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Newcastle Guppy & Livebearer Society
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Logo: The original society badge was a bronze coloured vieltail guppy ‘lifesize’ this was replaced by the round badge below depicting a male Guppy.





Formed: December 1962
Disbanded: Yes, 1990s
Specialties:  Livebearers
Meetings: Alternate Thursdays, Heaton Community Centre (1985) , the Rentons House and Coach Lane
Open Show: 1974 - 1980, Satters Road Gosforth, Cruddas park & Byker. 
Open Show Award Cards: 3rd Place, Class Xot, 1977   Cerificate of Merit 1977
Auctions: Usually took place with open shows
Members list: Paul Barrow, Alf Clegg, Paul Conway, Ivan Dibble, R. Hill, Robbie Kerr, Gordon Learoyd, Gordon Martin, June Renton, Dougie Renton, R. Skoyles. 
Additional Information
The NGLS was one of the first clubs to be solely dedicated to livebearers and was responsible for the introduction of many species. The most notable of these being Ameca spledens in the late 70s. NGLS frequently held livebearer only shows; the last being in 1981. These shows were well attended by aquarists from all over the country. Its reputation was on a par with today's national society, Viviparous.
Ameca Splendens
Newcastle Guppy & Livebearer Society, was formed December 1962, its journal was published in 1974 the same year also saw they held the UK's first all livebearer Open show. Twenty-five entries arrived from Germany and were auctioned off at the end. Some notable results: Best Fish In Show:- Mr. D. Pomeroy, Throckly A.S, female platy; Best Guppy In Show :- Mr. Peter Wright, South Shields AS. broadtail guppy. On paper the biggest club in the North East with around 600 members, but the actual meetings, fortnightly on a Thursday in Byker Newcastle attracted around 25 people. The membership was connected to the NGLS Journal, a monthly publication, which was purchased for an annual membership fee it sold throughout the country and overseas. There shows were held in Newcastle; the first in Salters Road, Gosforth then on to Cruddas Park then Byker, I can remember Brian Risbridger. an egglayer fish man, used his contacts,  through South Shields A.S, to get livebearers sent up from its twin club ’Basingstoke A.S.’ the year before the show because he wanted the certificate which was awarded to every exhibitor. The porthole livebearers ‘denticulatus’ he showed, even won the class. Highlight of the 1977 'All Livebearer Show’ was the auction with all the visiting members bringing fish; the 1977 big buys were fish brought from the U.S.A. Anableps anableps, 4 eyes, Brachyraphis rhabdophora, Xenotoca eiseni and brushtail & pintail platies - £40 being paid for a pair of platies, a lot of money back then! . The journal image used contained articles on ‘fish house construction’, ‘over the counter medications from the chemists!’,so it was not all Livebearers, but it does have an interesting article on ‘artificially inseminated your fish’ Tableaux photo, merit certificate badge and Journal included. Robbie Kirkup

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