June 19th Three-Fly Challenge Fundraiser
(Covid permitting)
One of WTT’s annual fundraisers and now in its eleventh year. A really great day among friends at Meon Springs in Hampshire, brilliantly organised by WTT volunteer, Neil Mundy and the excellent staff at the fishery. You will fish more-or-less competitively for some tremendous prizes, including a Sage rod and elegant trophies. A raffle and auction will be held at lunchtime.
Tickets cost £110 including breakfast, cooked lunch, a 4-fish ticket and flies, with all monies raised going into WTT’s Pasco James Project. Book your ticket online at www.meonsprings.com. If you booked and paid for last year’s cancelled event, your place is confirmed for this year. Further information from Neil Mundy: [email protected] / 07964 379988. Closing date for entries is 15th June and the event will be confirmed at the start of May depending on the COVID circumstances.
Fishing For Forces are privileged to be holding our annual lunch this year on Thursday November 14th at 12 Noon, at the home of the Blues and Royals. The HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY MOUNTED REGIMENT Barracks, Hyde Park, Knightsbridge. SW7 1SE. Hosted by our Patron, The Lord Dear Kt.QPM.DL
As usual at this event there will be a superb three course lunch served in the WO’s and NCO’s Mess. This will be followed by a Raffle requiring a £20 note with your name on it to participate and this will be followed by a small number of superb items for auction to cater for all tastes whilst coffee is being served.
Seats are £120.00 per person but a Table of 10 is offered at £1000.00 (a perfect venue for those special clients). A table of 10 will consist of 9 civilians plus a table guest from HMAF.
A very special addition not to be missed.
Guests of FFF have been offered the rare opportunity to join a tour of the Historic in house Museum, Farriers and Saddlery within the barracks (at no extra cost). The tour commences at 11.00 sharp until 11.45 when the guests will then return to the parade ground and be permitted to watch from the gallery the dismounting of the troopers returning from duty at Buckingham Palace.
The tour will be conducted by serving members of HCMR with a considerable knowledge of the history of HCMR.Places for the tour are highly sought after and are limited to 60 guests only so booking is required at the earliest possible.
Dress code:
Gents. Lounge suit / Smart casual with tie.
Ladies. They know best allowing for the weather.
FOR THE TOUR
Please report to the Ceremonial Gate in Hyde Park at 10.45 sharp with your invitation (Valid for Tour and Lunch). At the end of the tour guests will be escorted to the Mess for lunch.
For security a Photo ID is also required (passport / Driving licence).
FOR THE LUNCH
Please report to the Ceremonial Gate in Hyde Park at 12.00 Sharp with your invitation. For security a Photo ID is also required (passport / Driving Licence).
TRAVEL
P&D Parking is available in the park and local streets and Knightsbridge Underground is 6 Minutes walk. Your RSVP please asap as to date 6 tables have already been taken and we only have a maximum of 12 tables.
TO RESERVE
Kindly e mail your reservation to me at [email protected] (please checkfor a confirmation reply by e mail from me). Please post your appropriate cheque made to Fishing For Forces in a plain envelope with a return address for your invitations.
Addressed to me;
Bill Howell. Flat C (Side Entrance). 69 Perham Road. London. W14 9SP.
Once payment is confirmed your seat/s will be reserved and your invitation/s will be posted to you (please confirm receipt) or they can be collected upon arrival if more convenient.
It is imperative that you inform us of any special dietary requirements.
My most sincere thanks for your support and I sincerely look forward to the pleasure of your company.
Bill Howell.
FFF Founder
To download a pdf printout/poster for this event – Click here
Date: Wednesday 28th November 2018
Location: The Army & Navy Club, London
The Fishing for Forces Annual Lunch is a very special day in the FFF Calendar, when we gather with all our friends and supporters for a superb lunch.
As we support all branches of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, we decided to have a change of venue. This year, we are dining at The Army & Navy Club, 36 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5JN. This is a splendid venue steeped in the history of two branches of the Armed Forces with so much to see and enhanced with silver service dining.
