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Earlier News and Events
Moc Morgan launches Llandegfedd Reservoir Mk III
Welsh angling legend Moc Morgan launched Llandegfedd Reservoir's new Mk III Wheelyboat on March 25th. Designed to provide disabled people with hassle-free and independent access to the water, it joins the fleet of angling boats and is the 125th Wheelyboat to be supplied by The Wheelyboat Trust.
Llandegfedd is owned by Welsh Water and run by United Utilities Operational Services and is the largest trout fishery in south Wales. It is close to the conurbations of Newport and Cardiff and only 15 minutes from the M4. Its 430 acres offer excellent fly fishing for brown and rainbow trout, is home to an abundance of wildlife and has been classified a SSSI for overwintering wildfowl.
The new Wheelyboat has been funded by Dwr Cymru Welsh Water. It replaces the original Mk I Wheelyboat situated at Llandegfedd for many years and now at the end of its useful life.
(l to r) Andy Beadsley (Director, Wheelyboat Trust), Richard Poole and Wendy Hamer-Harries (Welsh Water), Moc Morgan (Welsh S&TA)
Bernard Cribbins becomes a Patron of the Trust
Well-loved character actor of cinema, stage, TV and radio, musical comedian and passionate angler, Bernard Cribbins, has joined the Trust's illustrious list of Patrons. Bernard's connection with the charity goes right back to its beginning he was present at the launch with HRH Prince Charles at Fishmongers' Hall in 1985. In more recent years Bernard has been presenting the Alan Faulkner Memorial Award at the CLA Game Fair and helped raise funds for the Wheelyboat at Bushyleaze Trout Fishery.
Andy Beadsley, Director, said ‘This excellent news is long overdue. Bernard has been a loyal supporter from the outset and the Trust is honoured to have him on board as its newest Patron.’
Bernard presenting this year's Alan Faulkner Memorial Award
Fiona Armstrong launches Castle Loch Mk III
Scotland's newest wheelchair accessible Wheelyboat “Willan Ahoy” was launched on Castle Loch, Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire on 30th October by TV's Fiona Armstrong, ably assisted by Martin Mitchell, Fishery Manager and John Hood, Field Officer for the Wheelyboat Trust. Also in attendance were Shona Warwick and Donald Paterson from Barony College, Mark Alton and John Rae from the Professional Anglers Association and Ross Gemmell from Annandale and Eskdale Ranger Service. Fiona also did a short news item on the boat and its use, which was aired on Border TV's evening news.
Castle Loch, Scotland's Premier coarse fishery, with many Scottish records, is an ideal venue for the new Mk III Wheelyboat. Its primary use will be for fishing but there have already been enquiries from other sectors wishing to use the boat for nature watching and boat trips. Martin Mitchell is keen to get the boat used by as many different groups as often as possible and will be promoting its use at shows and fairs throughout the Dumfries and Galloway area and further afield. As well as Fishery Manager at Castle Loch, Martin runs courses at Barony College and the boat will be used by its disabled students as an educational resource providing them with access to the loch and other local waters.
Funding for the purchase of the Mk III was generously donated by Peter Willan through the Willan Charitable Trust. Mr Willan, who regularly supports causes for disabled people, was delighted to help with this project. He is a keen angler and hopes the new Wheelyboat will encourage more disabled people to take up the activity.
The Wheelyboat Trust's Mk III Wheelyboat, with its bow door that lowers to form a ramp, is a multi purpose boat that can be used by individuals or groups of up to five adult wheelchair users, for fishing, pleasure boating or nature watching. The boat is also well suited as a trip boat or small ferry, benefiting a broader spectrum of disabled people across a wide range of waters. Its open level deck provides access to all corners of the boat and enables disabled people to helm the boat themselves if they wish. The Wheelyboat solves the problem of access faced by many disabled people on and around water it is simplicity itself to board, provides a safe and stable platform and enables disabled people to participate in waterborne activities alongside and on equal terms with their able bodied counterparts.
