On the evening of February 20th, former National Federation of Anglers’ president Ken Ball (75) passed away and will be sadly missed, but always remembered for his contribution to angling, writes David Hall.

I can’t remember when I first met Ken, maybe at one of the NFA conferences – it was definitely long before he entered what I call ‘proper angling politics.’

At that time, along with Trevor Johnson, he was busy building the newly formed Milton Keynes Angling Association – a new town and a new club and what a success they made of it.

The thing that struck me was what a likable bloke he was. He was seldom aggressive; I don’t think in the 30-odd years I knew him did I ever heard him raise his voice. He probably did at one or two NFA council meetings, but I wasn’t privy to that.

As the editor of successive angling titles over a long period I was from time to time scathing about the federation, but he never took it personally and was always happy to discuss what I had written, even when he was president.

Memories recalled

Ken took over from David Bird as NFA president in 1992 and continued until his retirement in 2004 – something of a feat in itself.

For my part I was considered by many within the NFA hierarchy to be something of a troublemaker and anti-NFA. It wasn’t true, of course, but for all of that I can honestly say that Ken and I never had a cross word.

I found him to be a true liberal in his thinking and in his attitude towards other people, even those who didn’t share his opinion. And that, I think, was his great strength; he was a wonderful ambassador for angling.

In fact, I can’t actually recall ever hearing anybody say a bad word about him and that isn’t true about many of us.

Being elected president of the NFA can be something of a poisoned chalice, there are certainly more brickbats than bouquets. But from the moment he was elected he set about his task with enthusiasm and a determination that had been lacking in previous presidents and, in his 12 years in the post, he never wavered in his commitment to the sport.

His real gift was as a communicator; David Bird was the first NFA president to have open dialogue with the media, prior to that the NFA had been a closed shop. But when Ken took over he carried on what David had started. He was always available and never dodged any issues.

What is not widely known about Ken is the full extent of his love of fishing. On the occasions we met after his retirement he would talk enthusiastically about his latest trips to the upper Ouse around his Newport Pagnell home. He loved Milton Keynes AA and what the club had achieved. Up to the time he was admitted to hospital he was still actively involved with the association.

For my part I feel I’ve lost a mate – we would talk for hours on the phone, about all manner of things. I’ll miss that. I’ll miss his positive approach to every problem. I’ll miss his sense of decency.

I interviewed Cliff Fox recently and, during the interview, I said that I thought a man could be judged by how many people went to his funeral. I’m writing this piece less than 24 hours after the announcement of Ken’s death, so I guess the funeral will be in a few days’ time.

I’ll make you this promise, the church will be packed, and that is the full measure of a thoroughly decent man.