouldn't manage that. That's why most of the scots look so wild it's the frustration, if they only could get it to the London Show they might get a fourth card.
At the same meeting it was discussed and passed that any money won by the first copy of Forum we have ordered, is to be donated back to help the Forum's printing casts, we feel the Forum is good value.
I have written to Reg Peck who is now our FBAS delegate, so it is as we talked about in the old days, clubs can get together and help each other in a lot of ways. The club have also made Reg an Honorary Member, so when he starts to wear a new badge you will know why.
I have been testing flake foods for about two months now, I will let you know what I have found when I finish. I have managed to get hold of some old fish farm recipes which I will also let you have. Have any of your readers any of their own they could let me have, drop me a line?
Well the weather is nice up here now so I will roll up my jeans and go plodging (that means paddling) doon the whater (all that means is walking down to the beach)
The lads at Boldon A. A. S. went to there first open show, five lads with six fish.
After benching their fish, they saw the other fish in the classes were all for putting them back in their boxes, but I said lets wait and see. Well the show was Caer Urfa AS, and it was
great success for them and we enjoyed it very much. Then to top it all Ken Oxley got a 2nd in the coldwater class and was beaten by 1 point for first place. Ken the Pen Sawyer won a 4th card with his shark in its gold choc box bottom tank.
Then the lads started to want to talk to the judges and I thought here we go, they have the bug. I am glad they were distracted because I did not get one card, the judges don't like people who breed neons, well I will have to give them another outing.
The show was well supported by clubs from all over the north east. The fish were benched on scaffold about 4' 6" off the ground and big fish were 3' 6", a good idea as the frames were covered in black plastic sheet which helped the fish.
Besides a film show there was entertainment by the local band, and judo and gymnastics from the local school.
It was a good day out for everyone, for the aquarists there was an auction, and plenty to eat, but that brown stuff was nowhere to be found.