Organised and hosted by The Tweed Foundation and The Wheelyboat Trust, with fishing equipment and instruction provided by Hardy and Greys of Alnwick, some 25 servicemen took a break from their recovery programmes to learn the art of fly-casting and fishing for Salmon. Specially designed boats (the 'wheelyboats') produced by a collaboration between The Wheelyboat Trust and The Tweed Foundation, were used by some of the injured soldiers.
Highlights of the week were the casting demonstrations given by Ian Gordon of Hardy & Greys and the Salmon caught by Rifleman John Burns, and by Peter Wilson, aged 89, a veteran of the Battle of Britain, both men catching and landing their first Salmon. As students of the art, Ian said, "They were very enthusiastic and quick learners wanting to further develop their newly acquired skills and do more fishing!"
Rifleman John Burns with his first Salmon
Rifleman Kyle Baker from 3rd. Battalion The Rifles said, "It's great! I've received fly fishing tuition from one of the best professionals in the country, Ian Gordon, and it is all part of my rehabilitation therapy after receiving a gunshot wound in the back while serving in Afghanistan."
Major Kevin Wood, secretary of the Army Angling Association, explained, "As part of the welfare component of their recovery, personnel are invited to participate in a week of fishing and instruction and the troops, mostly newcomers to fishing, have really enjoyed the experience. Our special thanks go to Peter Straker-Smith who donated the fishing on his beat and to The Tweed Foundation and The Wheelyboat Trust for their organisation."
Nick Yonge, Director of The Tweed Foundation, said, "This pilot week on Tweed has worked tremendously well. Tweed wanted to do something to help injured services personnel and, in addition to gifting some wonderful fishing opportunities, we also have the benefit of being able to offer the wheelyboats specially tailored for ease of use by wheelchair users, enabling them to get the most out of their angling experience."
Some of the soldiers that participated in the Carham week with, centre, Lee Craig
(head boatman at Carham) and, far right, Bill Quarry who organised the entire event
Bill Quarry, for The Wheelyboat Trust, said "We are all pleased that everyone enjoyed the occasion and would be delighted to organise a similar event next year and to follow up with more fishing for the individual servicemen who would like to fish more frequently. The Trust is grateful for the volunteer Boatmen, Lee Craig, John Edey, Bob Smith, Paul Hume and Tom Davis who gave their time to help with the fishing and tuition, and also wish to thank the local sponsors of the event: Best Intent, Bordaloo, Foreman Butchers, Ednam House Hotel, Queens Head Hotel, Collingwood Arms Hotel, Gill Orde in Catering, Hardy & Greys, Tweedside Tackle and the Teviot Gamefare Smokery plus numerous cash donations from generous individuals.”
The Tweed Foundation protects and enhances the economic and social value of the fishes of the Tweed and Eye Rivers through the study, maintenance and restoration of their populations, ecosystems and habitats and the encouragement of wider participation in angling.
The Wheelyboat Trust has developed specialised angling boats which give disabled people the opportunity to fish for Salmon on the River Tweed and elsewhere and enable the angler and his boatman to fish the River without any other assistance.
The Army Recovery Centre, a dedicated 12-bed wing of the £8.6m Erskine Edinburgh Home, is the result of a partnership between the Army, veterans charity Erskine, and Help for Heroes (H4H), who together are providing accommodation and support for soldiers wounded or injured on duty. Erskine provides nursing and medical care for former members of our Armed Forces.