Very sad news Jack Melton RIP

[Davyred]

Good to see some good lads on here remembering Jack. EddieS has to be Eddie Stephenson, Sunderland SAA Competition Secretary , And I remember Joe Montgomery well too.

I used to go to Jacks angling classes on a Saturday morning when I was a just starting out 15 year old, 30 years ago. He taught me a hell of a lot, including the codling rig that I still use to this day on Roker thats brought me so much success there. Got to know him really well due to Sunderland SAA, him being on the committee during the glory days of the club when some matches had over 100 anglers taking part.

The inside of the Washend and the concrete posts (now long gone) on Roker pier were his kingdom, shelling mussel at an unbelievable rate.

Absolutely gutted.

RIP Jack, never forgotten.

 

[David Phillips]

As Jack's grandson I was touched by the thread you started on the forum. I thought it worthwhile filling-in a few gaps that you may wish to pass on to other anglers.

Since I was a small child, I have fond memories of spending Saturday afternoons down Roker Pier or digging for bait on various sand/mud banks on the Wear. There are many anecdotal stories but I remember one time when we had to take shelter behind the wall near the lighthouse as a huge wave broke, washing all our kit over the side. As ever, this wasn't anything to get het-up about and we calmly recovered the equipment before trotting back to 26 Warwick St. Needless to say, my nana (Betty) wasn't too impressed when we got home and her 8 year old grandson recounted the 'near death' experience. She also had a problem sharing the fridge with live bait but this never seemed to deter my grandad.

Jack had many talents, some not linked to fishing. He was successful with stocks & shares, turned his hand to DIY and, without doubt, was one of the most practical people I ever knew. Most importantly, he was a most humble, kind and down-to-earth man.

Betty died some 10 years back after a stroke and my grandfather never really got over it. He loved his sea angling and he would always arrange family trips around either a competition or, more latterly, his article writing for the Sunderland Echo. Importantly, he relished the contact with fellow anglers when collecting details of significant catches. I believe he stopped writing for the Echo in October and it was shortly afterwards that he was diagnosed with cancer. He managed to see his 85th birthday in late December but by then he was quite weak. Thankfully, the end came peacefully and, true to form, he wanted no fuss. His funeral is at St Benet's this Thursday at 10 o'clock followed at Sunderland crematorium at 11 o'clock.

 

[Davyred]

Thanks for the post David, your Grandfather was a great man and will be sadly missed.

 

[Pescod]

R.I.P. Jack, your boat has finally sailed

 

[danny boy]

R.I.P Jack.

I remember the times on roker pier 30 years ago when Jack used to pull the coalies in like there were going out of fashion.
Fresh mussel is all he used and he used to keep them alive in net bags over the side of a boat in the north dock.
Bags of 40 coalies at the weigh in when most people only had about twenty.

He used to tell me some great stories about the old days when he used to pull in 40lb cod from the barrier.

always remembered never to be forgotten.