Archers Missing from The Line
Don Gardner RIP (October 2023)
Don Gardner passed away on the 23rd October.
Don joined John O’Gaunt’s Bowmen in the 1970s, where he was club treasurer for many years. Don was on the Lancashire committee and he shot for the county team. Don and his wife Alma were members of the Royal Toxophilite Society form 1986. Don will be missed for all of the work he put into archery.
Lancashire members would like to send their condolences to Alma and the family at this sad time.
Margret Smith, Rochdale Company of Archers.
JOHN DAVNALL RIP (NOVEMBER 2023)
Although a Bruntwood & Cheshire archer, John lived in Lancashire (Radcliffe) and as a judge was well known to many Lancashire archers. John is survived by his wife Sarah, an active longbow archer.
MARK MURPHY RIP: MOSSLEY HILL ARCHERY CLUB, LIVERPOOL (August 2023)
As you know Mark Murphy was given the Jean and Roger Stretton Award for Services to Club Archery. His family and Mossley Hill Archers would like to thank LAA for the recognition and honour that was given to Mark. He was proud to have received it.
Funeral:
5th September, service at Christ Church, 13:30, Hartnup Street, Anfield L5 1UW, onto Anfield Crematorium 14:40, 238 Priory Road, Anfield L4 2SL with the repast at The Cabbage Hall Hotel 20 Breck Road, Anfield L4 2RB.
All are welcome. Donations are asked for the McMillan Nurses.
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Mossley Hill, Lancashire and archery, have lost a true gentleman, gentle giant and dear friend.
Mark passed away, aged 62, in hospital, awaiting his return home, on the 17th August 2023.
He had been ill for a period of time, but this has not eased his passing, and has left a void in our hearts and on our shooting line.
Mark joined Mossley Hill Archery Club in 2000, having attended a beginner’s course, and from there integrated into the club very quickly, taking on a number of roles over the years including secretary and chairman. Always willing to instruct and coach, attaining his coaching certificate at Level 1 and progressing to County Coach, Later he became a judge and, again, progressed to County level.
A keen competitor, he was a compound shooter along with a flirting interest in longbow, he was always in the mix at our trophy shoots, and his lack of presence will be sadly missed.
The Mossley Hill Athletic Club, and the archery section, send its deepest condolences to his wife Sheila, daughter Sally, also an archer, and to his other children Daniel and Jayne, you are in all our thoughts at this time.
John Woollam
From Christine O’Mara of Phoenix Bowmen: Peter Fell, RIP (July 2023)
Just a note to day that Peter Fell sadly passed away this week. Peter has been an archer for many years and well known to many in Lancashire and also the Clout archers. His family have asked me to let you know so you can pass the information on.
His funeral is on Tuesday, 18 July, 12 noon at St William of York in Thornton, donations to Woodlands Hospice in his name if anyone would like to donate in his memory. https://www.woodlandshospice.org/
Peter was a member of White Eagle Bowmen, Southport, when Eric and Thelma Dabrowski retired from archery the club was renamed Phoenix Bowmen, the club eventually moved to Maghull and lately to Formby and Crosby. Peter was a member of other clubs in his time but always returned to Phoenix Bowmen, his archery family.
Peter was very fond of his Clout shooting and enjoyed assisting and participating n the resurrection of the Lancashire Clout Championships in Maghull before it moved onto Blundellsands Archers. He was keen on encouraging others to participate in Clout and participated in many competitions around the country.
Peter shot all disciplines depending on his mood that day, shooting compound, recurve and longbow with equal skill , was very knowledgeable and willing to assist anyone if they needed help, (although we were not sure that blue tac should have been used half the time!).
He was a gregarious man and loved talking to people, his bad jokes were legendary. Unfortunately Peter's health started to deteriorate this year but he still managed to come down to the club to socialise. He spent his last couple of weeks in Woodlands Hospice and it is his family's wish that any donations in his memory should go there.
Peter adored his family, they will miss him as will his archery family.
RON BISHOP, RIP (May 2023)
On Thursday 8th May we lost Ron “The Bish” Bishop – the distinguished former member of Nethermoss, Lancashire, England & the UK. Ron was aged over 90.
Ron’s funeral will be weds the 5th of July at 1pm at southport crematorium.
Donations to Queenscourt hospice. The venue of wake to be announced. If anyone is attending please let Dave Ball know (via Facebook messenger) to confirm numbers ASAP as he have no idea how many will attend.
Ron’s archery career goes back to 1955 when he took up the sport with his wife, Pauline.
