Tom is a top angler - and fund-raiser too

Sporting surveys over the past decade have consistently revealed that the most popular participation sport is angling and with Pembrokeshire’s natural water resources there is a considerable number of participants who use our rivers, lakes and, of course, the open sea around our coastline.

And nowhere is it stronger than in Neyland, where the local sea angling club is going from strength to strength and in addition to enjoying their fishing are raising terrific sums of money for local charities.

Leading the way in this area is Tom O’Brien, who started out as a nipper off the shore and rocks at Waterston and Hazelbeach after his grandparents bought him a rod when he was 11 and now, 38 years later, still has that thrill of anticipation whenever he loads his kit in the car and sets off to a quiet time on his own, or with son Noah (11), who has already won his section at the West Wales Flounder Festival - or to take part or organise sea-fishing competitions.

Great way of earning extra pocket-money

There was even a bit of a financial inducement when he and his pals went to their favourite place on the rocks near the Ferry Inn because he caught a 5.5lb bass there and sold it to local fish merchant Walter Davies for a good sum of money.

“I was well and truly hooked,” admitted Tom, “and from then on any fish we caught we took to Mr Davies to earn some extra pocket money. We also fished off the beach and regularly caught a range of fish because there were definitely more available in those distant days!”

Tom took over the reins a decade ago

Tom took over as club secretary almost a decade ago and from a start when membership was in single figures, they now have 54 members who come from as far afield as Worcester and Falmouth after watching a competition at Coppett Hall and enrolling on the day.

His great support in his role comes from chairman Tony O’Neill, president Dai Etherington and press officer Robert Varns - but especially his wife Carys, who is not an angler but does the bulk of the administration and is a wizard at using the internet to raise awareness of what the club is doing to raise funds.

Fund-raising began in Covid

“Our fundraising really began in Covid when I was bored with being at home so bought some fishing tackle from Mike Rowe at J&M Tackle and Carys started a hugely successful raffle on line for a range of different prizes, with all proceeds going to the club to start its own big competition when the lock-down stopped.

“People from all over the UK bought tickets for each of the lots and when we held our first open fishing competition we paid out £3,000 in prizes - and the following year we were able to use the profits from the first one to offer double that amount and become the biggest event in Wales - and eventually have had to limit the number of entries because it was so popular.”

Local good causes start to benefit

It was at this time that Tom and Co decided they could use their experiences to raise funds for worthwhile local causes and when Neyland Primary School had its garden shed badly damaged in a storm it was the Neyland Sea Angling Club members who presented a new shed, costing £400, to replace it.

Then a local angler died and they held a competition and national raffle (again organised by Carys) - and they raised the magnificent sum of £6,000 for his wife and young children.

They also raised a similar sum for The Teenage Cancer Trust and £2,000 for CLAPA, the charity that helps children who have a cleft palate

Other great efforts follow

Since then they have also presented £250 to help someone do great work on their garden and in doing so help improve their mental health - and provided £300 to help the Reverend Chadwick, vicar of St Clements’ Church in the town, provide a suitable place for use by local pensioners or anyone else in need of a cuppa.

And their latest remarkable venture came at a match held at Freshwater East when they again set about raising much-needed funds for a local family and with Carys again working her magic with an internet raffle the Neyland Sea-Angling Club presented them with the fantastic sum of £5,700!

A huge fish - and species and different species galore

Looking at Tom’s own fishing experiences for a moment his best fish caught from the shore was a 6lb bass but off a boat it is a little larger as he went out to fish off the Celtic Deeps on the Lady Jue 2, skippered by Rob Ronnie, and caught a blue shark that weighed in at a massive 110lbs.

“It was a fantastic experience I’ll never forget,” admitted Tom, “and after having a few pictures we set it back in the water and it disappeared with a flash of its fin!”

In his time Tom has caught an immense number of different species, none more so than in one competition in The Haven where in 24 hours he caught 54 different species.

Great trips to Ireland – but loves local events too

One of his favourite competitions to attend is a trek undertaken by members of the club to Ireland in a place called Curracloe, near Wexford, for their annual Winter Beach Festival.

“The atmosphere is terrific over the weekend we stay there and it is fair to say that they really think the world of us Welsh anglers!”

Neyland Sea Angling Club holds its own club matches every other Sunday, with venues decided well in advance all over Pembrokeshire and as far afield as the North Channel at Burry Port.

“We are a group that believes in conservation and so all fish caught at our competitions are returned to the water once they have been weighed.”

Tom and his mates at Neyland also aim to help other charity competitions and attend the events put on by John O’Connor and some other keen anglers around this time of year in raising funds for the Air Ambulance, the RNLI and ‘Blood Bikes’.

Rightly proud of club competition

And then there’s the afore-mentioned competition of their own which is traditionally held at Pendine and the prize money not only attracts anglers from across England, Scotland and Ireland but even from Germany.

“For our most recent one there was a first prize of £1,400 and others of £800, £600, £400 and £200 and as well as those we also have individual prizes for each of the zones where we allocate each angler their predetermined place - and for our ladies and junior sections.

“As I said before, that prize money comes from last year’s event and what we have from this year’s entry fees and magnificent sponsorships from angling companies, individuals and our raffle we can help a few deserving causes in our area and have the strong basis to make next year’s even bigger and better.”

One only has to chat to Tom O’Brien for a short while to feel his love of angling but also as he and Carys have used it as a vehicle for doing good in the town of Neyland and the surrounding area.

His approach to his chosen sport is like a breath of fresh air and all we can say at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk is to say,

‘Well done Tom. Long may you continue to enjoy your angling and we wish you all the best in your continued fund-raising as a wonderful extra benefit!”