We are sad to report the recent death of Mike Smith, one of the early Tidefest angling regulars. Mike won the coveted Tidefest Angling Championship in 2017 with a fine net of bream and used to help with the competition organisation.

His son Clive says:

“My father Mike Smith sadly passed away on the 19th of September after a long illness. He had been fishing since he was a boy and always loved the Thames, we fished regularly at Kingston and Molesey. He competed in Tidefest on many occasions and even managed to win it once. He will be sorely missed by all of his friends at the Uxbridge Rovers and his family as well.”

Mike’s friend and colleague from Uxbridge Rovers Angling Club, Bob Lane, added his own tribute saying:

“We at URACS are still in shock following the passing of our former Match Captain Mike Smith. Mike joined URACS in the 80’s accompanied by his son Clive, they regularly attended the Club matches and soon became an integral part of the Match Group.
Mike was a very competitive all round angler and figured regularly in our club Championship Competition, he was also a past Tidefest Winner held at Kew.

Mike always wanted everybody to have a good peg on our matches, so he undertook the role of Match Captain, a role which he did successfully, whilst the match participants were enjoying their Breakfast, he would be walking the match Venue length making sure we all had a reasonable looking peg.

On behalf of all the membership of URACS as past Chairman and now President it was a total privilege to have Mike as a close angling friend and colleague,

On a personal note I had the pleasure of spending many holidays with Mike on his beloved River Ebro, where became a well respected guide in the Amposta Area, due to his knowledge of the area  I was able to land my biggest Catfish of 149lbs,

The void in our lives and URACS Match Group is immeasurable following Mike’s passing, firstly he was nice person, a talented angler, a great club person, a true Gentlemen and friend.

Thank you for so many wonderful memories Mike, get the venues ready  for when we meet up again in the great unknown

R.I. P. Mike”

Bob Lane President URACS