The world of angling is mourning the loss of Jan Porter, who has passed away at the age of 60. Jan, an Angling Trust Ambassador, was one of fishing’s most recognisable personalities, respected for his many achievements in various branches of the sport.

Jan always had a smile on his face and was an inspiration for thousands of anglers who, like us, enjoyed his TV and written work over four decades.

Mark Lloyd, the Angling Trust’s Chief Executive, said: “This is very sad news for everyone who knew Jan, who was a very kind and thoughtful character and very highly thought of by everyone in the angling community.  He will be sorely missed and our thoughts are with his family and close friends at this time.

“As an Angling Trust ambassador, Jan was a great advocate for a united voice for all anglers and we are very grateful to him for all the support he has given to our organisation over the past seven years, and to many other angling organisations over the decades he has been involved with fishing.”

Martin Salter, the Angling Trust’s National Campaigns Manager, said: “Jan Porter was a great supporter of the Angling Trust, a fine all-round angler and one of the loveliest people you could ever meet. It’s an absolute tragedy that we won’t be seeing him on the bankside again and out thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.”

Announcing the news on Jan’s Facebook page, his wife Melanie posted: “It is with much sadness to say that my gorgeous, wonderful, loving husband and father to Sam and Danielle, Jan, passed away yesterday evening. After battling cancer for the past 3.5 years he managed to hang on for 2 years longer than expected through sheer determination and passion for life.”

Melanie added: “Jan’s wish is to have a very private quiet funeral and in his words ‘If Bowie can do it, so can I’ – please respect this. Much love and may he be up there fishing with his dad, Terry now xxx”

A top flight match angler in the 1980s, Jan was a member of the legendary Trentman AC team who represented Nottingham & District Federation of Anglers in the ‘All England’.

In 1987, Trentman AC became the first team to win the Division 1 National and the Angling Times Winter League in the same season – an historic double on the Trent and Warwickshire Avon.

Jan won over 100 open matches in his 12-year match angling career, and represented both England and Norway in international competitions. He retired from the match scene in 1992 to concentrate on what he termed “bigger fish” and described himself as “Failed Rock Star … Born Again Angler!”

Anglers have been posting their own tributes to Jan on the Angling Trust Facebook page.

Dominic Whithington posted: “RIP GREAT ANGLER! Remember him visiting our summer fishing camp organised by Roy Jefferys in the mid 80s on the Trent at Holme Pierrepoint. He was a brilliant angler and ignited my enthusiasm for river fishing. Now sadly swapping tales with another lovely man Kev Green and other greats. Angling has lost a real character. Very sad.”

David Hancock posted: “The man in red. A great ambassador for our sport. He will be sadly missed.”

Mark Williams posted: “That’s really sad. Taken far too young.”

Jeremy Jerry Hall posted: “Can’t believe it, I grew up reading about the man in red!”

Danny Webb said: “RIP Jan, one of the best ever.”

Total-Fishing.com’s Gareth Purnell paid his own tribute: “This really is such terrible news. I first met Jan when I was a cub reporter on Angling Times in 1991. In fact the first feature I ever did in angling was with Jan, fishing the waggler on the Trent at Gunthorpe. I was an honour for me – I’d grown up reading about the great man. But he immediately made me feel like a friend and equal. I will never forget that. We did much fishing and laughing over the years and I spent memorable times with him at several world championships before he quit the match scene and went onto big fish angling. But we still did many features after that, indeed I recall being with him when he caught a personal best perch fishing down the edge on the Thames, and huge barbel on the Trent on steak. When I was on Fishing TV I was lucky enough to conduct an interview with him. He was a gentleman who always had time for people and possessed great charm. A man you instantly and instinctively liked. He’s a great loss to angling and to his loved ones.”

Jan died at the Myton Hospice in Warwick and his family has asked that anyone wishing to support the charity-run hospice can donate on www.justgiving.com/Jan-Porter1955