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  • we originate

    from a long

    line of friers

Fish Friers

started by friers, run by friers, since 1913

Local fish frying associations had begun cropping up around the country towards the end of the 19th century, providing solidarity for friers as the industry grew. But it wasn't until the 11th November 1913 that something bigger was realised. Manchester was where it all began, or to be precise the Albion hotel where delegates from 17 local fish frying organisations gathered with the intention to create a singular national body capable of protecting the interests of the trade.

That meeting, called by the Manchester, Salford and District Fish Friers Association was to form the National Federation of Fish Friers Associations. The first secretary was William Loftas and the membership fee was one shilling per year.

Throughout the early part of the 20th century growth of the NFFF was up and down and in no doubt affected by the two world wars, but early champions such as General Secretary Jackson Tomlinson MBE and twice President Henry Youngman cemented the existence and requirement of a fish frying trade body with membership peaking at 10,914 in 1947.

The early years of the NFFF were marred by rivalry within the trade and several breakaway organisations may have put an end to one national body representing fish friers. In 1923 the Northern Counties Federation came into existence drawing members away from the NFFF only for the breakaway body to become re-united a year later. Several years later in 1968 a similar situation arose when the London and Home Counties Association broke away, again, to re-join later in 1991.

Fish Friers

To Protect and Promote

Fish Friers

The NFFF has always acted in the best interests of the fish frier and during the war years it was the work of the Federation that ensured the supply of raw materials used to make fish and chips was consistently preserved. Meetings with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries were commonplace and the NFFF influence led to price controls for white fish, a plan for emergency fish distribution, potato subsidies and a safeguard on oil and fat supplies. It was these efforts that afforded the NFFF great respect throughout the frying community but this work continued and through the years the NFFF would work to ensure friers were well represented on issues such as Sunday closing, VAT, food labelling and Health & Safety and Hygiene legislation.

also working towards the introduction of the first recognised fish frying qualifications with the City and Guilds in Fish Frying practice introduced in 1993.

In 2013, the NFFF celebrated its centenary year, a 100 years of helping the fish frier. Represented by Regional Directors up and down the country we still work on the same values that we were founded on and will continue to work hard to protect and promote our National dish for as long as people continue to enjoy fish and chips.

Fish Friers

how we have changed over the years

Fish Friers

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Past Presidents & Life Members

PAST PRESIDENTS

1913 - 1914 - Harry Hamer

1914 - 1917 - William Pott

1917 - 1918 - John Pullan

1918 - 1921 - J. Lyon

1921 - 1923 - J.T. Bolam

1923 - 1924 - W. Loftas

1924 - 1927 - J.T. Bolam

1927 - 1929 - E.B. O'Neil

1929 - 1931 - E. Levitt

1931 - 1934 - P.G.W. Manville

1934 - 1935 - W.H. Rose

1935 - 1943 - Henry Youngman

1943 - 1945 - G.L. Muirhead

1945 - 1946 - Henry Youngman

1946 - 1958 - Henry Morgan

1958 - 1964 - Harry Scott

1964 - 1973 - Arnold Scholes

1973 - 1978 - Alan Crisfield

1978 - 1981 - George Bate

1981 - 1985 - Jim Smith

1985 - 1987 - Arthur Parrington

1987 - 1993 - Ken Axworthy

1993 - 1998 - Terry Griffiths

1998 - 2000 - Michael Pili

2000 - 2006 - Adrian Herdman

2006 - 2008 - David Audley

2008 - 2010 - Douglas Roxburgh

2010 - 2011 - Bill Crook

2011 - 2017 - Gregg Howard

2017 - Present - Andrew Crook

LIFE MEMBERS

Manchester, 1924 - William Loftas

Leicester, 1936 - William Henry Rose

Leeds, 1938 - Jim Johnson

Blackpool, 1939 - William Knowles

Wallsend, 1942 - John Thomas Bolam

Portsmouth, 1943 - Percy Manville

Leeds, 1945 - Henry Youngman

Sunderland, 1951 - George Whitehead

Bolton, 1953 - Jesse Whitehead

Bournemouth, 1956 - Henry Morgan

Leeds, 1957 - Jackson Tomlinson MBE

Bishop Auckland, 1964 - Henry Scott

Barnsley, 1970 - Henry Morton

Manchester, 1974 - Arnold Scholes

Cardiff, 1974 - Jack Caravias

Medway Towns, 1979 - Alan Crisfield

Wolverhampton, 1979 - Clifford Gay

Bath, 1980 - George Bate

Kettering, 1986 - Jim Smith

Blackburn, 1988 - Arthur Parrington

Cardiff, 1992 - Jim Dickson

Plymouth, 1994 - Ken Axworthy

Treorchy, 1998 - Terry Griffiths

S. Yorks, 2001 - Rosemary Scott

Ammanford, 2006 - Adrian Herdman

West Sussex, 2006 - Brian Hutton

Devon, 2010 - Douglas Roxburgh

West Midlands, 2017 - Gregg Howard

Birmingham, 2018 - Michael Pili

Fish Friers

Fish Friers
Fish Friers