Folks,
24 hours and a bit later and it's all still go :! I really don't know where to start :shock We were blessed with fabulous weather, couldn't have asked for better.
I feel a wee bit like someone at the oscars ceremony with all of the thanks but here goes:
Firstly a big thank you to Castle Forbes who kindly allowed us the use of the grounds, they couldn't have been more helpful in getting the site ready and the venue was just great.
To Orvis, with particular mention for Ben Dixon - without his support and help it would have been a whole lot tougher to arrange (cheers Ben :z16). The donation of a Helios as a star auction lot was extremely generous and went a considerable way to helping the auction achieve in excess of £1,600 for the River Don Trust.
To Rick Fyffe who worked tirelessly with Ben and I on making my crazy idea become a reality, he pulled more rabbits out of hats than you can imagine :!
To Paul Procter (& Richard :!) for sharing infectious enthusiasm about the river with everyone and for giving of time so freely.
To my fellow Directors of the RDT who did great things in the main marquee and fielded questions on all manner of Don related topics - cheers fellas :cool:
To everyone who donated their time (Alford FRS crew - cheers boys) and items for the auction - a thousand thank yous :z16
I know I will have missed folk off that 'list', it is not intentional I assure you, but there seems to be so much to cover and so many folk to thank that this could go on and on and on and on and..... well, you get the picture :! If I didn't get around everyone I am sorry, could have done with 2 identical twins on the day :shock To my very tolerant wife - cheers darlin' :cool:
We're still counting what came in on the day, donations were generous (thanks to all who dipped into their pockets, you know who you are :!) and I understand that the Friends of the Don scheme has got off to a very promising start; I'm delighted that the auction was well supported and 'our' Dave did a not bad job as auctioneer weeding elusive cash out of our bidders :wink Kenny Reid from the Dee won the Helios and seems smitten with his new toy :wink
I confess to being a wee bit weepy eyed at this stage as I have to leave when things are just coming 'together' for the river as a whole.
For me the 'toe in the water' exercise we did this year with the Don Open Day has proved its worth a thousand times over. There were disappointments and let downs, but like the Murphys I'm not bitter and I won't dwell on it.
As many of you will know I'll be moving on to pastures new and will very sadly have to give up my various connections with the Don, but I'm happier now we've had the day and seen the support that the local angling community (and in particular this forums members) has for the new initiatives.
It's not concrete by any means, but expect there to be developments in Sunday fishing for Brown Trout on the river this year :z18
It all bodes very well for the future in my book.
I think it is highly likely, possibly a certainty, that there will be a similar event next year. I look forward to coming down from Inverness as a 'punter' :z7
A few pics taken on the day:
Setting up:
(http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb53/ABZSTILO/P1000501.jpg)
I kneel before Paul :!
(http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb53/ABZSTILO/P1000506.jpg)
Your auction crew
(http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb53/ABZSTILO/P1000516.jpg)
Not forgetting our 'display model' - cheers Rick :!
(http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb53/ABZSTILO/P1000515.jpg)
Thank you one and all, it's been a pleasure :z16
Hamish :z3