HASTINGS WINKLE CLUB

The Winkle Club rules can be somewhat complicated an have proved so often to be pitfalls for the unwary - to the advantage of the funds:

 

1. The first rule is the challenge to 'Winkle Up'. If a member challenged can not produce his winkle, he must be fined (nowadays a £1 fine going to good causes). But if the challenger fails to report the delinquent before the following Saturday, he has to pay a double fine

 

2. The winkle must never pass out of the owner's possession and he must always produce it when challenged. A favourite trick is for one member to say to another: "Put your winkle on the table for a moment; I should like to compare it with mine for colour" - or size or any other excuse. If the other fellow in a thoughtless moment puts his winkle down, he at once becomes liable for a fine. Moreover, no member may ever have two winkles in his possession. Another artful dodge is casually to invite a member to pick up and examine a second winkle with some appropriate remark - "Have you ever seen one like that?" or something of the sort. If he unthinkingly takes it, he is at once in trouble and a fine is duly levied

 

3. Anybody challenging a non-Winkler too has to pay up

 

4. It is frequently easy to induce a member to 'go over and Winkle Up old so-and-so there in the corner for a lark', only to find that old-so-and-so is not a member. Another fine. All's fair in Winkling-up and it all goes to charity

 

5. No member may Winkle-Up a man at work or driving or doing anything else that requires concentration - this rule came into being many years ago after Albert Dighton had challenged Dick Betts when the latter was riding his bicycle. Startled, Dick braked too quickly and shot on to the road..

 

The Winkle Club Supper 2009 - Members present included Michael Foster MP,

Mr. Richard Reed, Chairman and Cllr Richard Stevens, Vice-Chairman

The Fishermen's Club (formerly Fishermen's  Institute) was opened in 1882. The building was given in trust for the use of Hastings Fishermen, the ground floor area,nowused as the bar and clubroom, was initially used by the fishermen for making and repairing their nets, the bar and club itself was situated on the first floor and the basement was given up to snooker tables.

A refurbishment took place in 1964 and the club was reopened with the bar and club on ground level as the area was no longer needed for the making and repair of nets, the name was then changed to the Fishermen's Institute and Society, and was then changed again six years ago to what we now know as The Fishermen's Club. We are the Headquarters of the Hastings Winkle Club and are the only C.I.U affiliated club in Hastings, and welcome all members from C.I.U Clubs everywhere, we can cater for coach parties and lay on food and music if requested, (a deposit or full payment is needed if food is required).We are open every day during the summer months with live music most Sunday afternoons, we have games nights three times a week usually Mondays, Tuesdays and Friday evenings and have a Quiz night every last Wednesday of the month. New members are always welcome and our membership fees are only £12.00 per year.