He was 15 and already working in Down Shoes where I started two years later.

This club was mainly football and boxing but with the help of the club leader, Clarence Cheney and a bit of persuasion from myself some second hand weights were purchased. Clarence made some weight-training benches. A room was set aside for the weights only.

Robbie breezed in one night and asked if I would mind if he joined in. As I had been training on my own for a long time I was very glad that he did.

As the weeks and months went by we soon established a good friendship and worked as a team. Another six or seven boys joined in. This continued for a period of years but eventually the entire club closed down.

We thought this was the end of the weight training.

Within a year we heard that a new club had started on the Lurgan Road run by Rodney McAnearney. We went and joined. Again we wored as a team and this included running and swimming.

Outside of club activities we both had a bunch of other friend who went to the cinema, dances and generally enjoyed ourselves. Up until his recent pasing that strong bond we had all established never faltered.

Two days before that I asked his wife Isabel, son Ian and brother Victor if I could have 10 minutes on my own with him before they went in.

I am very glad I got that opportunity as we were able to talk about our time together over the years and I was able to tell him how much his friendship enriched my life.

On behalf of his lifelong friends - Eddie Dawson, Brian Redpath, Bertie and Jim McDowell and myself - or as Robbie nicknamed me, Vedor - RIP.