Bob Shaw 1936 – 2025
It is with great sadness that we report the recent passing of one of our longest-standing club members.
Bob was a life member and Vice President of the club.
Bob was heavily involved with the Juniors from the 1970s and 80s, when we entered teams in the Junior Nationals on the Warwickshire Avon, Trent and L&L Canal, with the team finishing 7th 3 years on the trot. (Quite an achievement against some of the heavily sponsored teams of the day). Practice sessions on the canal were easy to organise, but Wray Wood again doubled as another river for the other venues, with Bob heavily involved in coaching sessions before and on the day of the matches.
He also represented Bingley AC as delegate to the (now defunct) Airedale AA, who administered the canal as a joint venue and again to the NFA, attending both regional meetings in Leeds and the annual conference at various venues around the country. Come National Championship time Bob regularly volunteered as our travelling steward, and represented Bingley in the Bradford Winter League on a number of occasions.
With a great range of practical knowledge from his building background he was a regular organiser/attendee at any working party on any venue.
Additionally from Nick Chuck who knew Bob well.
Bob Shaw, what a lovely man – he passed on his passion for and knowledge of angling to me and others who will be eternally grateful to him – and for the rides in the back of his pickup to practice for the 1981 junior nationals. The match was on the Thames around Oxford and we “practiced” on our most appropriate waters: Coppice and Wray Wood.
We didn’t get any trophies, but one of the team finished in the top twenty, I wasn’t far outside. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget. It was wonderful for me many years later as Secretary of BAC to have the honour of inviting Bob to our AGMs annually and to have a few words with him. I learnt today that Bob passed away days after attending this years’ AGM, I am devastated and felt compelled to write a few words.
Thank You Bob
