RMC Wraysbury One & Two
29th February 2004
Friday evening saw the first party of organisers/helpers arriving at Wraysbury One with a view to getting everything organised for the Sunday fish-in. An hour or two of discussion on where to set everything up ensued, with a few beers consumed to help the process. By 22.00hrs with the temperature rapidly plummeting into minus figures, the draw of warm sleeping bags (in cars!!!) became too strong and we all turned in for the night.
Early Saturday morning arrived without too much incidence (other than Chris advising us that he had found that the rear opening tail-hatch on his 4X4 to be anything but supportive when leaning against it from the inside and trying to relieve himself over the top in the middle of the night rather than get out into the cold – luckily he managed to avoid the puddle when he fell out of the door!!!), other than a light sprinkling of snow.
A mug of tea later and the intrepid organisers where on their way to Kingsmead for a few hours Piking before returning to Wraysbury to finish the setting up in the afternoon. On arrival we were soon joined by the intrepid Pompey duo Graham and Brian. Kingsmead was yet again kind to Chris who was first into a monster Pike of about 3lb!!!! after only half an hour. Eugene, not to be out-done and proving his nickname of Jona was now unfounded, was next in with a fish of around 12lb. Shortly after this, Mike arrived after dropping his girl of at the nursery, closely followed by Allan (daytimedave).
Two hours later, and no further fish resulted in the band of merry helpers deciding it was time to call it a day and head back to Wraysbury to sort out base camp. Allan Stone had left us an hour earlier to let the “Happy Chippie” into Wraysbury One, so we were quietly hoping most of the hard work would have taken place.
On the way back, and much to our surprise, the cars took on a mind of their own and before we knew what was happening, we were sitting in the warmth of the “Percy” with beers in front of us. This coincided with a phone call advising that Tug had turned up with the tent (base camp) and that it had already been set up. One beer turned into two etc and a pleasant hour or two passed.
Eventually, sense was seen (although not by Andy), and we headed back to camp. Everything was then organised for the Sunday morning onslaught of anglers. Whilst this was going on, there was a steady stream of anglers arriving who were turning up for the Saturday Night Social.
Andy and Chris, “relaxed” after their afternoons activities in the “Percy”, decided to ‘help’ the “cheerful chippie” with cooking supper – much merriment followed for everyone other than the “chippie”!!.
With the Saturday Night Social under way Brian was woken from his forty winks by Graham (not a sight I’d want to wake up to!) and he joined us in the tent. “Tent” doesn’t really do it justice. It was a 12X12 that Tug had kindly borrowed from the RAF (with permission) that was big enough to sit most of us. That is until someone bright spark (Andy) decided that to warm it up we should light a disposable barbeque inside. (off the ground to comply with RMC regulations on no fires)
Safety wise, this wasn’t a problem as the BBQ was very small, and the tent very high. However, the disposable BBQ was so small it didn’t give off much heat. It then became a mission for the pyromaniacs around us to find enough wood to build the BBQ into a mini bonfire (sorry, bigger BBQ!) – again not a problem if the wood they found had been dry. However, how much dry wood do you find around lakes in the middle of winter – none! as they were to prove as the tent instantly filled with choking smoke. The first time they did this it was quite amusing, by the fifth time, not quite so much!!
Sadly, two of our guests had to leave at about 21.00hrs due to family problems (luckily it turned out to be OK in the end). This is only mentioned as they had set their bivvy up for the night some hours earlier. Due to the apparent emergency of the situation, it was all hands to the pump in getting them packed up and on their way. If only someone had filmed what had ensued it would have been worthy of its own whole show of “you’ve been framed”.
A few people by this stage were extremely relaxed (to the point where their legs were obviously asleep whilst the rest of their body wasn’t!!). Leaning over to pull out tent pegs that were fighting back became a mission for Chris (and some others to be honest). The only way to stop the pegs pulling him over, was for him to crawl around the tent – or over it!. Eventually everything was packed away and our guests were on their way.
Bed for some followed shortly after this (I didn’t have too much of a choice as my legs were already asleep!!!) so I’m afraid the rest of the evenings social will have to go un-reported.
