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.
To Protect and Promote
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.
how we have changed over the years
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
