Fishing, friendship and smiles at Essex anglers first event of 2026
School pupils from Thundersley experience the fun of fly fishing thanks to volunteers from Essex Masonic Trout and Salmon Fishing Charity
The Essex Masonic Trout and Salmon Fishing Charity (MTSFC) held its first event of 2026 on 21 May at the picturesque Chigborough Fishery, Maldon, delivering a memorable day of friendship, laughter and outdoor activity for pupils from Cedar Hall School, Thundersley, Essex.
Cedar Hall School is an all-age special school supporting young people with complex learning needs, many of whom are on the autistic spectrum and may also experience social and communication difficulties. The event provided an opportunity for the pupils to enjoy time outdoors, build confidence and experience the therapeutic benefits of fishing in a safe and supportive environment.
The event was jointly sponsored by Macnab Lodge No.10017 and Mersea Island Lodge No.5534, with nine pupils attending for a day of fly fishing under the guidance of experienced volunteer casters.
The young visitors arrived mid-morning and were warmly welcomed before being paired with their allocated mentors for the day. Although fishing is normally held on Rook Hall Lake, the group instead fished ‘Home Water’, situated beside the fishery lodge, due to the number of anglers already present on the main lake.
Blessed with glorious sunshine throughout the day, the pupils enjoyed a successful introduction to fly fishing, with six trout landed in total. The largest fish weighed an estimated 2–3lb, while one particularly impressive catch narrowly escaped after leaping from the landing net at the water’s edge.
All fish caught were taken home by the children, much to the delight of their families. Feedback from the school afterwards revealed several proud stories of ‘trout for dinner’, showing the success of the day extended well beyond the lakeside.
In a message of thanks, the school praised the volunteers for their kindness, humour and understanding shown to the pupils throughout the event.
Representing the sponsoring lodges were Gary Brown and Oliver Bullman from Macnab, together with Peter Charlton of Mersea Island. The charity was also honoured by the attendance of Assistant Provincial Grand Master Richard Jordan, who joined the volunteers in presenting certificates and medals to the pupils at the end of the day.
Gary and Oliver both enjoyed trying their hand at fly fishing and even found time to rescue a duck that had become trapped in a tree, adding another memorable moment to the day.
Following lunch, certificates and medals were presented to all participants, with photographs capturing the occasion before the pupils departed with huge smiles on their faces. Special mention was also made of one pupil, Millie, whose laughter and singing throughout the day brought great joy to everyone present.
Secretary Peter Ashton said, “On behalf of Essex MTSFC I would like to thank all of our volunteer casters who kindly gave up their time to make the day special for all of the participants.”
Events such as these represent the very best of Essex Freemasonry, Freemasons working together in the community to create meaningful experiences for young people and families through kindness, charity and volunteering. The Essex MTSFC continues to demonstrate how public-facing community engagement can make a genuine and lasting difference, while showcasing the values of friendship and service that remain at the heart of Freemasonry in Essex.
The charity has two further events planned for 2026:
- A coarse fishing event at Colemans Fishery, Witham on 6 July.
- A further fly-fishing event at Chigborough Fishery on 6 October.
SUPPORT FUTURE EVENTS
The Essex MTSFC is currently seeking additional coarse-fishing volunteers to help at future events.
Also, Lodges interested in supporting future events, becoming a sponsoring lodge, or learning more about the charity are warmly invited to get in touch using the contact details below.
Mick Behan –
Please note: Individual volunteers would be subject to a criminal record background check processed by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) in England and Wales.
Photos:
Top: A group photo of all in attendance
Left: Instructing and ‘catch of the day’
Right: Richard Jordan presenting certificates and medals to the pupils
