Tag: SCOTS

11th April 2013
See our gallery of the day

The morning started quite grey but brightened considerable with the arrival of 15 lads from 5 SCOTS accompanied by Capt Rob Whyte. The mentors were on high alert and greeted them with coffee and bacon and egg baps and TWFFS baseball caps then it was down to business.

After a short safety talk they were given 15 minutes of excellent casting instruction by Dave Crouch then allocated a mentor 1-1 and fishing began in earnest.

The usual banter of “nae problem laddie” came around the beautiful lake “rod, fly, fish let’s get on” was the cry and then realisation dawned that there was a little more to this than fish jumping on the fly so we need to think this through.

The banter died down and a silent air of concentration reigned until after 20 minutes the cry of “fish on” went round the lake and all kinds of advice and insults were flying in all direction’s aimed at the poor sod who had hooked the first fish. It was then that I realised the competitive spirit had kicked in as it always does at these events once a fish is caught and concentration heightened and became more intense. In a very short time fish were being caught all round the lake and the weigh in for biggest bag and heaviest fish began in earnest.

The morning session was blessed with a cracking bar of silver weighed in at 7lb by Sgnt Van Niekerk, whose smile as a novice to fly fishing was as wide as his fish was long.

Lunchtime arrived with quite a number of decent fish caught and the Society had laid on a superb spread cooked by 2 mentors Scott Benton and Andy Stoner with sausages, burgers, bacon etc with potato salad & coleslaw that was munched with enthusiasm and several double helpings were observed being enjoyed. During lunch I passed out FFF T Shirts and Alex Nicholson then presented all the guests with a goodie bag with superb mementoes such as leather bound notebooks and other very useful items. These were received very graciously.

On the subject of enthusiasm, after washing lunch down in short order several of the lads picked up their tackle and headed straight back to the lake with mentors running behind still trying to finish what lunch they had managed to grab. These lads were determined not to be denied a fish.

The weather was kind to us as the rain did not return although the wind kept changing in strength and direction but nevertheless hotspots were found and after two fish you had to move and thankfully due to local mentor knowledge nobody blanked.

We also had the pleasure of Steve Backley OBE joining us and his fishing is as mean as his Javelin throwing and he bagged some respectable fish.  His list of Gold, silver and bronze medals won at Olympic, Commonwealth games and World and European Championships is nothing short of incredible.

At the weigh in whilst tea and cakes were being served a work of art in the shape of a magnificent cake appeared presented and made by Charlotte Stevens and was promptly put back in the box by the lads to be taken back to barracks. Greedy beggars didn’t even offer me a finger dip!

After the weigh in Peter Thomason (TWFFS Chair) kindly presented the 1st and 2nd prizes of FFF engraved glass tankards and wristwatches kindly donated by Chris Ball and 3rd prize was a super golfing umbrella donated by Alex Nicholson again from Legal & General. Peter was then presented with a mounted Regimental Plaque by Capt Whyte that I know will take pride of place in the TWFFS lodge. Several more watches and umbrellas were donated to FFF to present at other events. Before I could give my thanks to all I was suddenly presented with a cheque for £500.00 by Alex from L&G to hold other events where possible and it will be put to very good use.

Special mention has to go to:

Keith Nicholson (TWFFS Treasurer) for organising the funds and such a splendid day leaving me very little to do. Southborough Butchers Chris Wickens and Stuart Knight for a seemingly unending supply of burgers and bacon and sausages.

Jim Streeter fishery manager for his unbounding enthusiasm and welcome and astute stocking of quality fish. And all the mentors who made it a very special day for the lads judging by the handshakes and thank you’s and see you again soon as the lads departed.

Guess who got stuck in the mud and was rescued by Scott and his landrover. Yep, the Prat in the Hat. Thanks Scott!

The total caught was 35 fish.

Largest fish 7lb Sgnt Van Neikerk. Largest Bag 6lbs 7ozs Pte Aitcheson and 3rd with 6lbs 6ozs Pte Aithcheson.