Roy Marlow, a key figure in the golden era of domestic match fishing, has sadly passed away at the age of 76.
A key member of the famous Leicester 'Likely Lads' alongside the likes of Ivan Marks and John Essex, he enjoyed considerable individual and team success, and in 1971 alone took individual first in the Nene Championships while also playing a key role in Leicester’s famous Severn National win.
Roy also fished for England numerous times, recording an individual fourth place finish at the World Champs, before his match fishing career eventually gave way to work in tackle and fisheries development.
He joined Daiwa as a consultant in 1978, while also opening the tackle shop “Marks and Marlow” in Leicester with his friend and former teammate. Add his pioneering work at Mallory Park and The Glebe fisheries, not to mention the Angling Trades Association, and it’s hard to overstate just how much he did for the sport, as the many great friends he made would testify.
“Roy was a world class angler, and I was in awe of Ivan Marks and the Likely Lads when asked to join them in 1970,” John Essex told us.
“If Ivan was King of the Great Ouse and Welland, Roy was King of the Nene. He was a quiet, deep thinking and, dare I say it, studious angler. This intelligence carried over into the creation of the fantastic Glebe complex.”
Roy’s close friend Keith Arthur also recalls his humour and sense of adventure.
“I could write a book on Roy and all the times we spent together,” said Keith.
Roy invented many things for Daiwa, including the Armlok rod handle, built-in nose cones on poles and Harrier Feeders. And before Daiwa, the quivertip! Not the tapered ‘donkey top’ used today, but the glass tip that replaced the swingtip on rivers.”
His former employers of 25 years, Daiwa, reacted to the news of Roy’s passing by saying “We wish to extend our condolences to his family and acknowledge his contribution to Daiwa and angling overall. Farewell Roy."
What are your memories of Roy Marlow? We’d love to hear more from you, our readers, to accompany a special tribute feature to come shortly in Angling Times.
