Bertram Michael Harris (Spud)
Age: not disclosed - but passed away 8th January 2021
By Bob Reed
Spud had been a Club member longer than most people. He retired from diving over 30 years ago but continued in the Club as a keen and competent swimmer and was always at the pool on a Tuesday evening (until his recent illness).
He was always cheerful and friendly. Loved to chat to the ladies. He will be long remembered as a character and a gentleman.
Below are comments from Club members who remember how much of a character he was:
Very sad to hear about Spud. I too have fond memories of diving with him especially my first encounter with Scapa Flow and Spud diving in a wet suit which a surfer wouldn’t use today and the rest of his antiquated gear which fascinated us at the time all having our modern gear …He was indeed an old fashioned gentleman RIP Spud.
Paul and Cheryl Williams
How sad to hear Spud has died. He was always so kind to Steve and I and although we never dived with him, he was always interested to hear where we been diving and what we’d seen. He also liked to have a bit of a cheeky laugh with me at the pool . He will be missed by the club. R I P Spud Al and Steve Beasley
So sorry to hear the sad news .I’ve never dived with Spud but he always enjoyed a laugh and a joke at the baths always carrying his kit in an old blue paper recycling bag. He will be missed greatly.
Pete Glover
What sad news, I have some great memories of diving with Spud and of going on some great holidays together, he will be missed by all. A true gentleman. RIP Spud.
Lloyd Truman
“he was always interested to hear where we been diving and what we’d seen”
So sorry to heard about Spud, the last time we dived with him was off the Urchin, in the sound of mull.
We think he was a pioneer of upcycling, & recycling as he used a old paint tin for his sandwiches, a Brut aftershave bottle for his orange squash, & keep his soap in an old pate tub.
There was defiantly no one like him, he will be greatly missed
Julie & Dave Cocker
That’s a great shame.
Bertram Michael Harris aka Spud RIP
Tim Weaver
I never had the privilege of diving with spud but I did have the privilege of meeting him on some Tuesday nights and at the AGMs which he would attend. Sad to hear of Spuds passing in such a difficult period of time.
Alan Sumner
“a pioneer of upcycling, & recycling as he used a old paint tin for his sandwiches, a Brut aftershave bottle for his orange squash, & keep his soap in an old pate tub.“
It has been mentioned that Spud was know for repurposing everyday items, on one particular dive trip to Morfa Nefyn around 1989 we spotted Spud on the grass verge of a layby with his table and chair set out taking a sandwich out of his now famous paint tin.
Later that evening in the pub l asked him about the paint tin he just said why wouldn’t l use it for sandwiches it was useful and why would l throw it away.
I would just like to say that thanks to Spuds early training (teaching me to duck dive and snorkel) l was able to dive in very many wonderful places around the world
We will miss him one of the life’s great gentlemen.
Jeannette & Colin Potts
I never dived with “Spud” but I remember on a Tuesday night he used to swim two lengths of the Gala Baths underwater. About 100 yards? – no mean achievement – not many others could do that!
Bob Reed
Spud was always really happy when I saw him in the pool on Tuesdays, as new diver I would see him swimming a number lengths every week and he would put me to shame. I loved listening to people in the pub regale me of the story’s and legends of his time diving.
Jon Wainwright
“We will miss him one of the life’s great gentlemen.“