Pete Frost

It is with great sadness that we have to report on the passing of Our dear friend Pete Frost.

Pete was a great friend to our group, his passion and enthusiasm for angling was an inspiration. We were Privileged to have spent many hours fishing in his company and also for the many lively informative discussions we had with him at our group meetings.

  Pete Frost (on the left) talking with Paul Howkins







 Pete Frost - Otherwise known as : Uncle Pete, Frosty, Peter the eater
 Much loved, our patriarch basically keeps us all in line as our honorary old bloke.

 Extracts taken from Peter's own notes during 2011
 
 Some History regarding Angling positions I have held over the years
 
 Positions and honours held at present are President of MKSG,President Luton AC, Honorary life member vice president British carp study group, Honorary life member Stewartby water sports club plus honorary member and vice chairman of the angling section, Vice chairman and life member of Dunstable Angling club, Honorary life member of the Barbel Specialists, Honorary member of Vauxhalls AC, Honorary member Bourton fishery syndicate, Syndicate leader whitehouse fishery, Honorary member of Linford lakes . Lastly but not least  "Uncle" to Milton Keynes Specialist Group.
 
 My first position on a club committee was almost certainly with AC Delco in the 1950's I have written evidence after so many years that although I never worked at AC Delco's I was heavily involved with the angling club at the time and believe I was on the committee as associate members rep. What I do clearly remember though that having gained membership of Letchworth AA in the middle 1950's I think I did several years on their committee ending up a Letchworth delegate to G.O.F.C (Great Ouse Fishery Consultative Association) My longest stint in angling politics has been at Stewartby.
 In the 1960's a stream which had been diverted whilst quarrying went on was then allowed to fill the big pit there. In the early 1970's LBC (London Brick Combany) gave a lease to Mid Beds county council to develop a water sports centre and later a nature reserve, To administer the project Stewartby water sports club was formed comprising of a management committee with sections with their own officers.
 Those section initially being sailing,watersking, angling, power boating and sub aqua.
 I joined the angling section as soon as it started and within a few seasons went on to the committee where I have remained for 30 odd years now. During this time I was for 13 years the Angling section rep on the management committee. I have also for many years been the angling section vice chairman. My reward as stated earlier is honorary life member.
 
 Another long stint I did was with the British Carp study group Formed by Peter Mohan and Eric Hodgson 42 years ago, I wouldn't join at first people saying they only want to pick your brains, I did join eventually however to the delight of Peter Mohan who punched the air. Two chairman came and went in the first few years Bob Reynolds (to prison) and Tom Mintram. It was with great surprise that I was approached by people like Kevin Maddocks asking if I would allow my name to go forward as a prospective new chairman, duly elected I held the post for 25years standing down as the group entered the computer age of which I have no knowledge and on my retirement I was given a Silver Salver and was made honorary life vice president .
 
 Dunstable AC
 I first gained a fishing permit to fish blue circle Houghton road quarry back in the 1970's I think, this was a very straight forward process at the time once again within a few seasons I went on to the committee and remained there until blue circle cement finally shut down their depot completely. In an attempt to retain the water those of us that had been involved in running the place in the past years set up to form an angling club from scratch. Drawing up a constitution and angling rules we made an offer for the fishing rights for the as yet unnamed club wtth no members and of course no money. We did know the right people in the owning company and did succeed in gaining a lease in the name of Dunstable angling club. Fortunately there was not an existing club so named else blue circle legal buffs would have caused us a lot of confusion.
 Now approaching its 25th anniversary I am the clubs vice chairman and have been I think since the start I also have life membership.
 
 Involved with and responsible for :
 
 One thing that I never received any credit for or even thanks was the introduction of a season permit at Tring Reservoirs. Having taken over on the death of his father Charlie, Bernard Double then living in the oddly shaped lodge house at the edge of Tring park often bemoaned the fact that day after day he would visit Wilstone Reservoir to find the bank bereft of anglers. Although the water contained some very big fish it was pretty hard going there and the high exposed banks made the place far less attractive than Marsworth or even Startops with the pubs nearby. Punt hire brought in some angling revenue but the Tring estate agents were not very happy about things there. Another discouraging factor perhaps was that the two and sixpence Tring day tickets were the most expensive in the area. Worth deviating here perhaps, to record that when I first started work at Luton Vauxhall's plant the weekly wage (one of the highest in Luton) was if production target were met was £12.50 a week. Anyway I went round my circle of mates asking the question if you could fish Tring reservoirs at night would you buy a season ticket permit at a tenner?
 Frank Gutfield did the same and eventually I approached Bernard with a combined total of names nearly 30 I think. There was a potential source of revenue but the thought of night fishing worried him to death I think. Regular Tring angler Pete Bates got some names as well and it was with Bates that I went to Bernards house to sort things out. We drew up a set of rules to be followed if the plan went ahead amongst his worries only one had much validity in my opinion and that was the constant use of light like the Tilley lamps and worse bright lights flashing about might scare of wild foul. Shooting being a big source of income to the estate. Assuring him that we ourselves would (and did) deal with any offender in that department - "put that bloody light out" any way the scheme went on trial although the agents wanted more than 10 quid.  12. 10  I think it was or maybe even 15 quid, Still no Sunday fishing in those days but Saturday night packing up time was gradually extended. Pete Bates died a couple of years back but Frank Gutfield will surely remember getting his list of names should any one doubt this account.