Twenty four soldiers recently back from operational deployments took to the shores of Ravensthorpe Reservoir, Northampton, on Friday as part of a scheme to allow soldiers a restful day’s fishing away from the strains of operations in Afghanistan.
The angling session was the second ‘Fishing for Forces’ event to be held this year after its launch in June in Durrington, Wiltshire.
“It is a medical fact that anytime spent by the waterside is extremely therapeutic and assists recovery in trying times,” explained co-founder of the scheme Bill Howell. “It also gets personnel out of the military/medical environment that proves most beneficial.
A soldier fishing at Ravensthorpe Reservoir
“One of our guests at Avon Springs in June – a 26-year-old and has already served four tours in Afghanistan – turned to me over a coffee and said: ‘I was not sure there was this much peace left in the world’. That comment made all our hard work worthwhile, and is what Fishing for Forces is for.”
‘Fishing for Forces’ is designed for anyone who has been on an Operational Tour and could do with a day of peace and quiet by the water.
The scheme is available to all service men and women from the Navy, Army or Air Force who have returned from an operational duty within the previous 18 months.
It’s a chance to unwind
Friday’s event at Ravensthorpe was suggested by sponsors Briggs & Forrester, and was attended by a number of soldiers from 16 Regt RA and 33 Engineer Regt of all ranks from Sappers to Lieutenant Colonels.
Some of those attending are not long back from difficult tours in Helmand province, while many also had little to no fishing experience.
“I’ve hooked my ear, elbow, jumper, boot, and some weeds, but no fish yet,” admits Sapper Robert Price, 21, who lost two friends to IEDs during his six month tour on HERRICK 11. “I’m enjoying it though – it’s a chance to unwind.”
Events across the country
Bill Howell shows a soldier how to fish
Fellow Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialist, LCpl Bobby Willett, 23, was having equally poor luck catching any fish, but with two Iraq tours and not long back from Afghanistan, where he found ten IEDs during his tour, he was also enjoying the experience.
“I’ve no experience with fishing,” he said, “But I thought I would give it a go and see if I liked it. We’re having a bit of a competition to see who can get the most fish, or the biggest, depending on what I eventually catch, but it is relaxing.”
The organisers plan to put on more day events and opportunities for soldiers to fish around the country.
“I am approaching more companies to sponsor events nationwide at venues easily accessible to recovery centres and camps to keep travelling for guests to a minimum,” said Bill. “My intention is to hold a number of events across the country from Scotland to Cornwall.”
Details of the next event will be made available through the chain of command and a soon-to-be-launched website, www.fishingforforces.org.
