Graham Cridland, centre, receives the Community Heroes for Sport award from Sophia Warner, left, and the BBC's Tim Durrans
The innovative West Sussex Angling Academy received yet another accolade in December, when its managing director and chairman Graham Cridland picked up the Community Heroes Award for Sport at the inaugural BBC Sussex and BBC Surrey Community Heroes Awards at K2 Leisure Centre, Crawley.
The Angling Academy, based at Henfold Leisure Lakes, uses fishing to help disadvantaged young people and children from special needs schools, and provide respite care for those from care homes, as well as offering support for returning members of the Armed Forces, helping them to rebuild their confidence, self esteem and family cohesion.
Graham, who lives in Pound Hill, Crawley, said: "There were so many fantastic and deserving people at the awards. I was convinced I had not won, I am completely overwhelmed. I have to thank SR Technics, the owners and staff at Henfold Fishery, all my staff and volunteers, and to my long suffering wife and family, who have had to put up with the last 31 years of me coaching rugby and now fishing. Thank you everyone."
Graham has managed to develop the academy while working nightshift for SR Technics, maintaining Easyjet’s fleet at Gatwick Airport.
Nine awards and two special achievement gongs were awarded at the BBC ceremony to nominees from across Sussex, Surrey and North Hampshire. The Community Heroes Award for Sport was announced by BBC Sussex and Surrey sports presenter Tim Durrans and awarded to Graham by paralympic athlete and 2012 medal contender Sophia Warner.
Learn more about West Sussex Angling Academy
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