George Lewis, who will be well remembered by the ‘older’ personnel in Essex, passed away on Monday 4th April 2016.
He joined the archery fraternity in the mid 1960’s and was one of the Founder members of Damon Company of Archers. (The club lost its ground in 1982 and with some of the members moved to the Sports Ground of an Electricity Substation in Wickford. This became Southend Electricity Archery Club -SEAC).
He was a past County Senior Records Officer, Vice Chairman of the County 1972-73 and General Member 1981-1983.
An extremely dedicated archer, he reached Grand Master Bowman status and shot many times in the Essex County Team. Was regularly Essex Champion, East Anglian Champion, and won the majority of tournaments he entered. In the late 1970s, with a one-piece wooden Hoyt bow and aluminium arrows, he set the Albion record at 916 – a record which remained unbroken for many years.
When equipment improved with take-down bows and carbon arrows, George felt he may be able to shoot even higher scores and decided to sell the Hoyt. A club member bought the bow but the poundage was too heavy for him and, rather than let the bow go, stored it away. George’s scores did not improve with his new bow which caused him much frustration. The old Hoyt was returned to him and normal service was resumed.
George’s archery came to an end with severe Arthritis in his fingers. He moved to Kent with his wife Mary. Our deepest sympathy goes to her and his four children, Mandy, Tracey, David and Simon.
Marlene Hutchins