KingFisher Lake, Broadfield, Home of West Sussex & Surrey Angling Academy

Our student caught his first sea fish last night, he is well made up.
He baited the hooks himself, trying various combinations of bait. Finally ended catching 4 whiting.
Apart from getting tide time wrong so stayed until 3.15 am tide this morning, it was a great session.
This young person was on course to go to prison, but due to our schools course he joins the Royal Navy in August.
Last night will just reinforce his self-esteem and confidence.

Afternoon everyone, have had confirmation from Janet Rose at the council parks department, she has checked the councils web site and cannot anything about no night fishing.
Where the people running tailgate lake got this from isn't known.
I am out of action due to being high risk until at least the end of June, leaving only 2 bailiffs to cover the lake.
Janet has agreed with me, as I am out of action, that for safety, while we recruit some more bailiffs, NO NIGHT FISHING will remain in place until the 1st June 2020.
Please be patient with the team, night and 24 hour fishing will return in a few weeks.
While fishing please observe the 2 metre rule, unless with members of your own family.
Thank you
Graham

At the moment day fishing only at Broadfield park lake.
NO NIGHT FISHING until further notice.

The lake is open from today.
Please follow the social distancing rules.
Please make sure you have all the correct equipment to fish, including licence, landing mat and landing net.
You will not be allowed to share equipment, please make you have the equipment above.
Thank you
Graham

On Thursday/Friday a mother of one of our students, started with the Academy to train as a coach.
We welcome Silke as part of the team.

Some of the 1800 fish put into our lake yesterday.
Many thanks to Tony at Hawkhurst Fish Farm for all his help.
A big Thank you to students and volunteers in helping to put them into the lake.

Successfully completed and passed the NHS veterans course yesterday. Very comprehensive course, brilliant food provided by the Princess of Wales Regiment in Crawley barracks.
The smell in the barracks took me back to being in the RAF in the 70's.
Great fun trying on the new kit the army uses and handling the SA80 rifle and New sights.
The last weapon I used was the SLR.
Brought back many great memories.

The course is designed to help all veterans to access mental health, housing and other help for them and just as important their families

West Sussex & Surrey Angling Academy PCSO Ken Oldershaw
1949-2014
Memorial Angling Match 2018

West Sussex & Surrey Angling Academy v Sussex Police & Fire Brigade
Date; Friday 4th May 2018,
Venue; Kingfisher Lake, Broadfield Park, Brighton Road, Crawley. RH11 9RZ. (opposite K2 Leisure Centre)
Time; Meet 9-9.30am,
Teams; 4 members per team
Peg Draw; 10am,
Match starts 11am, Finish 3pm.
Presentations; 4pm
The match is in memory of very dear friend and excellent fisherman. I met Ken 2 years before he became a PSCO for Sussex Police, based in Crawley, when I first started teaching young people.
When Ken became a PCSO he saw an opportunity to build bridges between the young people and the police. He first turned up at the lake in his police ford transit CCTV van. Upon seeing his arrival, the student cowered, to which I asked why. The answer came back ‘it’s the police’, I said ‘have you done anything wrong’ they said ‘no’.
Ken saw this reaction as he approached and was laughing. I introduced Ken to the students and he promptly spent 10-15 minutes with each student before having to return to duty. When Ken left the student were impressed of his fishing knowledge and enjoyed the time he spent with them. After a few weeks at the start of session I was asked if Ken was coming today.
Such was Ken’s presents that that the young people not only learnt from him but learnt to trust the police.
Unfortunately, the Academy had to move out of Crawley for a while and the new venue was to far for him to come.
In 2014 Crawley Borough Council grant the lease to the lake in Broadfield Park and Ken was excited at being able to resume his work with the students. After completing a fishing lesson, I saw a friend running around like a mad hatter, she told me that Ken had died, and his funeral was within the hour. Ken would have laughed but enjoyed that I turned up at the crematorium in shorts and Academy polo shirt to pay my respect to him.
Family and friends had got Ken through a rare cancer only to die from pneumonia. We are raising funds for the Royal Marsden hospital in Chelsea, to continue the fight against these rare cancers. It is a disease that touches us all, and we must help in whatever way we can to defeat this disease. If you wish to donate, please go to our Just Giving page below.
We are looking for 8 volunteers for the event to help patrol the banks during the match.
justgiving.com/crowdfunding/graham-cridland-1

Page should be live Monday

A burger and ice cream van will be on site from 8.30am to 5pm

Help raise £5000 to West Sussex & Surrey Angling Academy to help The Royal Marsden Hospital Chelsea, fight rare cancers, in memory of PCSO Ken Oldershaw

Damaged lifering housing that was damaged mid November, along with liferings has now been stolen from the bridge at Broadfield Park lake. Sometime between 5pm Monday and 11am this morning.
Please this essential equipment for the community Go to,
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/graham-cridland to make a donation