Easily accessible and superbly located for shopping, sightseeing and historical London both before and after. We are fortunate that this event has become more popular each year so advanced bookings are recommended as some tables have already been booked.
To find out more or to make a booking, please contact me at the details below. I look forward to the pleasure of your company.
Fidelity International annual fly fishing fundraiser a huge success
On Saturday 23rd June, two intrepid teams from Fidelity International converged on Chalybeate Springs Trout Fishery to compete in a yearly fly fishing fundraiser organised and paid for by the corporate citizenship teams for Fishing for Forces.
An eagerly awaited yearly event, there was lots of friendly banter in the run-up. Would Fidelity’s Kent office retain the trophy this year? Or could the Kingswood team, with their strong angling experience take the trophy back home after the loss of last year?
After a hearty breakfast and welcome by the Tunbridge Wells Fly Fishing Society, the anglers eagerly moved on to their starting swim lanes with their mentors, to try and bring their respective teams to victory as well as the chance to get an individual award for the biggest fish, or biggest bag.
The more experienced anglers knew it would be hard going due to the hot weather and lack of cloud cover; however both teams still managed to catch fish before stopping for a barbecue lunch, with Kingswood trailing by 7 fish to 4.
By lunchtime, Stacey (the hustler) Belton had caught 3 of the 7 fish for the Kent office including an impressive 3lb catch!
Each fish caught in the afternoon was accompanied by shouts of ‘Who caught it?’, ‘Is it Kingswood or Kent?’ Cheers turned to groans from Kent anglers as one of the team caught a roach – a rival to a Kingswood anglers tiddler of last year, so this wasn’t counted. Lots of anglers lost fish from the hook as they were about to net them, and with tension mounting, both teams having lost count, it would all go down to the final weigh-in and announcement.
After a prolonged silence, Mick Heasman from Tunbridge Wells Fly Fishing Society and Bill Howell announced ……. BOTH teams bagged 10 fish each!! It all came down to weight!! Come on, come on! Don’t keep us in suspense……….. and the winning team, with a difference of 1.1lb – KENT!! The winners were presented with their trophies by Russell Bell, Chairman of Tunbridge Wells Fly Fishing Society and Bill Howell, Founder of Fishing For Forces.
Biggest Bag
Stacey Belton
Biggest Fish
Guy Jewsbury
Congratulations to everyone who took part and also to everyone who has donated so far. To date, Fidelity has raised a fantastic £1,976 which they hope to double with company grant matching!
All at FFF are extremely grateful for the Sterling support from Fidelity and TWFF and we look forward to next year.
We are very fortunate to have a great bank of supporters, one of whom – Stephen Cooper – will be raising money for Fishing for Forces by taking on the Prudential Ride London 100 mile bike ride on 30th July 2017.
Steve is a very keen angler who recently started to volunteer with Fishing for Forces and is now taking on this amazing challenge to raise money.
You can sponsor Steve through VirginMoneyGiving and donations will be quickly processed and passed to the charity. VirginMoneyGiving is a not for profit organisation and will claim gift aid on a charity’s behalf where the donor is eligible for this.
Tuesday November 29th 2016 at 12 Noon: The House of Lords
Dear FFF Supporter
For our annual lunch this year, FFF have managed to reserve the Cholmondeley Room & Terrace at the HOUSE of LORDS courtesy of our patron Lord Dear Kt.QPM.DL.
We have managed to keep single seat prices to £120.00 pp and a table of ten to £1000.00. A table of ten will consist of nine civilian guests and a member of HMAF as an FFF ambassador.
Lunch will be an excellent three course meal with a raffle of numerous superb items to suits all tastes so please bring a £20 note with your name written clearly on it. This will be followed by a small auction of very desirable items.
As you know this is a very popular venue and tables are booked quickly so to allow for invitation posting please RSVP by Friday Nov 19th. Your support is invaluable and it would be a genuine pleasure to have your company.
Due to high security a photo ID (passport / drivers licence) will be required with your personal invitation so please arrive promptly to avoid delayed entry.
