Obituary: Chris Catlin

Chris Catlin died from a heart attack on 12 February

By Selena Masson

Monday, 02 March 2009

Shooting journalist and keen Shot Chris Catlin died from a heart attack on 12 February, aged 62.

Chris, who lived in Belmesthorpe, Lincolnshire, was features editor of Shooting Times’s sister title Sporting Gun from 1999 to 2004, and wrote and edited various shooting books, including The Game Book: A Shooting Anthology.

Andrew Johnston, of Quiller Publishing, told Shooting Times: “Chris’s last book was born at our first meeting over a glass of champagne at The CLA Game Fair, when he proposed the wonderfully philanthropic idea of using his connections to collect the best contemporary thoughts and memories on fieldsports and to donate the royalties to shooting charities. Considerable
funds have now been raised which will survive as testimony to his natural charm and erudition, and he will be much missed by all who had contact with him.”

Lindsay Waddell, Shooting Times contributor and chairman of the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation, said: “Chris came to Raby [where Lindsay is
headkeeper] a few seasons ago, and in a short time he changed from client to friend. The sporting world will be a poorer place without him. He will be missed.”

Michael Strauss, a friend of Chris Catlin, said: “As our shoot captain, Chris managed to organise 12 or 15 shoots every year without ever more than mildly complaining about the complexities of dealing with a group of middle-aged, opinionated and sometimes disorganised Guns. The whole enterprise relied on Chris and it will be very hard, if not impossible, to replace him.”

Chris’s wife Shirley, son Alex and daughter Jenny survive him.