Fishing world mourns ‘Likely Lad’ and angling great

The fishing world is mourning the unexpected death of Roy Marlow, one of the sport’s most influential anglers, fishery owners and tackle developers. He reportedly died on the banks of his own fishery, The Glebe, just days before an overseas fishing trip.

Marlow was a leading light in Leicester’s Likely Lads, match fishing’s most successful team of the Seventies, and part of the tackle business, Marks & Marlow, in partnership with the team’s founder Ivan Marks.

Having taken second place in the National Angling Championships in 1966, he went on to be part of the winning Leicester Angling Society team in the 1971 and 1974 National Championships, finishing sixth in the former.

Angling International’s Mel Bagnall, who reported on both of those championships, said: “Roy was surrounded by an unbelievable array of talent in that Likely Lads team, but his track record and unflappable approach on the big occasions were an inspiration to his team-mates. And, despite his success, he was always affable and approachable and happy to pass on advice to anyone. That’s what made him such a popular and enduring figure.”

Marlow later became a pioneer in fishery management, turning a vast potato field near Leicester into the now famous Glebe Fishery, one of the country’s premier waters. The multi-lake venue holds gold accreditation from the Fisheries Accreditation Scheme for its high standards of fish quality and environmental care.

Marlow’s deep knowledge of fishing and tackle also attracted the attention of manufacturers and he collaborated with industry giants including Daiwa and Pure Fishing.

Robin Morley, former Managing Director of Daiwa Sports UK, knew Marlow for 35 years. “If I had to put my life on one person catching a fish anywhere in the world it would be Roy,” he said. “He had a long association with Daiwa and was responsible for designing a lot of innovative tackle.”