Masonic Fishing Charity Hold a Day for Veterans

The Somerset Branch of The Masonic Fishing Charity held another awesome event at Jacklands Fishing Lakes Tickenham on Friday the 14th of July 2023. We started off with a heart breakfast, tea and coffee laid on by Jacklands Fishing Lakes.

This was a first for the MTSFC, instead of it being a SEN school event for children we did a veterans Day, working in association with a local veterans charity, the Military, Emergency, Self, Help or MESH as they are known, check out their website if your a veteran or want to volunteer www.meshcic.co.uk.

We had ten veterans on the day, we started off with our usual safety talk and handed out the goody bags with hats, goggles, whistles and ponchos, actually the poncho’s came in very handy as it lashed down with torrential rain all day, in true military style this did not put the dampeners on the day, most of my team here in the Somerset Branch are veterans themselves so we just danced in the rain.

Both the Somerset MTSFC Branch and MESH team had high spirits from the start, pairing up my caster volunteers one to one with a MESH fisherperson, the military banter and Camaraderie began immediately, right away the wagers were set for biggest fish, smallest, ugliest fish etc, a mug of tea was the prize, I will say the rain actually made the spirit of the day higher and more challenging.

We had a wonderful BBQ style lunch in the Jacklands Farm Shop Café, with lots of piping hot tea and coffee, we then headed out for some more course and fly fishing.

The afternoon finished with a wonderful certificate and medal presentation from Somerset Province very own APGM Richard Winter a veteran himself, and Somerset Branch Chairman Rob Collins, received a rapturous standing ovation and applause.

Jason Miller the head honcho and pointy hat wearer of MESH then did a presentation of their of, this time to the Somerset Branch of the MTSFC, everyone got a MESH plaque and slate coaster, Jason then presented Rob Collins with a Masonic engraved bottle of vintage port, with even more applause.

As the day came to a close the MTSFC said goodbye to MESH with lots of smiles, but for MESH this was not over as they went back to their base camp in the woods near Bristol Airport. Under the canvas of a parachute they sat around a camp fire, prepared their trout they caught with us and ate like kings and queens, I am told the laughter, chatting and Camaraderie was second to none as the rain lashed down outside, for a short while these comrade’s in arms who had served our country, had found some peace for a day put on by Freemasonry and especially The Somerset Branch of the Masonic Fishing Charity.

I know our branch loved the day and we will be doing this again next year for our veterans, but we need your help, volunteers and helping raise funds in your lodges.

Please get in touch if you can help in anyway possible email us at mtsfcsomerset@gmail.com