Palm Springs pre Christmas Fish by Tom Hill
Each year prior to Christmas we try to bring some of the people who have attended courses during the year together. The meeting this year was as last at Palm Springs in Leicestershire (oh good another 5hr drive). What made things even better was that as I drove up from sunny ??Devon the M6 had turned into a car park. Eventually I arrived at the B&B and settled in for the night. In the morning after a hearty Breakfast I cleared the ice off the car and drove to the fishery. Everything fine so far. Passing the first lake I was concerned to see a coating of ice on the water. My thoughts immediately went to how we would clear any ice on the fishing lake (a rope, volunteer called Paul and Tony’s Range Rover sprang to mind) but to my relief it was ice free and there were fish moving on top. One of the guys was already there and soon everybody that could come had arrived and very soon the insults were flying thick and fast mostly in my direction. The temperature was extremely low and everyone was donning all the clothing that they had except for one. He came from Newcastle and was in serious danger of breaking into a sweat. He was also the one who commented that Tony had promised a good instructor so what was I doing there (comment noted Lofty). Whilst tackling up Tony gave us his impression of a rather bad downhill skier as he slipped on the frosty sloping bank and slid a few feet towards the water. Everyone held there breath, not concerned that he might have injured himself but to see if he was actually going to take to the lake. To everyone’s relief he managed to stay dry. We were all so pleased and did not laugh at all.
After getting everyone sorted out with kit and some rudimentary (that’s about all I can manage) casting instruction it was down to the fishing. Now Ken had a go at sliding majestically down the slope but instead of imitating a lifeboat launching down the slipway he landed like the proverbial sack of whatever. As he was by far the most aged of our party (have not forgotten Lechlade Ken) my concern was not that he might have injured himself but that he was carrying my limited edition Bruce and Walker The rod was Ok and Ken managed to get to his feet without assistance. So now back to the fishing. Plenty of fish were showing on top but despite the many and varied flies/lures thrown at them nothing seemed to work. All of a sudden Chris was into a fish, which he duly landed having been informed by our esteemed President whilst playing it that it was not very big. When banked it proved to be the best fish of the day about 15lbs. Things continued to remain quiet for a while and a break and coffee were suggested. I went off to put the kettle on whilst the others fished. After about 45 mins the damned thing came to the boil and I made coffee. Tony and Paul were the last to stop fishing and while we were watching Tony hooked a fish over 10lbs. Despite vigorous attempts by Paul to knock it off it was landed. Tony arrived at the hut beaming whilst everyone else assumed an air of complete surprise not having realised that he had taken a fish. He went off and returned with some food (sandwiches and very twee fancy cakes). These were placed in front of Lofty, big mistake. There is only one conclusion when you put a tray of dainty cakes in front of a 6ft 4in Geordie. WE ate the sandwiches.
Whilst there I had a chat with Mark who had travelled down with Lofty. He will I hope be coming on a course soon and is hoping to complete his ADB Game qualification next year. Although we had not met before he explained that Lofty had told him about me and what he had experienced on his course. This confused and surprised me as he still wants to come so God Knows what he has been said. We then returned to the fishing. Fish came in fits and starts, the sun was out and no one else had fallen in. The stop for lunch was a little late, Lofty finished his frontal assault on the buns and then turned his attention the sarnies. The kettle eventually came to the boil and we lounged around chatting/insulting each other and taking the mickey (I have to say this but we all know what I mean). Following lunch we continued our assault on the fish. Tony took another, explaining that he had hooked it whilst hanging the fly before recasting. This means putting the rod butt under his arm to light a cigar and then lifting into a fish as the rod is wrenched from him. A little later Paul changed to a wiggly worm (I kid you not) and promptly demonstrated a completely new style of casting (more akin to the action of a man on stilts who has drunk far too much trying to tap dance . The fly?? was so bulky that he had no chance of casting it with the kit he was using but this did not stop him trying. It did not last long on the leader but it gave us all a certain amount of amusement. Other fish were caught during the afternoon but it was all too soon time to pack up. All the guys went away with a Salmon each, although cold the weather had been bright and a group of mates had gone fishing together. Spot on. Great, I’ve now got a 5hr drive home (well worth it).
Summer Ball
This year the Summer Ball held at Derbyshire Criket Ground raised a fantastic £7500.
What is now held as an annual event is organised by a local Derby family who very sadly lost a brother during the Falklands conflict. The total amount raised on the night was £15000 which is shared equally between Fishing For Heroes and Help For Heroes. A great time was had by all who attended and Jan Spacey even managed to acquire a new pushbike from the auction……. Yours is coming next year Tony !!
