The Lionel Main Angling Course

Countryside Learning Scotland is raising £8,000 to continue to fund a memorial to Lionel Main, who was the head ghillie on the Castle Grant beats of the Reidhaven estate on the river Spey from 1987 to 2021. Lionel was a keen environmentalist and a true countryman. He was an inspirational angling instructor and mentor to his numerous tenants and had a particular interest in encouraging young people to become involved in angling and the countryside.

This fund will be used to assist young fishers to fish the river Spey and to develop potential as future ghillies, by attending the Lionel Main Angling Course in July each year. The first course was established in 2023, funded by the angling community, and was an enormous success, as the introductory video demonstrates.

The Reidhaven Estate has generously donated one week of exclusive access to one of the Castle Grant Beats annually together with the services of a ghillie for the above purpose. Up to eight students aged 12-18 years will be recruited nationally, with priority given to local people. Supervised accommodation, travel to and from the river, and full board will be available for a modest contribution, but otherwise, the course will be free of charge. We have partnered with Windward Education Ltd to deliver the syllabus of the Scottish National Proficiency Award in Angling and the Aquatic Environment, Level 4, successful attainment of which will become a stepping stone to a future career in the countryside. Students will also be instructed in fly fishing for salmon and seatrout and will have fully supervised access to one of the premier fishing beats on the river Spey.

On completion of the course, the most improved student will be awarded the Lionel Main trophy. James Stewart, 14, was the worthy winner in 2023;

The main cost of the course relates to the time required for the recruitment process, accommodation, catering, travel, and engagement of a professional teacher full time for the week itself, together with preparation and delivery of the NPA Level 4 course with the robust safeguarding required for this age group.

See also; Article in the press and Journal July 2023