Fishing for Forces

Fishing for Forces and Aardvark McLeod

A few years ago we were approached by Help for Heroes to see if we could come up with a way to take the recovering soldiers from the recently operational recovery centre at Tedworth house out fishing. As Help for Heroes is in our building and Tedworth House is a stones throw away from our offices in Tidworth this seemed like an ideal opportunity to give something back. As ideas developed I quickly realised that Bill Howell from Fishing for forces was trying to do the same thing, so we joined forces and started a program with the generosity of the Salisbury and District Angling Club of which I am a member. As our days out evolved last summer with a combination of fly fishing and coarse fishing Fishing for Forces became the obvious vehicle for this program to develop. We are proud to be sponsors and mentors of this incredible organisation headed by the totally selfless and tireless Bill Howell.

Last week, through Bill’s efforts, we were able to present Tedworth House PRC (Personal Recovery Centre) with five full sets of fly tackle and ten full sets of coarse tackle.

Colonel Peter Smith, Officer Commanding the Personnel Recovery Centre, said:

“Fishing for Forces provides some excellent opportunities for those who have been out of hospital for only a few days, as well as those two to three years down their recovery path.”

WO2 Dean Williams, who runs the Recovery Sport Programme at the PRC, highlighted how the new fishing equipment will have a very positive impact. “It is amazing as interest in fishing has really taken off here and I have an event on my calendar now every month,” he said. “It builds confidence and aides social interaction and ticks a lot of boxes such as learning a new skill and helping take daily worries away and having our own kit will really help us.”

Bill said “We at FFF are extremely pleased that Tedworth PRC is now established as our first “Fishing School”. As well as organising monthly events for large groups from all branches of HMAF we will be establishing “Fishing Schools” and supplying all the tackle to all the PRC centres throughout the UK”.

Many Angling clubs and individuals throughout the UK have offered both fishing venues and their time to be mentors. Bill explained “this provides, in a modest way, a means by which those of us not in the services can show appreciation for what they do for us. It is open to all serving, wounded or otherwise and veterans back to WW11”.

For me personally this has been the most rewarding thing that I have been involved with for some time. This summer we have organised five days with the Salisbury and District Angling Club, both fly and coarse fishing with our first on the 23rd of May in time for Mayfly.

If anyone would like to donate tackle that they no longer require it would be most appreciated. Please contact me for more details.