Dever Springs wins the fishery of the year award
On Saturday 26.11.11 Dever Springs Trout Fishery was awarded the prestigious award of fishery of the year. This award is given to the fishery that is most supportive of the charity throughout the year.
Capt Tony Spacey presenting Nial Staig from Dever Springs with his award.
The 2011 UK Stillwater Championship Finals
We had a fantastic day at Lechlade for this years UK Stillwater Championship finals.
A brilliant climax to a national event that has raised over £15,000 for the Charity.
We had 15 finalists fishing, and it made a brilliant finale to this year’s programme. With the overall standard of angling extremely high (including 4 internationals) the tough fishing conditions made it a challenging day, but John Goodwin (with that winning fish) came through on the last peg to take the trophy. Johnny Green came a close second, Joan Russell third and Neil Deakin fourth.
A massive thank you to all the fisheries who hosted events throughout the year and in particular to all those who took part and raised sponsorship for the charity.
A huge thank you in particular has to go to Capt Tony Spacey (standing in the background) who gave up his time in organising the Uk Stillwater Championships as he has done in previous years.
Rotherham College and Wales&Kiveton Park Colliery Angling Club
A HUGE thank you goes out to Rotherham College and the Kiveton Park Colliery Angling Club for all their support and help. They made a fantasic donation of £500 which was raised from an annual fishing match in honour and memory of a former member.
Summer season of Game and Country Fairs
Through the summer we have made an appearance at many of the Game and country fairs around the country, and it is pleasing to see that our name is becoming more and more widely recognised by people around the country. This increased recognition means that people are more likely to support the work we are doing with both financial donations and offers of help and support.
We have to give a huge “thank you” to all those who have helped out at these fairs and shows, including the boys in uniform, without whom they would have been no where near as sucessful as they have been.
The Game and Country fairs have been a great sucess and the monies raised from these has been one of the financial mainstays that has meant that we can help and support so many veterans and serving personnel.
We do cover a large proportion of the country with these shows, but we have just recently appeared in kent, an area which previously had not been widely visited. After 3 days at the Rural Craft Assoc show at the kent pavillion not only did we raise substantial funds but also offers of help and support. As a result through Will Izzard ( our new regional organiser in Kent) there are going to be a series of carp fishing matches to help us raise not just monies but also our profile. Anyone wanting to take part in any of these matches can find Will’s details on our regional fundraiser’s page.
- The record attempt in progress
The CLA Game Fair, World Casting Record
During the CLA game fair22-24 July 2011 Fishing for Heroes in supported by Hardy and Greys set a new world record for distance casting. A team of six casters comprising of three members from Hardy and Greys Academy and three instructors from Fishing for Heroes cast continually for six hours a day making a total of 14,146 casts to achieve a total distance of 141 mile 809.05 yards. The team consisted of Tony Spacey, Tom Hill, Scott Simmonds from Fishing for Heroes and Steve Peterson, Howard Croxall Stevie Munn from Hardy and Greys Academy. The number of casts and distance was independently verified by the Game Angling Instructors Association.
2010 UK Stillwater Fly Fishing Championship
During 2010 a series of regional fly fishing competitions was held at the following fisheries Cumbria, Bessy Beck Fishery; Devon, Bellbrook Fishery, Hampshire, Dever Springs; leicestershire, Eyebrook Reservoir; Lincolshire, Toft Newton; Staffordshire, Blythfield Reservoir; Yorkshire, Wykeham Lakes, West Sussex, Chalk Springs. all together over 200 anglers took part and raised over £17,000. The final was held at Lechlade Trout Fishery Gloucestershire in November. The event was attended by Bernard Cribbins and Charles Jardine along with the 20 finalists. The event was won by Kevin Stoltze.
The Arundell Arms, Charity Auction Dinner 21 May 2011
Adam Fox-Edwards, the proprieter of the Arundell Arms, A renowned first class fishing hotel in Devon kindly hosted a charity auction dinner in his hotel that coincided with the final day of the wild trout festival. Around 60 keen fishermen and patrons of the charity attended the evening raising much needed funds for the charity.
The Catterick Dinner, Sat 14 May 2011
LT Col Best, Commanding Officer of The Queen’s Royal Lancers kindly allowed the charity to hold a dinner and auction in his Officers’ Mess in Cambrai Barracks in Catterick Garrison. A truly unique and one off event, never again will the charity have the opportunity to hold a dinner in such a historic and oppulent location.