TRIBUTES have been paid to Pinner broadcaster and gameshow host Bob Holness who died yesterday morning.

The presenter, 83, died in his sleep at a nursing home after recently suffering from a series of strokes. He is survived by his wife Mary, three children and seven grandchildren.

South African-born Holness was best known for his ITV gameshow Blockbusters, which he presented from 1983 to 1993.

Terry Farr, of Friends Restaurant, said he got to know Mr Holness when he first came to Pinner nearly 20 years ago.

He said: “He has given a great deal of support to the community since arriving in Pinner himself back in the Sixties.

“He was always the first to come forward to help with charitable events and assisted me personally by coming along to cookery demonstrations, judging Junior Young Chef competitions among many other events.

“He helped to launch the very first Pinner Panto Evening, as well as subsequent panto evenings.

“It was a great privilege to host Bob's 80th birthday at Friends a couple of years ago, when he was surrounded by his family and great friends such as Johnny Dankworth and Cleo Lane. He was truly ‘Mr Pinner’.”

Pinner Association Committee member Cynthia Wells is also a trustee of The West House and Heath Robinson Museum Trust, of which Mr Holness was a patron.

She said: “He was an invaluable part of the community. His unstinting support and the time he gave to events happening in the area was wonderful.

“He will be terribly missed. He was one of those people who would put his name to whatever was happening. He was admired for those qualities to be part of the community rather than hide away as some famous people do.

Councillor James Bond’s parents were family friends of Mr Holness. He said: “He became friends with my parents in the Seventies and I saw him about six or seven weeks ago at his home.

“It’s an old cliché but he was exactly the person on screen and radio as he was in real life.

“A generous, kind man who had time for everybody. When my dad was a councillor in the Eighties, Bob lived in Elm Park Road and he would, like any other member of the community, get involved with helping it out.

“I remember he would join my father in trying to fix the state of the pavements in the area. He was very much part of the community and incredibly approachable.

“Many people are upset at his death and he will be sorely missed.”