(l to r) Martin Mitchell, anonymous camera man, John Hood, John Rae, Fiona Armstrong, Shona Warwick, Don Paterson, Mark Alton
Trust wins Most Innovative Product Award at the CLA Game Fair
A new award for the Most Innovative Product on show at the CLA Game Fair (Blenheim Palace, July 25th to 27th) has been won by The Wheelyboat Trust for its latest Wheelyboat model the Coulam 16 Wheelyboat.
Jointly developed by The Wheelyboat Trust and JM Coulam Boatbuilders, the Coulam 16 Wheelyboat is a purpose-built fishing boat that provides disabled anglers with step-free access on board via bank or pontoon. The design is based on Jim Coulam's standard 16' reservoir fishing boat with some ingenious modifications incorporated during construction. For the first time, disabled anglers have the use of an accessible boat that looks and performs like all the other boats in the fleet. Indeed, even though it has been modified to provide hassle-free wheelchair access, it is a boat that anyone can use with no diminution in performance compared to standard boats in the fleet. It is a genuinely dual-purpose craft a boat that can be used on exactly the same terms by any angler, disabled or not.
The first production model was purchased by Anglian Water plc for use on Rutland Water. The Trust is delighted to have won the award. Andy Beadsley, Director, said ‘This new Wheelyboat ticks all the boxes in terms of accessibility, looks and performance. Disabled anglers have long been waiting for a boat that competes on equal terms with those their able bodied counterparts use. We must thank Jim Coulam for his expertise and enthusiasm which was fundamental in turning the design from idea into reality’.
Vincent Hedley Lewis (left), Chairman of the CLA Game Fair Committee, and Jonny Beardsall (right) present Andy Beadsley, Director of The Wheelyboat Trust, with the CLA Game Fair's Most Innovative Product award.
HRH Prince Philip visits Wheelyboat Trust stand at CLA Game Fair
The Trust was honoured to receive a visit from Prince Philip who admired the two Wheelyboats on show including the award winning Coulam 16 Wheelyboat.
Prince Philip inspects the award winning Wheelyboat with Andy Beadsley and Vincent Hedley Lewis.
Coulam 16 Wheelyboat launched on Rutland Water
The first production model of the Coulam 16 Wheelyboat has been purchased by Anglian Water and was officially launched at Rutland Water on 4th April. A crowd of well wishers had gathered and heard Jake Williams and Jon Marshall of Anglian Water and Andy Beadsley of The Wheelyboat Trust thank all those concerned for their help bringing the project to fruition. Particular praise went to the CLA Charitable Trust for funding the boat's development from concept to prototype and to Jim Coulam for his enthusiasm and dedication to the project. Andy Beadsley said that it had always been a goal of his since becoming Director of the Trust to develop a portfolio of different craft that met particular needs and requirements rather than being limited to a one-size-fits-all solution. This new boat was a significant step towards that aim and he hoped it would be the first of many on waters across the UK.
Ray Prince (Trustee, Wheelyboat Trust), Jim Coulam (boat's builder), Danny Peet (Trustee, Wheelyboat Trust), John Seaton (Rutland Water Ranger), Jake Williams (Anglian Water), Jon Marshall (Anglian Water), Andy Beadsley (Director, Wheelyboat Trust).
Danny Peet and Jon Marshall discuss the merits of the boat's boarding arrangement.
The boat will provide access to the reservoir's excellent trout fishing. It means that disabled anglers finally have hassle-free use of a boat that looks and performs like all the other boats in the angling fleet. They can truly fish on equal terms with their able-bodied counterparts. While the Mk II Wheelyboat has been available on Rutland since 2005, some anglers feel conspicuous and at a disadvantage using it. This new boat not only means and end to the undignified manhandling of disabled anglers in and out of standard boats, but also brings relief to the fishery staff and their bad backs!
For more info on the Coulam 16 Wheelyboat click here.
Please take time to look at our earlier news and events and the current and past editions of the Waterwheels newsletter.
Wheelyboat Rainbow Reel-In winners announced
Sponsored by Corus Tubes, the Wheelyboat Rainbow Reel-In Competition held at Eyebrook Trout Fishery came to a close on 1st October with four anglers netting generous prizes to a total value of £700.
Ken Waters of Wing, Rutland won a £400 Eyebrook Tackle Shop voucher for the heaviest bag of 8 fish, weighing in at 17lbs 11ozs.