05.00 Sunday morning came around far too early. A quick tea later and it was action stations. The computer was fired up for registration, car park marshall’s kitted out in day-glow vests (very fetching) dispersed, the happy chippie woken up and ‘kicked’ into cooking mode and then the gates were open.
Despite everyone knowing the gates don’t open until 06.00 it never ceases to amaze me how many people are waiting outside and who stream in at 05.30. Our apologies go to the residents of Wraysbury who put up with this each year.
By 06.30 the vast majority of anglers had signed in, and had headed off for their respective lakes. Dawn was breaking and the sun was trying to shine through. Over the next hour, and a bacon butty or two, various latecomers turned up and signed in. By 09.00 only 10 anglers hadn’t turned up which wasn’t bad in view of the weather conditions. This meant we had just over 100 anglers fishing on the two lakes.
With signing in duties passed to Stoney (it was about time he did something) it was time for everybody’s favourite job – walking round the lakes selling raffle tickets. Hippy, Tug, Mike Lyddon, DaytimeDave, Andy et al who had been on Car Park Marshalling duties had ‘surprisingly’ not returned to base camp – only to later be found fishing. This left us with a choice – Allan or Chris to walk the lakes. Allan being the main man obviously needed to man base camp in case someone had any questions for him, or in case someone turned up with a camera to take a photo of him!!. In addition, at his age the walk round the lakes may have been a bit too much.
So off I went in bright sunshine to start at Wraysbury Two. 5 minutes later and I’m getting out of the car in the village car park to be greeted by a Snow Blizzard. My apologies to those people thinking a Yeti was approaching them!!!
Two hours later, and Wraysbury Two had been circumnavigated – sadly not one fish was reported caught during my travels. On arriving back at the car my phone went off and on answering I was informed by Andy that my wife had turned up and dropped the kids off – only two hours early!!!
A quick dash back to Wraysbury One was therefore called for in order to save those present from my two little terrors. On arrival, I find the wife still there and the “cheerful chippie” trying on his charms – sadly unsuccessfully as I’d happily sell her on for the right price!!!
3 packets of crisps each and a fizzy drink later and it’s time to walk Wraysbury One selling tickets. The kids had been warned to be quiet when approaching anglers and give them there due, they weren’t too bad. It’s just a shame I didn’t warn them not to throw sticks and stones in!!! – sorry to the angler in the sunken barge swim!!
Fishing wise, only 3 Pike were caught that I am aware of, one of 3lb, 9lb and 13lb, the later two falling to lures. A number of missed runs were also reported!. The lact of fish however did not detract from the event. As with all our events, the anglers turn up to firstly raise money for Macmillan and secondly for the social, with the fishing just being an added bonus.
Raffles tickets sold, it was time to sort out the raffle prizes. Forgetting I was shouting out the ticket numbers, I suggested that rather than put together big bags of prizes, we should have more smaller bags so everyone had a better chance of winning – next year will be different!
A quick thank to all attending was given, and unhooking mats were presented to the six paying junior attendees to encourage them to continue with their hobby and not forget fish welfare – shame my kids couldn’t understand that they were under 16 but hadn’t bought a ticket as I’m now the worst dad on earth!
The raffle then got underway. 1hr later and we were still going strong with plenty of prizes left much to my voce box’s annoyance. Sadly we then had a slight diversion as one of our elder guests was overcome by the excitement (it must have been the atmosphere of anticipation I generated ) and keeled over. His family with him however reacted very quickly and managed to stop him landing on one of my lads and his raffle prizes.
Joking aside, I am pleased to say Allan visited them in Ashford Hospital after the event and all reports suggested he was making a good recovery. All our thoughts are with you and we hope you are soon well enough to grace the banks again.
The raffle continued until the last prize had gone, approximately 1 1/2hrs after we had started. This shows how many prizes we had, and in this respect our thanks again go out to every company that donated prizes to us.
Finally, I am pleased to advise that we raised £ 1,859 from the event. Well done to everyone involved, and thank you for your ongoing support and generosity at our events.
Chris
Treasurer
Stoney and Friends
