An organisation which provides a valuable service for blind and visually impaired people has been joined more great names from Watford FC’s past in paying tribute to Oliver Phillips.

This newspaper has been inundated with memories of our former assistant editor and sports editor since he passed away peacefully at his home in France on Thursday, February 2 at the age of 81.

Oli played an important part establishing the Watford & District Talking Newspaper and one of the stalwarts of the service has joined more former Hornets players including Steve Sherwood and Ian Bolton, via the Former Players Club, in remembering a man whose contribution to the town stretched beyond his coverage of events at Vicarage Road.

These are some of the latest tributes that have been paid to Oli:

Oli Phillips played a key role in helping us set up the Watford & District Talking Newspaper way back in 1977. We are a charity to record and distribute the news from the Watford Observer, for blind and visually impaired people.

I have worked on the Talking Newspaper since it was three months old, and week by week Oli would record a report on Watford Football Club for us.

So I have known Oli's voice, and I feel I have known Oli himself, for all these many years. He had a warm way of speaking, and an inimitable style of his own, always clear and honest in both good and bad times for Watford Football Club, and always with obvious love for it.

We were privileged especially to receive his reports during the Graham Taylor and Elton John years.

We still remember Oli and speak of him with fondness. He loved the written word and the spoken word, he loved journalism and he loved Watford.

He was a one-off and we will miss him.

Ian Pankhurst - Watford and District Talking Newspaper

A class reporter and friend. RIP Oli and have a good chat with GT.

Ian Bolton

Very sad to hear the sad news about Oli - he was a huge part of our Watford FC lives.

Dennis Booth

R.I.P Oli. You will be remembered always.

Walter Lees

One of the old school, he actually reported on the game!

Loved his passion for football particularly Watford FC. Had our differences but always respected his professionalism and enthusiasm. Rest in peace big man.

Steve Harrison

The man is a very important part of our history, along with Terry Challis. They were very special indeed those two. No doubt Oli will be having an interesting catch up with Terry and the Boss

Steve Sherwood