Angling Trust adds to growing list of members

The UK’s Angling Trust has added to its growing list of trade members by signing up top tackle retailer Benwick Sports Angling Centre.

The Cambridgeshire business has become a Retail Associate member and has donated nearly 100 brand new rods, plus reels and floats, to the Trust.

Split over two floors in Soham near Ely, the 35-year-old business says it is the largest in the eastern area. It specialises in match fishing, but also caters to specimen and predator fishing.

“The Trust has done a great job over the last few years, especially during the lockdowns when its lobbying of Parliament helped us to stay fishing when other sports were not so proactive and were unable to carry on like angling,” said Adrian Crane, part of the family-owned and run business.

The Trust’s Marketing, Communications and Membership Manager, John Cheyne, said the tackle donations would go to various groups to ensure it was used by people with mental health issues, to encourage diverse community groups to discover fishing and to get more young people to try the sport for the first time.

The Trust has Retail Associate members in most areas of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, plus more than 20 non-tackle shop retail members. Trade Associate members include Angling Direct, Daiwa, Fox International, Korda, Nash and Shimano.

Main picture: Adrian Crane (left) of Benwick Sports Angling Centre is pictured with Angling Trust CEO, Jamie Cook