Earlier this month, we were contacted by a family with an incredibly kind offer. Ben and Adam Squires have generously decided to collect donations in memory of their father, Reginald “Reg” Squires, who recently passed away. Together, Reg’s loved ones have raised £485 to support our conservation work. As we use these funds to improve the health of rivers in his home patch, we want to celebrate the life of a man who is described as warm, humble, curious, and “a true countryman at heart”.
Reg was born in Derby in 1944. Despite leaving school without O‑Levels, his intelligence, hard work, and diligent study enabled him to become a Chartered Accountant. This career would take him to Nairobi and Kenya, but he always returned to Derbyshire, where he felt most at home. While he eventually established his own business, he remained proud of his working-class roots. In his free time, he was a keen fan of jazz music and an avid reader of history, literature, and poetry.
Reg also found immense joy in the great outdoors – an attribute he shared with his wife Ann, and later their sons. During his childhood, he discovered what would prove to be a lifelong love of fly fishing. He spent his teenage years cycling, mountaineering, and helping at his uncle’s farm. During this time, he learned rural craft skills that he would hone over the years, and he came to see himself as a custodian of the natural world. Later, he and Ann embarked on many adventures together, including a coast-to-coast trip across Africa.
Upon retiring at the age of 72, Reg was able to further pursue his many interests. He tended his much-loved garden and did hedgelaying work to maintain his practical skills. He also continued his long tradition of fishing with Ben and Adam, mostly in the Derbyshire and Staffordshire area. He was particularly passionate about fishing for wild trout, and he strongly believed in creating the right conditions for these animals to thrive. For him, time spent on the riverbank was an opportunity to feel fully immersed in nature.
We want to thank the Squires family for their kind support of our charity. Gifts like theirs are hugely important to our work, and their generosity will make a real difference. As we create more spaces in which wild trout can flourish, we’re proud to reflect the values that Reg unwaveringly embodied.
