Cast of heroes finding peace

A DERBY businessman has set up a charity helping ex-servicemen and women deal with combat stress through fly fishing.

Keen angler and former Army captain Tony Spacey has established Fishing for Heroes with instructor Tom Hill.

Mr Spacey struck on the idea following a chance meeting with Mr Hill at a game fair.

Mr Hill already offered free fly-fishing courses for veterans sent to him by the Royal British Legion and Combat Stress.

Through his honey-making business, Littleover Apiaries, Mr Spacey had already donated money to veterans' welfare organisations, but after meeting Mr Hill they decided to set up a charity of their own.

Mr Spacey said: "I've always loved fly fishing.

"It's very relaxing and therapeutic. As an ex-serviceman I found it really helped me to deal with my combat stress.

"People must realise that the veterans who have been on active service will never forget some of the horrific things they have seen.

"I'm not just talking about veterans from Afghanistan or Iraq.

"There are people who have served in the Falklands, and even the Second World War, who are still carrying that burden around with them.

"Fishing for Heroes will not make those memories go away, but it can help them manage the issues they have."

The charity provides veterans, both men and women, from all three armed services, with free courses.

They are also given their own counsellor who is on call round the clock for as long as they need them.

The fishing courses are initially taking place in Devon, where Mr Hill is based, but Mr Spacey hopes that with enough support he will be able to establish courses across the country.

Due to the success of his business, Mr Spacey now works part-time at Littleover Apiaries, which is part of the Littleover Group run by his wife, Jan, and the firm's managing director, Sylwia Mering.

Last year, the business, based on Robinson's Industrial Estate, in Shaftesbury Street, signed a deal with Tesco worth £4.5m a year to supply honey to its stores.

Mr Spacey said: "I have been fortunate to be successful in business. Now I really want to put something back and I try to devote at least two days a week to the charity.

"The amount of support that is given to our veterans at the moment is woefully inadequate considering the sacrifices they have made.

"Eventually I would like to see the charity expand across the country, including Derbyshire.

"But the key is finding the right kind of instructors who understand what these veterans have been through."

To find out more about Fishing for Heroes, go to www.fishingforheroes.net.