For your personal invitation and to secure your seat, please contact Bill Howell on 07850 373760 or [email protected]
We also would appreciate being informed of any special dietary requirements.
The team: Roger, Dom, Tom, Mark, Luke, Mike and Clive
This year, we are very fortunate to have a dedicated team of supporters who will be raising money for Fishing for Forces by taking on an incredible challenge. Roger, Dom, Tom, Mark, Luke, Mike and Clive will be cycling from Petersfield to the Somme and back again, a round trip of 350 miles! They will leave on the 4th July and return on the 9th.
“We are aiming to raise money for ‘Fishing For Forces’ which is a charity that we have all experienced their work first hand. The aim of the charity is to provide a days fishing for those returning from operational duty, whether it’s part of a group day out at a local fishery or a day out with a local fisherman, easing their path back into a normal life, with lifetime support should they take up the sport. This charity is open to all servicemen and women from the Navy, Army and Air Force who have been affected both physically and mentally from conflict and individuals from WWII are still receiving the full support of the charity.”
“We are aiming to raise at least £2,500 for this amazing charity and we feel that it ties in well with the 100th anniversary of The Battle of the Somme, where we will be laying a wreath at a memorial service half way through our expedition, to pay our respects. ”
“Please help us support this amazing charity and any donations will be an amazing help and will be gratefully received. “
We feel very lucky to have such wonderful supporters, and we’d be thrilled if you would visit their page at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/cycletothesomme and give what you can to help them reach their target.
Meon Springs’ Fishery in Petersfield, Hampshire, is holding its annual Cast & Blast Fundraising Day – combining fly fishing and clay shooting – on Saturday 16th July 2016 with the aim of raising money for Fishing for Forces.
The competition starts at 0930, with a weigh-in and prize giving at 4pm. There will be a 25 bird clay shoot competition in the afternoon.
As with the Three Fly Challenge, breakfast, BBQ lunch, and tea and cake are included in the price. There will also be a lunchtime raffle with some excellent prizes to help raise much needed funds.
Date: Thursday 16th April 2015
Location: Farlows, 9 Pall Mall, London
Time: 7pm
On Thursday 16th April, Farlows of London will be hosting the Lloyds Fly Fishing Society Social Evening at their Pall Mall store for their 175th anniversary. Plans for the evening are drinks, canapes and a simple auction, together with fishing supplies for sale at a good discount.
The evening is open to anyone who’d like to join us on what will be a fun evening and raise some money for Fishing for Forces.
I am a 55 year old teacher with some 33 years school experience. I have spent the majority of my professional life working in Special Schools and am now Head of School at Northgate School Arts College, Northampton.
I first ran a marathon in 1984 and after completing my second event in London in 1985 I ‘retired’ from the sport. I was persuaded to restart my running career in 2009 as a 50 year old. Since then I have completed New York (2009), Venice (2010), Edinburgh (2011), Paris (2012), Barcelona (2013) and Loch Ness (2013). I have managed to finish all the runs in under 4 hours and am currently on the threshold to qualify to run in Boston as an ‘elite’ runner in my age group. For this I need to be under 3 hours 40 minutes – in Loch Ness I ran 3 hours 40 minutes 12 seconds! This is my running target for 2014. My longer term target is to complete all 6 major city runs. Assuming I do Berlin in September I need to qualify for Boston and then get into Chicago and Tokyo.
In addition to this I play a bit of golf, enjoy hill walking and have a season ticket at West Ham!
Date: Thursday 20th November 2014 Location: The Houses of Parliament, London
Description:
Due to great response and the courtesy of Lord Dear, Fishing for Forces will be having another fundraising lunch at the Houses of Parliament.
This has proven such a popular event and requests were so numerous that Lord Dear has generously agreed to host another lunch in aid of Fishing For Forces. Six of the twelve tables have already been booked and with a three course superb meal and an auction with items for everyone in such a prestigious setting it is no wonder it has proven very popular.
To book your seat or a table pleas email [email protected]. First come, first served.
