Fishing for the Disadvantaged

The final event of the season took place on the 3rd October at Latimer Lake near Chesham.

Not as extravagant as our ‘Biggy’ but the sixteen youngsters from Chiltern Gate School who took part didn’t mind a bit. They loved every minute of it.

The fishing was good, only interrupted once by a flock of very noisy Canada geese that landed on the lake disturbing out keen fisher folk, and everyone caught at least one trout which they took home for tea. One lad however flatly refused and insisted that his catch be put back. A sure sign of a great future fisherman!

Some of the youngsters took an added interest in the wildlife of the lake by watching the crayfish coming out of their holes and quickly scampering back as soon as they detected the movement of the nearby swans.

As usual our lunchtime BBQ went down very well, but the youngsters were keen to get back to a bit more fishing before it was time to leave, so for another hour they tested their newly learned skill until it was time for the presentation ceremony when every youngster was awarded with a framed certificate of competence.

Once the school coach had gone, a sit down and a very well earned cuppa was had by the helpers and casters before dismantling the marquee and packing up ready for the next event which will be in May 2008.

For the new season, apart from the special needs schools, we have invited the Bucks Association for Blind and Partially Sighted People to attend. At a meeting we had with them at their Centre in Aylesbury they showed great interest and were very keen to participate. This Centre covers the whole of Buckinghamshire so we could be taking someone near you to learn a new skill.

If you know of a special needs school or society that could benefit from the experience please let me know so that we can follow it up. The cost of taking a youngster on one of our events is about £40 so how about your Lodge sponsoring half a dozen kids from a school near you?

It is truly a ‘Freemasons in the Community’ project and you would be helping a youngster ‘Catch the Smile’.

If you would like to come along to one of out events to see at first hand what we do just give me a ring and I can tell you where and when.

Derek Watts

01628 526326