Angling Coach and Angling Trust member Graham Cridland has won the BBC Unsung Hero award for the South East.
The aeronautical engineer from Crawley in West Sussex has helped hundreds of kids and adults turn their lives around through learning to fish at his West Sussex and Surrey Angling Academy which, despite funding being withdrawn in 2006, he has kept going with the help of 15 volunteers and his own money.
Graham only turned to angling coaching in 2004 after many years coaching rugby. It's a sign of the impact he has had in the lives of so many people that he was also a national finalist in this year's ITV Pride of Britain awards. Despite missing out on the national Unsung Hero award he was a guest at December's BBC Sports Personality of The Year awards
Daniel Williams, Regional Development Officer in the South East for the Angling Trust, the national representative body for all angling in England, said, "This is not a one off, but one in a line of awards that Graham and the West Sussex and Surrey Angling Academy have picked up in the last couple of years. He really has done some good work and a great deal on our behalf including supporting National Fishing Month, Kingfisher Awards, Angling Sports Leaders, Dads & Lads programs and coming in at the last minute to run a For Fun Casting Program at the Bexhill Sea Angling Festival. There will be, I'm sure, much more to come."
Graham still doesn't know who nominated him for the award. "The fact that someone thought I was worthy enough speaks for itself, who it was isn't important. I'm still amazed that people think that the work we do warrants this kind of recognition", he said.
Graham and the West Sussex and Surrey Angling Academy have won supporters in high places with the Fisheries Minister, Richard Benyon MP, recently agreeing to become a patron of the organisation.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for the Academy contact Graham via the website or email him at CWSAA@aol.com
If you or a friend might be interested in becoming an angling coach yourself you can find out more on the Angling Trust websiteor by calling Angela Woodgates at the Angling Trust Approved Centre on 0115 9061 313.
Source: Angling Trust Fishing News
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