Date: Monday 19th May 2014 Time: 12pm- 3pm Location: The House of Lords
The Honourable Lord Dear QPM, DL invites you join to him at a lunch in The House of Lords on behalf of Fishing For Forces in association with Farlow’s of Pall Mall.
A warm welcome with wine and canapés upon arrival will be followed by a superb three course lunch. An auction of Ten superb items to suit all interest’s will take place whilst coffee is served ensuring a memorable afternoon. Individual seats £130pp or a table for Ten (including a guest from HMAF) will be discounted to £1200.00.
For your personal invitation to this very popular luncheon, RSVP please by 28th March. Contact in the first instance to [email protected] or call 07850 373760.
Date: Friday 14th – Saturday 15th June 2013 Venue: Longleat Country Game Fair
Description:
Longleat will be hosting its inaugural Fishing and Country Show on Friday June 14th and Saturday June 15th 2013. This two day, family event will be held beside the stunning fishing lakes opposite Longleat House – a truly majestic backdrop to a superb event.
Fishing for Forces will have a fundraising stand there. It will be a great day for all the family and we hope to see you there.
Date: Saturday 29th June 2013 Venue: Littlehampton Seafront
Description:
Come and visit the Fishing for Forces fundraising stall on Saturday 29th June, as we turn our for Armed Forces Day On the Green at Littlehampton Seafront.
Our FFF Angling Ambassador Mr Sam Bridger will be manning the stall, so stop by and say hello! A family day out for all.
Members of the Invicta Fly Fishing Club of Cambridge, in conjunction with the charity Fishing For Forces, organised and held on 23rd June a trout fishing day for forces personnel returning from Afghanistan and other postings around the world where British forces are present. Not a charity day but a “well done lads and thank you” day.
The event was held at Elinor trout fishery, kindly assisted by the fishery proprietor (himself no novice at fly fishing… Ed Foster, Captain of the England Fly Fishing team).
Members of Invicta FFC and Fishing for Forces guests after a day at Elinor trout fishery.
Each soldier’s day ticket was paid for by an Invicta member, with lunch provided by the club and some generous donors. The day began in heavy driving rain – an unfortunate introduction to any outdoor sport – settling down to an afternoon of gusting winds. After some initial casting instruction some guests, with mentoring Invicta members, spent some time on the bank, whilst some began on the boats with members. With a wind blowing onto the bank which seemed to hold most fish, making casting difficult for inexperienced casters, the afternoon session saw all guests in boats.
Most of the soldiers caught fish, almost all for the first time. Best bag, of 6 trout, was taken by Bdr Jason Palmer, with best fish, approaching 3lbs, being taken by Gunner Ashley McEvoy. Prizes were donated by Fishing For Forces, Invicta FFC and Elinor Fishery.
The kind folks at Orvis UK will be running a fantastic Fly Tackle demo day at Wykeham Lakes, Charm Park in Yorkshire to raise money for Fishing for Forces. Come along and try your hand at casting on what will be a superb day by the water.
It will take place at 12pm on Thursday 16th June 2011 and tickets cost £5. To book, contact Mike Heelis or James Doyle at the Pickering store on 01751 473 060.
at
The Manor House Apethorpe Northampton
on April 23rd 2011
The Manor, Apethorpe
There could be no more suitable title for this article as everything from beginning to end emanated and revolved around Lady Brassey.
From the moment she telephoned me with this most generous offer from her and her husband David, she took command and with blurring speed, everything was in place.
From the designing, printing and personally sending out two hundred and fifty invitations to friends, followed by organising wine and canapé’s as a greeting for guests, she was in complete command and aware at all times as to who was doing what, where and when. This of course left me at the starting gate with little to do – a rare event!
The weather was excellent and the setting stunning – from the Church Walk to the Lake walk, the beauty and tranquillity must have been felt by all who visited.
Part of Lady Brassey's collection
Lady B also added to the event by placing a large selection of glass and porcelain items from her own collection for sale to entice collectors and her army of family and friends made sure that from the moment one stepped through the gate (and paid the minor entrance fee) you were made to feel at ease and most welcome.
