The West Lancashire branch of the Masonic Fishing Charity, which supports children and young adults with special needs through the joys of fishing, held its fifth and final event of the season at Whitmore Fishery near Kirkham. Great Arley School from Thornton Cleveleys accepted the charity’s invitation at short notice, stepping in with less than two weeks notice after another of the local schools sadly had to cancel. Great Arley School’s 10 students were accompanied by three of their teachers who all arrived full of enthusiasm and it was clear from the very first cast that they were ready to ‘catch a smile’.
The charity was honoured by the presence of Assistant Provincial Grand Master Michael Tax, Provincial Deputy Grand Secretary Mick Southern and Jeff Lucas from the Provincial office at Leyland, a long‑standing and passionate supporter of the charity. Their attendance brought great encouragement to the volunteers and demonstrated once again the Province’s unwavering support for the work of the charity.
Although the weather was extreme to say the least, with the heat demanding regular hydration breaks, spirits remained high and the fish were relentless. One participant, Robert James, proudly claimed to have caught 46 fish, a tally that raised eyebrows and laughter in equal measure.
Adding to the day’s enjoyment, Michael Tax decided to try his hand at fishing with a pole. He successfully caught a couple of lively ‘tiddlers’, much to the delight of those watching. But the real drama came when a sizeable carp took the bait and put up a spirited fight. For a moment it looked certain he would land it — the fish was inches from the landing net — but in a twist ‘against the script’, the carp won on points and made its escape, leaving everyone laughing and applauding Michael’s effort.
At the end of the day, Michael Tax and Mick Southern very kindly presented each participant with their personalised certificate, medal and the customary ‘goody bag’. Their warmth and sincerity made the moment even more special for the students.
Before the event concluded, event organiser Gareth Harrison delivered a heartfelt address, reflecting on the remarkable commitment of the volunteer casters, saying: “When I send out the email requesting the number of casters plus one spare for the next event, I usually get at least 16 to 18 replies within one to two days. Then I have the difficult task of selecting the required number, which is 12 maximum.”
Gareth continued to say: “We have to be very careful with the numbers, allocating one caster per student with a maximum of 12 students. It all revolves around charity money, we pay the fisheries per capita for each person fishing, plus the lunches. An event usually costs the charity around £400 to £500.”
Gareth concluded with a message that brought a loud cheer from the VIPs, committee and casters alike, saying: “The charity couldn’t possibly exist without the generosity of the donations we receive from Freemasons and the various individuals who have supported us and all the volunteers who travel far and wide for no reward except to ‘catch the smiles’.”
It was a fitting end to a season defined by dedication, compassion and countless moments of joy. Every fish was returned safely to the water — but every smile was kept.