[Brian Brand]

Hi to you all,

Well less than a few weeks to the start of the 2014 Fishing Season.

I would like to, on behalf of Inverurie Angling Association, invite you all to its Annual March to the River Don at Inverurie to celebrate the start of the season on Saturday 15th February.

Again this year there will be Coffee/Tea available inside the Kintore Arms Hotel, High Street, Inverurie after 8:45am.

The March starts at 9:30am and is led by a Piper down to the old Road Bridge where the River will be blessed by our local Minister Graeme Longmuir and a whisky is offered to toast the new season.

Aberdeenshire Provost Jill Webster and ex-Provost Raymond Bisset have been invited to have their say about the forthcoming year and possibly recite a doric poem.

This event is open to all Anglers, families and friends.

I hope you can come along and support us in what has become a great local event.

Regards,
Brian.
 

[Jim Eddie]

Can't promise as may have work / family commitment s but will come along if I can.

 

JIM

[Ben Dixon]

I'll try & make


Ben

[Mike Barrio]

See you there Brian

Thanks for posting the invitation.

Best wishes
Mike

[Allan Liddle]

If i'm not moving house then i'll try to tag along Mike.

[Allan Liddle]

Sorry Mike, moving my mum-in-law this weekend.  Hope you have a great day. 

[Brian Brand]

Hi,

Just a reminder that the march is on this Saturday meeting up the Kintore Arms Hotel, Tea/Coffee in the lounge at 08:45.

The march sets off at 09:30.

Hope to see you there.

All the best,
Brian.

[Mike Barrio]

A great day for the March to the River Don today ..... the coffee was good, the company was good and the river looked in grand form too!

I didn't have my camera with me today, but there were lots of pics taken, so we'll hopefully see a few

Cheers
Mike

[Mike Barrio]

For me ... one of the highlights of the March to the River Don each year are the awesome poems that Raymond Bisset writes and recites

Raymond very kindly gave me a copy of this year's poem called "The Opening Day" to share with you. Now as he pointed out at the event, this year's poem mentions local angler George Niblock as a representation of all anglers that fish the Don ... So take note!

THE OPENING DAY

Thon big George Niblock, he wis up at first licht
Aye-- the stairt o' the season wis here'
Gosh--- he tossed an' he turned in his bed aa' the nicht,
For, tae sleep-in that day wis his fear.

His waedirs aa' patched wi' a tube o' white glue,
Wi' some tins fu' o' devons an' spoons,
He'd already spint time squatted doon in the loo,
Faar his bowels hid emitted gey souns.

For George was prepared fir this glorious day'
Aff doon tae the Don wi' his bait,
Wi' a mind fixed on ne'er bit his silvery prey,
Thinkin' "Man, bit aa' canna' be late!"

His finngers were frozen, as were lugs an' his taes
Nae tae mention his blue stappit nose,
Bit aa' wis forgotten at sicht o' a fish,
Wi' a silvery blue flash as it rose.

The sicht o' sic fish gaur big George tae gaun white,
As he cast his line weel ower the stream,
He look'd up tae Heaven an' prayed for a bite,
Thit wid satisfy George's grand dream.

Bang!!! His rod tip bint double, his reel screamed a tune
As his quarry set aff doon the Don,
Then!!! His line lost its tichtness, his rod tip caam' roon,
An' his beautiful fish, it wis gone!

George, he couldnae stop shakin', his mind in despair,
Fit wint wrang, wis it rod, reel or line?
Thit this clean 20 pounder, perhaps even mair,
Got awa' fin' it should hae been mine!!

He wrack'it his brains, naa' it wisna' maa hooks,
They're as sharp as a new sharpened knife,
An' ma knots, they were tied as it says in the books,
An' a rod newly bocht bi' ma wife.

Twis then the thocht hit him, I ken fit wint wrang!
An' it wisnae ma gear or puir play,
For this year I deserted the rest o' the gang,
On their march to the river, first day.

So the moral, it's clear, if ye wish tae catch fish,
Niver miss oot the minister's prayer,
Cause ye'll niver come hame wi a bountiful dish
Bi' ignorin' the Lord or his heir.

( Copyright Raymond Bisset 01/02/2014 )

[Mike Barrio]

A few photos of the March ...... Thanks Mairhi

[Brian Brand]

Thanks for putting on the photos Mike.

I would also like to thank the Minister Graeme Longmuir for his blessing, Provost Jill Webster for her talk and Raymond Bisset for his great poem, I wish that I could come up with something like that, thanks Raymond for allowing us to share it but it may require to be translated for some folk.  

Also many thanks to all who attended it was a really good turnout.

Hope to see you on the river,

Regards,
Brian.