TRAGEDY struck on the River Severn at Bewdley when Dave Harrell’s first big weekend open had to be cancelled because one of the competitors had a heart attack on the way to his peg.

The air ambulance service was there within minutes, but sadly Ashton Brothers AC treasurer Alan Reeves, who was in his mid fifties, was already dead.

The match was quickly called off and in a kind gesture, the 65 competitors decided the £1000 pools and pegging fee fund should be split 50:50 between the air ambulance crew and Alan’s family.

Alan had admitted at the draw to having ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ with him on his first every visit to the venue.

Although the Hyde, Cheshire angler had a trolley he had fallen behind the other anglers going to their pegs.

Friends are planning a memorial match.

For the full story read next month’s Midland Angler, out July 10th.