A FLAMBOYANT pioneer who chose Bournemouth to stage the UK's first coastal boat show and then expanded it by moving the event to Poole has died aged 78.

Many in the local sailing community will remember Allen Cavanagh, who staged the ground-breaking inaugural boat show at Bournemouth's Pavilion in 1969.

Within three years it had grown so much in size it was moved to Poole where it became a regular fixture of Baiter Park for more than a decade until superseded by the world-famous Southampton show.

Allen always had a knack for coming up with ideas ahead of their time - and his belief in the boat show format was totally vindicated.

Born in 1925, Allen started his career in advertising, working in the Fleet Street newspaper industry on the now defunct News Chronicle in 1954 as a motoring executive.

In 1960 he worked on the Daily Mail and was a colleague alongside the likes of Jack Reeves, Charlie Wilson, Monte Court and future BBC chairman Marmaduke Hussey.

Branching out to create a boat show in 1969 was a major departure.

His wife Blanche, who also worked on the News Chronicle, said: "We knew nothing about sailing or boating. But we used to come up and down to Poole from London, and Baiter just lent itself to a boat show."

Speaking from her home in Wimborne, Blanche said: "He was never boring. His nieces and nephews said he was a great uncle because he was so flamboyant - a complete extravert. You either loved him or hated him.

"He always got a laugh and he was never unhappy. And he was always ahead of his time, he was an ideas man. He would think of an idea for an exhibition years before anyone else would put it on."

Allen also served as a Ferndown district councillor and was publicity director for the Dorset Chamber of Commerce between 1976-1985.

He loved golf and started the first golf tournament for the chamber at Ferndown Golf Club.

Allen leaves behind his wife Blanche, TV producer daughter Julie, son-in-law Richard and grandchildren Grace and Patrick.

A funeral service will be held at Wimborne Minster in Wimborne at 2.30pm this Friday, September 10.

For further details contact Nicholas O'Hara funeral directors.

First published: Sept 9