SCUBAHUB
Bob Clay the ‘ Stalwart of St Abbs ’
BOB CLAY WAS KNOWN TO MANY WHO dived St Abbs as the man who helped them with all things diving , writes Roy Waller . Fixing faulty regulators , giving advice on safe diving in the area and generally being a friendly face to everyone .
If anyone approached him about kit that wasn ’ t working properly , Bob would do his level best to try and fix it , often spending hours of his time working in this way . He did it because he didn ’ t want someone ’ s diving holiday at St Abbs to be ruined by kit failure . It was this kind of selfless act that earned Bob many friends throughout the UK diving community .
Bob was originally from Bradford , where in his early diving life he loved to help out in the local dive shop . In particular he had
Robert Whittaker – a tribute
IT IS WITH GREAT SADNESS THAT Lunesdale SAC reports the passing of Rob Whittaker , the club ’ s Diving Officer since 2016 . He was 47 .
Rob and his wife Marie joined Lunesdale SAC in 2012 and both joined the committee soon after . Rob qualified as an Advanced Diver , Diver Coxswain and Dive Instructor . He also became part of the North West Region Instructor group .
His passion for diving and striving to improve the club in general was evident , and the success Lunesdale enjoys owes a great deal to his enthusiasm in making the club what it is today .
Rob loved diving with the club at Loch Fyne – Stallion Rock was his favourite site – and organised many of the trips . As one club member said : “ Rob will be remembered for the nonsense songs he would sing as we powered a close association with Otter Watersports ; he could always be found on their stands at the Birmingham , London , and Glasgow dive shows , thoroughly enjoying himself and giving advice on equipment .
In the 1970s he worked as a commercial diver in the Persian Gulf , returning home in 1977 and becoming a member of Halifax BSAC , with which he retained a friendly relationship for the rest of his life . He loved St Abbs so much that he moved to the area in the mid-80s and spent his weekends helping out at Scoutscroft dive shop .
He soon began an association with the St Abbs Lifeboat Station , who quickly brought him on board when he offered to repair all their drysuits . He spent hours keeping their suits well maintained , replacing seals whenever needed . Bob was the person who kept the St Abbs lifeboat crew dry .
On Lifeboat Day he would work his way from St Abbs to the far end of Coldingham Beach with a lifeboat collection box . It always came back very heavy .
His friendships included people in the sports diving business ; if a prize was needed for an annual award , Bob would ring up one of his friends for a chat . More often than not there would be a positive result . The lifeboat station will miss him greatly .
Bob loved all things diving and anything to do with sharks . Woe betide any TV presenter who misidentified a species when he was watching . The size of his shark video library was something to behold .
After a long illness Bob died peacefully in the Borders General Hospital on Christmas Eve 2020 . He never married but leaves behind a community of friends .
up Loch Fyne in our RIB , Lunesdale Diver , with spray slapping us in the face .”
Rob leaves his wife Marie , three children Joe , Georgia , Joe and their wider family .
Lunesdale SAC as a club is poorer for his passing , but also better off for knowing him as a mentor , dive buddy and friend to all .
Due to the current Covid-19 restrictions , there was a private family service at Beetham Hall followed by a burial at Dalton Woodland , Cumbria .
Naylor goes native
SCUBA ’ S VERY OWN CRITTER columnist , Paul Naylor , has been announced as the diver behind the winning image in the Zoological Society ’ s Native Oyster Quest competition .
The competition , run in conjunction with the University of Portsmouth and the Native Oyster Network , aims to engage divers , wildlife photographers , enthusiasts and water users in capturing images and videos of the UK ’ s native oysters in their natural habitats .
Launched last March , the competition is part of an initiative to help scientists assess the current state of our native oyster ( Ostrea edulis ), which has seen a 95 % decline in populations due to overfishing , habitat loss and pollution . This decline of the oyster has meant that in recent years , images of the creature in their natural habitat have become increasingly rare .
Despite the restrictions caused by the Covid pandemic , the competition saw over 40 entries , which will now be used to help highlight the plight of our native oyster and the urgent need to protect their natural habitats .
BSAC member , SCUBA columnist and marine biologist , Dr Naylor captured his winning image of while diving at Brighton Pier .
Speaking about his winning image , Dr Naylor said it was the colours of the oyster in its habitat that enabled him to get the shot . “ The delicate gape of oysters is attractive , but their shells are usually rather cryptic , so the prominent position and colourful sponge covering on this one really caught my eye ,”
The Native Oyster Network now plans to showcase all the images entered into the Native Oyster Quest competition over the coming months as part of their campaign .
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