Paddle UK is saddened to have learnt of the passing of our Vice-President Roger Fox.
Roger was one of the founding members of St Albans Canoe Club, where his interest in canoe slalom developed.
The club started running successful annual slalom events at Dobbs Weir at Hoddesden and Sharnbrook in Bedfordshire. With the focus on slalom, several paddlers within the club showed real promise in the discipline.
This included Roger's children Stephen, Richard and Rachel, who he supported in their development and competitive careers on the water.
Richard and Rachel both went on to compete internationally for Great Britain and represent Team GB at the Olympic Games, with Richard becoming one of the legends of the sport as a ten-time World Champion and Rachel a four-time World medallist in team events. Stephen was a junior champion in wild water racing.
Roger served on the Slalom Executive Committee from 1979 until 1995. Between 1981 until 1992, he was the Secretary of the Slalom Committee, Vice Chair and then served as Chair.
Roger became a Section Judge and ICF Slalom Judge from 1980 and undertook the role of Technical Director at the 1995 Canoe Slalom World Championships at Holme Pierrepont in Nottingham.
He was a member and latterly Vice Chair of the former British Canoe Union (BCU) Council and a member of the Sport England Awards Panel from 1998 to 2003.
In 2011, Roger became a Vice-President of British Canoeing and was a regular attendee at Annual General Meetings.
He was also a regular at slalom events and was in attendance at the 2023 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships at Lee Valley, to see his grandchildren, Jessica and Noemie Fox, compete for Australia.
Ashley Metcalfe, CEO of Paddle UK, said:
“On behalf of Paddle UK, we would like to extend our condolences to the family of Roger Fox.
“Roger dedicated a huge part of his life to the sport and has been part of the fabric of the canoe slalom community for many years. He was a real icon and I'm sure his legacy will continue for generations to come.”
Paddle UK Chair, Professor John Coyne CBE, said: “Roger was much more than a Vice-President of Paddle UK: he was an iconic and pivotal figure who served our sport with distinction for 60 years.
“He was also the head of a sporting dynasty that has been at the forefront of world paddling since his son Richard won his first world championship in 1979. He would have been the most enthusiastic of supporters as his granddaughters compete in the Paris Olympics later this year.
“Despite all the success and distinction I shall remember Roger most for his courtesy, his generosity, his passion and his modesty. He was a true gentleman.”