My wife and I manned the FFF stand and received many donations in different forms, from funds to fishing plus a pair of well-cared-for Salmon Rods and Reels courtesy of Lt Col (Ret) West for a fortunate vet to use in the future. Andrew Flitcroft (editor of Trout & Salmon) also took time to bring his family, take a few pictures and donated a subscription for a year to this superb magazine for the tombola.
The Fishing for Forces stand
Lady B commented with a disarming smile that if a short note did not appear in the magazine re FFF she would add something of him to her collection. I got the distinct feeling there is a dungeon somewhere on the estate for non-compliant persons but I was not foolish enough to look for it.
Four lads from 16 RA attended the event as stewards, bringing with them a stunning display board with pictures compiled by Cpl Dene Smith of our FFF Ravensthorpe event (Sept 2010 – I have one now to go with our stand) and they did a sterling job discussing with guests the merits of an Army career and the basics of FFF. The assistance by these lads was invaluable and my sincere thanks go to Cpl’s Smith and Docherty and Sgt’s Price and Shepherd.
I cracked up when one corporal asked a sergeant in good humour as Lady B whirled past on yet another task checking progress with daughters Zara and Chloe “is that the Lady RSM in charge” and the reply was “yes and she will add something of yours to her collection if you are not on that gate taking money sharpish” to which the corporal swiftly took off for the gate. A lot of laughter and good will was shared by both guests and hosts throughout the day and we fervently wished that all events could be so well organised.
The estate at Apethorpe
The weather was idyllic with brilliant sunshine and people meandered around the estate admiring the lake and islands totally free of all worldly woes. The tombola stand was a very popular stop with a large number of tickets sold for numerous gifts donated by many of Lady Caroline’s friends and a superb presentation box of wine donated by a chap I had the pleasure to meet just once at a mill, after we chatted about FFF.
My genuine thanks to Trevor Hughes and associates of T&W Wines who delivered the package personally, the lads of 16 RA and to all of the friends of Lady B who donated and also took the time to come and support us throughout the whole day.
Mrs Howells manning the FFF stand
Edward (Son of Lady C) arrived with his family and a small addition to the family who, when introduced to my wife, inspired her to give me one of those “I want one of these” looks (see picture) to which I promptly took a sudden interest in the lake and fish therein.
The generosity of Lord and Lady Brassey and family did not stop there – they have most kindly offered their lake to veterans for a number of days fishing throughout the season and there are stories of 25lb plus Carp cruising just below the surface. I had to stop a couple of the lads jumping in for a closer look when they spotted one!
The day ended brilliantly with an astonishing record for FFF of £1,309.70, raised entirely due to the efforts of Lady Brassey, her family and friends.
Thank you seems such small reward on this occasion so we have to get more vets to the waterside to show our thanks and make sure they know who helped us get them there.
Lady B has asked if she can do something similar next year; there is no stopping this lady and Fishing For Forces is truly privileged to have such a good friend and enthusiastic family patronage.
From all the FFF team our very sincere thanks to Lady B, family and all friends for such a marvellous result to a wonderful event.
Fishing for Forces is delighted to announce the launch of their new website, www.fishingforforces.org.
The first fishing event took place at Avon Springs Fisheries in Durrington, Wiltshire on 16th June 2010 and it was such a success that we we couldn’t wait to get more people involved.
The website includes all the information needed to join the scheme and provide fishing, keep track of fishing events in your area and donate funds to support the organisation. Fishing for Forces is really just starting out and we need all the support we can get.
If you’d like to show your appreciation for all the armed forces do for us, please get in touch with us at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you.
Meon Springs’ Fishery in Petersfield, Hampshire, is holding its annual Cast & Blast Fundraising Day – combining fly fishing and clay shooting – on Saturday 16th July 2016 with the aim of raising money for Fishing for Forces.
Fishing for Forces is delighted to announce the launch of their new website, www.fishingforforces.org.