NATIONAL FISHING WEEK EVENT FOR DISABLED CHILDREN AT TAPPERNS LAKE, THEALE

All over Britain anglers will introducing new converts to the country’s most popular participant sport during National Fishing Week which runs from the 18th-27th August. Currently there are estimated to be 3.5 million anglers in the U.K.

On Thursday 24th August, Reading West MP Martin Salter who is also the Government’s Parliamentary Spokesman for Angling will be teaming up with local anglers from the Reading area to introduce disabled children to the joys of fishing.  The event takes place at Tapperns Lake in Theale near Reading with a group of a dozen disabled children from the PALS charity.  Mr Salter’s helpers include Alan Hughes of Reading and District Angling Assocation.  Tapperns Lake is situated beside the River Kennet at the end of Wigmore Lane with access across the railway line.  It also holds a number of specially constructed disabled fishing platforms.

The children are all from P.A.L.S. (Partnership for Active Leisure Scheme) which gives physically disabled children between the ages of 5 and 18 the chance to join in a variety of leisure activities not normally available to them.  Mr Salter has organised a similar event with PALS for the past five years and the activity has proved so popular that it has now become a regular part of their summer activities programme.

Over 200 children from West Berkshire, Reading and North Hampshire areas have benefited from the work of the PALS which was launched in 1998 with support from SCOPE (formerly the Spastic Society).

Martin Salter MP said:

“This has become an annual event for local disabled kids and is one of my favourite days of the year. I am extremely grateful to the lads from Reading and District and the Tilehurst Royal British Legion Angling Associations for taking time off work to give these disadvantaged children a great day out in the countryside and teaching them how to fish in a safe and secure environment.”

Brooke Shepheard of PALS said:

“Reading and District Anglers and Martin Salter have generously hosted PALS for several years.  It is a highlight of our summer programme and we are looking forward to this years fishing opportunity on the 24th Aug on Tapperns Lake.  Many fish will be landed and great fishing tales told”.