A CHEPSTOW schoolboy was one of 24 young anglers from across the UK recognised at the House of Commons on Wednesday (15th November).

Josh Wall from Mounton House Special School, Chepstow was commended after being nominated for the Fishing for Schools Champions Awards by his teacher Matthew Duffield.

Fishing for Schools is an initiative run by The Countryside Alliance Foundation, the charitable arm of the Countryside Alliance. It provides short angling courses at schools across the country, to aid the education of 12 to 18-year-olds who may have physical, learning or behavioural difficulties which mean they are not always in mainstream education. Each school was asked to nominate one child whom they thought had achieved the most through the course to be their champion. It was these youngsters who were commended.

Mr Duffield said: “The experiences Josh has had through Fishing for Schools have benefitted him greatly, in terms of both his social and emotional wellbeing and also in developing his confidence in the classroom, enabling his continued progress and development.

“Josh is, without exception, always a positive ambassador for our school and invariably leaves a very favourable impression on  any visitors, staff and members of the public that he meets, both in school and when on trips or off-site activities. He is an inherently kind and caring individual and it is for these reasons that I feel he deserves to be recognised and put forward as our school’s champion.”

Fishing for Schools director Charles Jardine added: “These students are a tremendous example of what is achieved through Fishing for Schools. Many of them have had challenging school careers but fishing is a sport without barriers and seems to have struck a chord with these students, offering something they can achieve and benefit from and teaching all manner of life skills along the way. I congratulate them all.”