Tributes have been paid to a dedicated archer who helped set up a club for Harrow.

Robert Abbott, who with his wife Nicky set up the Bowmen of Harrow Archery Club in the early 1980s, died suddenly last month.

The 78-year-old was a well known figure at archery clubs in Middlesex and helped run the club which is now based at John Lyon School, in Middle Rd, Harrow.

Secretary of the Bowmen of Harrow Barbara Saduikis said: “He was a wonderful character and he loved the sport.

“He was so passionate about the club and he did so much for the sport as a whole. He would always be down at the club either teaching or fixing equipment.

"Robert was a very kind man and also very funny. He was such a character and he will be sorely missed by the club but we will keep going.”

Known to some as ‘Uncle’, ‘Old’Un’ or ‘Bob’, he started his professional career in the RAF as a leading aircraft engineer and later moved onto engineering for medical equipment.

Mr Abbott first became interested in archery after trying the sport at the Ruislip Bowmen club in the 1970s and then in 1980 formed the Bowmen of Harrow Archery Club.

During his time at the club he held multiple positions within Middlesex Archery including chairman, team selector, tournament organiser and president.

He was also long time carer for his wife Nicky at their South Harrow home until her death in 2007.

He also heavily involved in running courses for beginners and school children across the borough and beyond.

Mr Abbott recently was also instrumental in re-establishing a traditional historical Shoot with Harrow School, known as the Silver Arrow, and with his wife helped set up the Middlesex weekend.