Tributes have been paid to an Andover martial artist who taught students for decades.

Richard Bennett ran the Keiko Judo Club in Andover, as well as being an instructor for Andover Judo and Ju-Jitsu Club, for over 35 years, teaching hundreds of students both young and old. He passed away suddenly earlier this year, with tributes coming in from across Andover and beyond.

One of those paying tribute was his sister Janet, who said: “He was always cheerful and we will treasure his memory. We will miss him forever because, quite simply, he was one of life’s good guys.”

Richard was born in November 1951 in Andover War Memorial Hospital, and was described as a “true Andoverian” by is family. He was educated at Portway Primary and Andover Boys Secondary School before travelling widely across Europe and northern Africa.

Janet remembers her brother as having “a vivid imagination”.

“He used to love playing as cowboys and soldiers when we were children,” she said. “One day, when my mum asked me to get him up, I knocked on his door and walked in and he was still half asleep, but he said: ‘Quick, get behind the door, there’s a man with a gun!’”

She also remembers a more hair-raising game, where she ended up as a damsel in distress.

“It was quite amusing when he and his friend Andy [Sharp], who were playing Cowboys and Indians, tied me to a drainpipe, put newspaper under my plimsolls and set fire to it! My mother came around into the garden in the nick of time before I went up in smoke!”

Following his graduation, he began work at Martin Thomas in the 1970s, before moving to Perforated Line Products. Though he left the latter company for a time, he rejoined in 1987 and stayed there until he retired in November 2019. Past and present directors of the company passed their condolences to the family.

During this time, he met and married the love of his life, Joyce, in 1975 and they were devoted to each other for 46 years. They shared joint interests such as reading and the cinema, particularly science fiction, as well as eating out and holidaying along the Dorset coast.

Janet said it “came as a great surprise to his wife and family that he chose Judo as his sport” at this time. Richard had a Black Belt, 3rd Dan, in Judo, and practised for over 50 years. He also took up training and refereeing for around 35 years, taking over at the Keiko Judo Club from Ken Smith before it moved to St Peters Hall.

“He was a fount of knowledge,” said Janet, “especially in relation to Judo Katas, a formalised method of demonstrating Judo techniques, and he was able to both demonstrate and teach these.

“He taught hundreds of students, both adults and children and he was very well respected, and made many friends through his years of dedication to Judo.”

Following his passing, the club paid tribute by sending a floral tribute in the form of a judo jacket and black belt, and have proposed awarding a trophy in his name on an annual basis.

Richard passed away suddenly while at Rooksbury Lakes, and Janet paid tribute to the unknown individual who came to his aid, calling the emergency services in an attempt to save her brother’s life.

“We don’t know who called the ambulance or air ambulance to try and save him, and we have had no means to contact that person,” she said. “I just want to say thank you for them trying to save him, it means so much.”

A small funeral took place last week on May 19, followed by a wake, and Janet said that she and the rest of the family were “overwhelmed” by the support and condolences they had received.

“I can’t tell you how many people have got in touch and can’t believe what’s happened,” she said. “They’ve been really, really kind and their words have been wonderful, so a massive thank you to everyone who came to the wake for their support, their sympathy and their celebration of him.”

The family have asked that anyone wanting to remember Richard should send a donation in his name to the British Heart Foundation.