On Saturday 8th June 2019, Fir Tree Fisheries in Wigan hosted the inaugural Annual East Lancashire Course Fishing Match. Open to Freemasons and their guests £225.00 was raised for the Masonic Trout and Salmon Fishing Charity (www.mtsfc.org.uk) from donations and a raffle. The Masonic Trout and Salmon Fishing Charity aim to bring an interactive fishing and countryside experience to people with special needs. It achieves this by running fishing events, both coarse and fly and inviting participants with special needs to come and join in. This includes anyone over 11 with mental or physical disabilities, the disadvantaged or those who have suffered trauma.
By chance, 2019’s event became a battle between East Lancashire vs Yorkshire with East Lancashire reigning supreme.
The Top 4 nets on the day were:
1st Richard Lofthouse – 65lb 8oz – East Lancashire
2nd John Berry 49lb 4oz – East Lancashire
3rd Joe Jackson 46lb 2oz – East Lancashire
4th Ian Walvin 43lb 11oz – East Lancashire
So successful was this year’s event, organiser W.Bro Ian Walvin of Milton Lodge (No. 1144) is making this an annual fixture on the Masonic calendar for East Lancashire. Details for 2020 will be released soon.
Scroll down for the (many) pictures!