Fred Kettle of Wigston, Leicestershire, won a £200 voucher for the heaviest single rainbow which tipped the scales at 5lb 4ozs.
Don Pack, of Wellingborough, and John Gale, of Wing, both won £50 vouchers after their names were drawn out of the hat.
Ken was also the proud winner of no less than 5 of the 12 monthly prizes donated by Stuart Illsley of the Eyebrook Tackle Shop.
The competition was run very successfully on behalf of the Wheelyboat Trust by the staff at Eyebrook Trout Fishery in Leicestershire. Without their help and support, along with that of Stuart and the Corus Group, the first ever competition for disabled anglers using the specially designed Wheelyboats would never have happened. The Trust's grateful thanks goes to them and to all the anglers who supported the Rainbow Reel-In competition. The Trust would also like to thank Sue Hiatt, its Regional Volunteer in the Midlands, for all the hard work she undertook having conceived the idea and then brought it to fruition.
More details of the Rainbow Reel-In and other awards can be found in our Awards and Competitions section.
Ken is delighted to receive his prize from Ray Prince, a Trustee of the Wheelyboat Trust.
Tweed Foundation Charity Auction and Dinner
Thousands raised for for Tweed Wheelyboats
On 9th October in Kelso, Chris Tarrant, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire's question master (and a passionate angler), and comedian, Mike Osman, hosted a gala charity auction and dinner in aid of Tweed Wheelyboats.
The pair richly entertained the 250 diners and guests throughout the evening, skilfully relieving them of £20 notes at regular intervals. A silent auction was held during dinner and the main live auction followed. There were some extremely desirable lots on offer including a week in October 2008 fishing six of Tweed's finest beats (a once in a lifetime opportunity). Mike Osman proved an expert auctioneer and squeezed every ounce of value from each lot. The six days on six beats went for £15,000!
Nick Yonge (Director, Tweed Foundation), Mike Osman, Chris Tarrant.
The Tweed Wheelyboat is a revolutionary new fishing boat developed by the Trust in conjunction with J M Coulam Boatbuilders specifically for disabled anglers on large rivers like Tweed. The first one, named Tweedability 1, was launched by Chris Tarrant in October 2006. The aim of the auction and dinner was to raise funds to repay the boat's development costs (funded by the Tweed Foundation), purchase two more boats for Tweed and endow The Wheelyboat Trust with funds to enable it to supply boats to other rivers. The evening was a huge success and the money raised exceeded all expectations.
Second Tweed Wheelyboat launched
As a result of publicity for the auction and dinner, an extremely generous benefactor donated funds to enable the second Tweed Wheelyboat (Tweedability 2) to be built in advance of the dinner and it was formally launched on the famous Junction Pool at Kelso on 1st October. Ray Crompton, a wheelchair user, whose friend donated the funds with the needs of Ray in mind, was the first angler to use the boat and christened it by catching a salmon the following day. He said ‘it's a fantastic boat and without it I simply could not get on the river’.
Ray Crompton playing a salmon the first one to be caught from the new boat.
The boat's unique design means that the boatman and angler, between the two of them, can board and disembark easily and safely. This overcomes the major hurdle of access to the river for wheelchair users the banks are steep and inaccessible, while the standard Tweed fishing boats are simply not built for wheelchair use. The Tweed Wheelyboat's success is in no small part due to the boatman who operate the boat and who find it so straightforward to row and control.
The Wheelyboat Trust is extremely grateful to the Tweed Foundation, which organised the entire event, for making it such an enormous success. Tweedability 3 will be launched in 2008.
To book the Tweed Wheelyboat, contact the Tweed Foundation on 01896 848271 or visit their website www.tweedfoundation.org.uk.
New Mk III Wheelyboat launched at Siblyback Reservoir near Liskeard.
The new Mk III for Siblyback Lake in Cornwall was launched on 1st May by Lady Mary Holborow, Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, in front of more than 100 guests. The boat's principal users will be from the Echo Centre in Liskeard, a day centre for disabled people, which raised the majority of funds enabling them to purchase the boat. They will use it for activity days on the lake in conjunction with their accessible sailing dinghy. The boat will be operated by South West Lakes Trust and will also be available for visitors to hire for trout fishing, pleasure boating and nature watching. The projects principal sponsors were HRH Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Awards for All and the Environment Agency.
