Celebrating Douglas Owen

Sadly we must say goodbye to a legend of the Club. Our Chairman, Jason Harper emailed the Membership to say:

“It is with sadness we announce the passing of Dougie Owen at the age of 101. Dougie continued to fish into his 90s, and remained an honorary member of the Association after he had hung up his waders. Many of you will have known him well. He had a wealth of knowledge and wisdom about the rivers, and I was lucky enough to bump into him on the bank of the Plym 7 years ago, when he walked me along the pools and showed me where to find the fish.

His daughters Belinda and Caroline are making arrangements for a service, and if it be their wish, I shall forward the details along so that those of you who knew him can pay your respects.

Kind regards,
Jason”

Former Chair and current Treasurer, Mike Green went on to pay tribute:

“In memory of Douglas Owen.
This picture taken Thursday, 12 September 2013
Dougie Owen with a 22lb hen from Kilmoo, Taymont, Perth.
Douglas was 93 at this time!
I first met Douglas at a PDFAA Committee meeting when applying for membership around 1988/99. Douglas was Chairman then, I'm sure.
After explaining the selection process he detailed me to move a bunch of chairs into the meeting room at the Officers Mess, Mount Wise. My application was successful and I was volunteered to help reverse the process!
I remember the meetings to be very lively back then.
Douglas was always keen to show new members where to fish and was sometimes as surprised as the new angler when they caught where he said! As a committed committee man, Douglas did a huge amount for the Association and was instrumental in acquiring a lot of the water we enjoy today.
I intend to fish "Dougie's Pool" on the Tavy this year with a rod I purchased from him and will take a dram, pause and reflect on his advice so freely given.
" To Douglas"

Mike Green
Treasurer
PDFAA”

Other Members have also paid their tributes, including Committee Member Any Cottam who said:

“Sad news indeed. Douglas spent a huge amount of time promoting and supporting the clubs interests and like many other people in a voluntary role, much of their hard work goes on unnoticed, behind the scenes, but without it, the club wouldn't be where it is today. Douglas used to ring me at about 10.00pm at night to ask if i could arrange to trim a branch back on a pool somewhere, a testimony to his enthusiasm and commitment to the club and to his enjoyment of fishing on the river. Please pass on my thoughts to his family. 

Regards 

Andy. “

Here’s to you Dougie!

The PDFAA Committee