Remembering Tom Sutcliffe – Cape Piscatorial Society

Dr. Tom Sutcliffe, South Africa’s most influential freshwater fly angler, died peacefully on 8 April 2024 in the presence of his loved ones. His memorial service was held on 18 April 2024 at St Andrews Church Newlands. The full service can be viewed on YouTube.

We have collated dedications, tributes and eulogies honouring Dr. Tom Sutcliffe for his lifelong dedication, love, and service to his family, friends, the fly fishing community, and the health services of our country.

An enduring friendship by Ed Herbst

“This book is dedicated to the Children’s Hospital Trust, a model of excellence in philanthropy, an organization committed to helping the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital maintain the excellence it is known for in our own country and worldwide. As such, the book is also dedicated to helping the sickest of southern Africa’s sick children, a cause as close to my heart as fly-fishing itself.”

The dedication to Tom Sutcliffe’s final book - Shadows on the Stream Bed – 1999

“In his family, fishing, friends and his physic, Tom reaches out across time and space to elevate the cares and the affections of the heart. His work for Red Cross Children’s Hospital and on behalf of mental health always inspire. His books have pride-of-place in my library, next to Norman Maclean, and my teacher and friend Frederic Michael Halford. I tie in the evenings watched over by the jumping rainbow in his watercolour. So very far in distance, but so very near in spirit, Tom makes the scent of fynbos on a hot summer day come alive, in the hope that a trout will rise. I am fortunate beyond measure to know him.”

Dr Hugh Rosen -Professor of Molecular Medicine at Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California

Ed Herbst writes: “With Ed I enjoyed many trips to the Eastern Cape Highlands, some of the best times in my life, also covered in my books.”

This is a line from an article by Tom which will appear in the June/July edition of the British magazine, Fly Culture.

Given the professional realities at the time, it was also an escape for both of us. Tom was Director General of Health for the Western Cape, responsible for a budget of billions and a staff of thousands. I was a reporter for SABC television news based in its Cape Town office.

When political interference became intolerable, Tom resigned without other employment in prospect, an ethically brave move for a family man without other employment in prospect. Fortunately, he was quickly employed by the Western Cape Mental Health Review Board and went on to play a stellar role as its leader for the next few decades

His courage inspired me to later resign from the SABC for the same reasons – one of the best moves I have ever made.

I started fly fishing in the late 1970s and met Tom when I persuaded the SABC to let me travel to Natal at my own cost to cover a fly-tying function at Royal National Park.

Our long-distance friendship became a local one in the 1990s when he became DG of Health for the Western Cape responsible for staff of thousands and a budget of billions.

It was a poisoned chalice, but things became better for us when, in 1992 we travelled to Barkly East for the first Wild Trout Festival organised by Dave Walker.

It was the beginning of friendships that were to endure for decades.

Eulogies honouring Dr. Tom Sutcliffe at his Memorial Service on 18 April 2024

Instagram posts by Ed Herbst @ed_herbst36

Tributes to Dr. Tom Sutcliffe