Prior to joining Nethermoss in the mid 1990s Ron was with High Elm and Sefton Hospital Archers (based at Broadgreen hospital).
His many notable achievements include:
Representing the UK in the archery world championships in 1961 (Oslo)
1963 (Helsinki)
1965 (Sweden)
1971 (York, England)
1973 (Grenoble)
1981 (Punta Ala, Italy)
1983 (California)
Ron competed for the UK in the 1972 Olympic Games (Munich) and the European archery championships in 1970 (Czechoslovakia) and 1972 (Luxembourg).
Ron Bishop was Lancashire champion 15 times.
Ron shot competitively until he was 72 when he retired due to Pauline’s ill health.
Since Pauline’s passing Dave Ball cared for Ron.
Ces Priestman RIP (December 2022)
From the Nethermoss website
We were saddened to hear of the death yesterday, 15 December 2022, of Ces Priestman.
Ces had a long association with Nethermoss as a founding member and father of Richard who was part of the team that achieved bronze at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics. Ces served as an assistant manager of the GB archery team, We pass on our sympathy and condolences to Ces' family, in particular Richard, Vlada, Ana and George.
Ces was a past secretary of Lancashire and was the LAA Team Manager in the early 2000s.
Charlie Richardson RIP (December 2021)
I have received news that a well known archer, Charlie Richardson, who shot in & for Lancashire for many years, has passed away after quite a short illness. Charlie was a long time member of P&S.
Please pass this news on to any archers who would have known him.
Our thoughts are with his wife Jane - I will send a card on behalf of LAA.
Keep safe
Jude Lane, LAA Secretary
Simon Terry RIP (July 2021)
From the World Archery website DOUBLE OLYMPIC MEDALLIST SIMON TERRY DIES AGED 47
From Paul Tittensor:
Some very sad news today.
Simon was not only a world class archer, one of the best Britain has ever produced but also a great guy and a friend to many Lancashire archers, including myself. In between representing Great Britain on many occasions, picking up many international medals, (including 2 Olympic medals in 1992) he was also good enough to represent Lancashire several times and holds many Lancashire records.
He will be missed by many.
PAULINE BISHOP RIP (August 2021)
Nethermoss Archers are saddened at the loss of a distinguished former member and official of the Club, Pauline Bishop, who passed away on Wednesday 5th August after many years of ill health.
Pauline was a great friend and mentor to many in the club and the archery fraternity. Pauline retired from archery in the late 1980s due to poor health, having shot for Lancashire & GB and becoming LAA Ladies champion in 1973. She is survived by her husband, Ron Bishop, who was a member of the GB team at the Munich Olympics in 1972 and shot at many world championships.
Pauline’s presence and personality on and off the shooting line will be sadly missed. May she rest in peace.
Tony & Mel Hoe
Mary Priestman RIP (January 2018)
Well known to many Lancashire archers, Mary passed away on Sunday 21st January. After suffering from a long illness, a chest infection finally took her away. A service will be held on Thursday 8th February at 1.45pm in West Lancashire Crematorium, Burscough.
Family flowers only. Donations to MacMillan Support.
Our thoughts go out to Ces, Richard and family.
Cliff Lewis RIP (2016)
Lancashire and Cheshire archers will be saddened to hear of the death of Cliff after a short illness in August. Well known on the tournament scene for many years, Cliff was a member of Assheton, and previously of Stalybridge.
Lez Newsome RIP (2015)
Known to many Lancashire Archers, Lez was a former UK international, and helped hundreds through his shop Aardvark. Sadly, Lez died on Saturday 6th June after a long battle with cancer. Our thoughts are with his family. Rest in peace Lez.
Edna Bradley RIP (2014)
Many long standing LAA members will remember Edna, who died on the 11th August, aged 86. Edna was a member of Liverpool Hospitals and Mossley Hill. She was a county team archer, and later she became a judge.
Ken Harris RIP (2013)
It is with deep sorrow that we have to inform you of the passing of High Elm coach Ken Harris. Our condolences go out to his family. Obituary
John Allison RIP (2012)
John Allison of Pendle & Samlesbury, Lancashire and a National Judge, passed away in the early hours of the 29th of November. Read a brief obituary from Di Clarke of Bowmen of Pendle & Samlesbury here.
Ken Hoult of Nethermoss Archers RIP (2011)
Joan thanks all who have sent her cards of condolence.
Sheila D Kemp RIP (2006)
Sad news of the passing of Sheila D Kemp, Bowmen of Overdale, the first lady in the world to shoot a 1000 Hereford. Obituary.