Vandals burn down Mirfield Angling Club memorial bench

The seat was installed in 2004 in memory of Adam Jaffier, a member of Mirfield Angling Club who passed away that year. It was put in a spot on the banks of the River Calder known as ‘Adam’s peg’ because it was Mr Jaffier’s favourite place to fish.

But last week club members found that it had been set on fire and completely incinerated, leaving only its bolts.

Club chairman Tony Webster said: “Our members are absolutely devastated. We can’t believe it. The bench has been there for eight years and we have had a little bit of graffiti on it, but for someone to actually obliterate it is unbelievable.”

The bench was near The Ship Inn pub in Steanard Lane, Mirfield, and was built out of heavy duty recycled plastic.

Mr Webster said: “It’s been enjoyed, not just by anglers, but by walkers and cyclists, and unfortunately some mindless vandals have burnt it.”

Mr Jaffier, who was only 37 when he died, was a well-liked member of Mirfield Angling Club.

The club hopes to raise money to replace the bench, which cost around £500.

“We got together and we said we were going to get it replaced as soon as possible,” Mr Webster said.

Members meet every summer to take part in an angling competition on the Huddersfield Broad Canal in Mr Jaffier’s memory.

The money raised from the contest goes into a trust fund which will go to Mr Jaffier’s daughter when she turns 18 later this year.

The club is based at Mirfield Constitutional Club in King Street and has around 200 members.