Dead fisherman was reservoir manager

Andrew Conlon and his friend David Archibald perished in an apparent tragic accident while fishing in a boat on Gladhouse Reservoir, near Gorebridge, Midlothian

It emerged today that Mr Conlon, 56, was the fishing manager at the 50ft-deep reservoir and had the right to cancel trips he considered unsafe.

But police said that neither Mr Conlon nor Mr Archibald, 59, had been wearing lifejackets when they took to the waters for a regular fishing trip on Sunday.

After they failed to return home that night, a major rescue operation was launched and an RAF helicopter found their bodies shortly before 4am yesterday.

Specialist sonar equipment is being brought in to try to locate the boat that was used by the men, who lived in nearby Dalkeith.

Police said they wanted to know if the boat sank after springing a leak.

A sign at the reservoir warns that it is “a large inland water and if not treated with respect it can be a hazardous environment”.

Fishermen are advised to check the weather forecast as “fishing on the reservoir is very difficult at Force 4 wind or above”.

Inspector Neil Simpson, of Lothian and Borders Police, said today: “They were not wearing lifejackets.”

He added: “They were found in the outlet of the reservoir that leads to the overspill Roseberry Reservoir.

“The boat has not yet been recovered.

“A specialist marine unit will be coming with sonar equipment to try and locate the boat to establish if there was a leak.

“Their equipment has not been recovered and their cars were also found in the car park.

“The two men were frequent fishers of the reservoir coming here two or three times per week.

“It is unknown how long they were on the water - but according to the families they tended to come home before it got dark.”

Neighbour Jim Johnstone, a friend of Mr Conlon for 50 years, said: “He was a great guy who had time for everyone.

“I knew him from way back in the school days, although he went to St David’s catholic school and I was at another one.

“He loved a few things - his family, tinkering on cars and of course, fishing.

“He went out with the rod nearly every single weekend - I think for a lot of these trips it was him and Davie together.

“Drew would also come over and help me fix my car or other jobs around the house.

“His wife Iris and his son and daughter, Christopher and Claire, will no doubt be heartbroken.”