Tributes roll in for Britain’s oldest matchman

Frank Posiak, Britain’s oldest match angler, has died at the age of 94 after a short illness. 

Having fished around 10,000 matches, Frank was loved by his fellow anglers and tributes have poured in from all corners of the angling community. 

Members of Long Eaton Angling Federation, of which Frank was a life member, shared some of their stories.

“My favourite Frank Posiak moment was when he won a match on the ponds with 27lb,” said Pete Allwood. 

“He was stood on the bank behind peg 8 with his hands on his hips and a massive smile on his face. Me and Alan Wright stopped to ask him if he had caught carp. ‘Yes’ he responded. Tench? ‘Yes.’ Bream? ‘Yes.’ Big perch.... ‘YES! Can you lift my net out, please, I might fall in!’ RIP Frank, your smile will be sadly missed.”

Club member Daz Lewis added:

“It’s so sad that another one of our great family of anglers has gone. He was a true gentleman of our sport.”

Frank still fished well into his nineties