CAN YOU ‘CATCH THE SMILE’

 

When W.Bro Hugh Nolan, a Founder member of the Lodge of Opportunity 9777, looked out of his bedroom window at 5.00am on Wednesday 24 May 2006 he must have been so disappointed at the awful weather conditions prevailing, not at all suitable for Fly Fishing.

Undaunted, he drove to the Chigborough Fishing Lakes near Maldon Essex, to be greeted by many casters and helpers ready and willing to receive guests from the Canterbury Home, to have a full days fly fishing.

The special guests duly arrived at 10.20am and, after a warming cup of tea or a can of soft drink, they were kitted out with a pair of safety glasses, a protective hat and a yellow waterproof poncho. They were then delivered into the safe keeping of the experienced casters comprising of masons and non-masons, and together with an army of helpers they proceeded to the waters edge to commence fishing.

The guests were encouraged to participate in any way they wished, by choosing the fly and retrieving the fly line. Some of the casters with the assistance of the guests, almost immediately were hooked into some superb quality rainbow trout. The delight on the guests faces as they ably landed the fish was a joy to behold, and you will find the pictures here to prove it.

At 12.30pm an extremely welcomed claxon horn summoned us to the lodge, where an excellent lunch was supplied.

Fishing continued after lunch where more rainbows were caught. At 2.30pm we were again summoned by the claxon to attend the prize giving.

All of the guests were presented with a framed certificate and a medal for those catching the most and the biggest fish by the sponsor, W.Bro. Stanley Howard and also in attendance was the Club’s President, R.W.Bro.Gordon Bourne PJGW, Past ProProvGMaster and Past Provincial Grand Superintendent of Middlesex

As you can see from the photographs the guests were delighted with their day at Chigborough and their medals and certificates, and we certainly lived up to the Club’s motto as stated in the Club’s video by Club Founder W.Bro. Jim Webster PProvGStwd (Herts) of, “Catch The Smile”.

We were grateful for the sponsor, helpers and casters; fishery managers David Weston and daughter Sam Tallowin and everyone at the Chigborough Fishing Lakes,

This superb fishery at Maldon, Essex comprises three rain and spring fed lakes of 3/4 acre, 4 acres, and 16 acres in a rural setting and can be contacted on Tel. 01621 857368.

W.Bro. Derek Hanson PAGDC

Life Member of the MFC

Communication Officer for Chingford

 

Please click here for more pictures of the event