North Dorset MP visits Fishing for Schools event

Fishing for Schools was delighted to welcome  Simon Hoare MP to an event on Monday (July 7).

Mr Hoare, Conservative MP for North Dorset, visited and helped in the hugely successful event at Todber Manor Fishery near Sturminster Newton and helped Fishing for Schools coaches assist local children from Yewstock School.

Mr Hoare’s expertise in coming to help one of the students land her biggest ever fish - a mirror carp - was impressive.

Mr Hoare, a strong advocate of rural pastimes, witnessed first-hand the worth and absorption of the Fishing for Schools programme for young people with learning difficulties and the very real benefits that angling offers in an alternate educational route.

Simon Hoare MP praised the event, commenting:

“A lovely way to spend some time and a joy to see the children’s excitement and growing confidence when they landed their catch. This is such a wonderful initiative. Long may it continue.”

Tom Maher, the lead teacher of the group, echoed everyone’s thoughts suggesting that an increase of this type of outdoor education can really benefit school children throughout the whole spectrum of special and formal education.

Fishing for Schools Director, Charles Jardine, also attending said of the event:

“It is fantastic to have such a busy MP like Simon Hoare visit and experience the very real and tangible benefits of our unique brand of angling education – having a facility such as Todber Manor within his constituency is a real bonus – and one which offers young people of all abilities, a thrilling opportunity. I very seriously wish more of Parliamentarians would come and see, first hand, the true value of angling to young people.”