The Wheelyboat has been fitted with adjustable handrails and tracking on the deck to secure wheelchairs for the comfort and safety of its special-needs users.
This project is typical of the wider direction the Trust is taking with Wheelyboat provision. It ticks all the boxes in terms of the variety of activities the boat provides access to, the people who benefit from it and the close cooperation between the project partners. It is the perfect example of the aims of the Wheelyboats For All project taking effect.
Wheelyboat bookings: 01579 342366
Venue website: www.swlakestrust.org.uk
Lady Mary Holborow launches Siblyback's new Wheelyboat with David Knight from the Echo Centre and Andy Beadsley.
Lady Mary Holborow and Echo Centre members take the Wheelyboat on its maiden voyage.
New fishing competition launched for Wheelyboat users at Eyebrook Trout Fishery.
Sponsored by Corus Tubes, the Wheelyboat Rainbow Reel-In Competition runs at
Eyebrook Trout Fishery until 1st October. It is open to all Wheelyboat users
(disabled anglers and their fishing partners) and offers some fantastic prizes.
More details.
New Mk III Wheelyboat replaces the old Mk I model at Clatworthy Reservoir near Taunton.
One of the country's most picturesque reservoirs, Clatworthy, took delivery of its brand new Mk III Wheelyboat on 19th April. Its 130 acres offer excellent fly fishing for brown and rainbow trout and is home to an abundance of wildlife. The Mk III upgrades the fisherys old Mk I Wheelyboat which will be fully refurbished and found a new home. The new boat has been jointly funded by Lord Barnby's Foundation, a charitable trust, and Wessex Water plc, Clatworthy's owners.
Wheelyboat bookings: 01984 624658
Website: www.wessexwater.co.uk
Patrick Veale, owner of Lance Nicholson's Guns & Tackle in Dulverton, with his son, Warren, and Andy Beadsley ready for a day's trout fishing after the launch.
Refurbished Mk I Wheelyboat to Hallington Reservoirs, Northumberland.
Westwater Angling Club has acquired a refurbished Mk I Wheelyboat for disabled anglers trout fishing on Hallington Reservoirs. Both reservoirs at Hallington now have Mk Is thanks to Northumbrian Water donating the Mk I from nearby Fontburn Reservoir.
Wheelyboat bookings: 01434 681405
Website: www.westwaterangling.co.uk
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall launches new Mk III Wheelyboat at Sutton Bingham Reservoir near Yeovil.
On a bright, spring day, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall charmed guests at the launch of Sutton Bingham's new Wheelyboat with a story of how his father helped him catch a mackerel from Richmond Park when he was six! Ever since, he has been hooked on fishing. The new Wheelyboat replaces Sutton Bingham's old Mk I Wheelyboat and will be available for trout and coarse fishing as well as nature watching and pleasure boating. It has been jointly funded by Lord Barnby's Foundation, a charitable trust, and Wessex Water plc, Sutton Bingham's owners.
Wheelyboat bookings: 01935 872389
Website: www.wessexwater.co.uk
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall pops the bubbly.
Second Wheelyboat is delivered to the Munster Blackwater in Ireland.
Fermoy Town & District Anglers have 2 miles of salmon and coarse fishing on Ireland's famous River Blackwater and have acquired their own Wheelyboat to provide disabled anglers with access to the fishing. The boat also takes disabled people, school children, etc on sightseeing tours up the river. The first Blackwater Wheelyboat was supplied in August 2004 and is used by Cappoquin Salmon & Trout Angling Association.
Wheelyboat bookings: 00 353 87 922 3983
Downstream view of the River Blackwater and Fermoy town centre from the Wheelyboat.
Mk III Wheelyboat to Staylittle Outdoor Centre, Llanbrynmair.
Staylittle Outdoor Centre is run by Powys County Council and offers its visitors, mainly educational groups, a wide range of outdoor activities. The Wheelyboat provides disabled visitors with pleasure boating and ferry trips on Llyn Clywedog.
Enquiries: 01686 430630
More news and details of our activities are available in the current and past editions of the Waterwheels newsletters.