You have to give credit to the Angling Trust - Rob Hughes

First things first – I want to say a big thank you for the messages you’ve sent me throughout the lockdown, and also for the personal stories about what fishing means to you. There’s no question that angling is so much more than just something that we do. It’s a part of us, and we’ve got it back. Well done to everyone who has behaved impeccably and followed the guidelines thus far. It’s up to us now.

I’d also like to say a thank you to two people in particular, both key members of the Angling Trust: Martin Salter, whose knowledge and understanding of the political world allowed us to get into the heart of Government, and Jamie Cook the new CEO whose ambition and drive took us there. I genuinely believe that without these two we would still be in the queue to get out of lockdown.

It’s fair to say that I’ve been a critic of the Trust in the past. I still am in certain quarters. I joined and stepped up to the plate as an Ambassador and Consultant (totally unpaid but with loads of grief attached to it, before anyone mentions anything about gravy trains) as I wanted to help. As a sport, angling should punch its weight but it never really has.

Now look at what’s just happened as a prime example of what can be done with good leadership. Whatever you thought of the Trust in the past, let’s give the new fella a chance. Forget the old and move forwards for the future of our sport.