Frank Ille RIP

[VIGILAIRE]

It was with great sadness I heard that Frank (Franjo) had passed away last week.

He was a true character and through Basswood he introduced many of us to the excitement and challenges of driven boar shooting in Croatia.

I am sure many of his friends and clients visit SD and would be unaware of his passing. I will update the thread once I know what arrangments have been made for those who wish to pay their respects.

Chris Sanderson

 

[reiver]

I met Frank back in 2006 when I went on my first wild boar hunt in Croatia with him. Frank was one of the first to introduce boar hunting in Croatia to the UK and his trips were the stuff of legends.

I am eternally grateful to Frank for giving me the opportunity to try driven wild boar shooting and to meet so many kindred spirits along the way.

RIP Frank

 

[EMcC]

I was one of Frank's ealiest recruits and enjoyed his trips tremendously. It was the days when he first started and used the Jankovac 'Hotel' in the Papuk mountains.
That was an adventure in itself, being a winter activity and the Jancovac being on top of the mountain brought some really hair raising experiences just getting there.
The early call between 05.00 and 06.00hrs made by the guy chopping wood for the fires that kept the 'Hotel' warm and the water and the stoves in the 'Kitchen' topped up.
Then of course there was the trip down the mountain in the morning on the icey track overlooking the gorges and ravines with it's icicles and running water, sometimes it was just as well we were still half asleep and not always aware of the conditions.
The other thing that always amazed me was how he managed to get so many like minded people from all parts of UK together, well most of the time
I have been on many driven Boar trips with several different 'agents' and I don't think anybody could beat him for organisation and welfare of his clients, I say clients but it always felt as if we were all old friends and were treated as such.
Yes, a very sad day indeed and I am sure there will be many people thinking of him, some with mixed feelings based on how much they had the mickey taken out of them, or for the way they dressed ! but all in good fun at the end of the day.

RIP Franjo you will be missed.

 

[Sanglier 857]

He was a character for sure, will be missed by many.

 

[Chumley]

Very sad circumstances surrounding Franks passing and was sorry to hear the news. I first met Frank in 2004 in Zagreb airport and soon realised he was a true character, "mad as a box of frogs" was an understatement! He was without doubt the worst driver/joke teller/organiser I've ever met, the vision of him in his underpants at 6am has scarred me for life! However I have him to thank for introducing me to Croatia, it's people and their hunting culture. Shooting a kieler on the last drive of the trip after standing for 3 days in torrential rain and seeing nothing until that moment had me instantly hooked and I've been unable to control my addiction since! I'm guessing I probably experienced 8-9 of Franks trips and where I won't be missing his driving, his madcap adventures are now off the menu!
Thank you Frank for the introduction to the most exciting rifle sport on the planet and I wish you happy hunting, RIP Frankie

 

[jb1]

Trying to light a cigar and answer his mobile while pointing out to his co-driver where we are on the map was hair raising to say the least. Add to that your on a mountain pass white over with snow and frozen too, yes his driving was terrible. But it was all made up for his efforts in trying to get his guests onto the Boar specially if they had a not anything.
Lovely gent who will be sadly missed. But not in memory.

 

[Corvid8x57]

RIP Frank. He introduced me to the crack cocaine of driven boar shooting & will be greatly missed.

 

[VIGILAIRE]

A bad comparison - driven boar are FAR MORE addictive!!

 

[TonyC]

Sorry to hear this bad news, travelled with Frank last year to Croatia for a really enjoyable trip, had two more booked for coming season, won't be the same without him. Another of life's characters called too soon.

 

[EMcC]

He was a character for sure, will be missed by many.

I am surprised that more has not been added to this post as I am sure Frank must have introduced several, if not hundreds, of people to the joys of Driven Boar hunting.
He will be sadly missed by many.
My sincere condolences go to his family.
May he rest in Peace.

 

[willie_gunn]

I have just hung up the phone after hearing the tragic news - shocked is a vast understatement.

Frank introduced me to driven boar shooting and I thoroughly enjoyed the three trips in his care. As others have said, he did his utmost to get his clients a shot, and I've fond (though somewhat blurry) memories of the craic.

One of life's real characters.

RIP

 

[A1Decoy]

Very Sad news indeed RIP Frank

 

[Acouch]

Frank was a fixture in my life since the year I was born. My father introduced him to the sport when he lived in Alberta in the 70’s. I shot with him nearly every year since. Half of his annual pilgrimage to shoot duck and geese in Alberta was spent at our farm. Over the years countless friends accompanied him and meeting all those characters was priceless. Since moving to the UK a couple years ago I have had the pleasure of going to Croatia to shoot boars with him, again another unforgettable experience. Frank you will always be in my memories. Andrew Couch