I have known Anthony for almost 45 years. All that time and so many memories - and yet it is so hard to try to summarise in a few words just what he meant.

He often said that, whatever happened in our lives, we would definitely end up sitting on a bench on Weston sea front in our later years, eating fish and chips out of newspaper, putting the world to rights and sharing funny stories. I’m so sad that we won’t get to do that and that the world has lost such a truly individual, kind, talented, caring and unfailingly witty person.

At the same time, I’m thankful to have known Anthony over so many years and to have shared so many memorable (and often hilarious) times with him. He would often say he didn’t want to be described as “normal,” but as someone who did things differently. I think that was one of his many strengths - the extraordinary ability to carve his own special, unique mark on the world and to help everyone he met to look at life through fresh, new eyes.

He once - when I hadn’t been driving very long - encouraged me to drive my little car up an extremely steep hill on Exmoor in the snow, convincing me that the view from the top and the sense of achievement would be worth it, despite the weather. He was right, of course. I can still remember him laughing at how tightly I was gripping the steering wheel all the way up, but he had that ability to quietly instil confidence in those around him - and the view was worth it. He said I would remember it for years - and that has never been truer than right now.

His attention to detail was phenomenal - Anthony undertook gardening for several of my friends and family over the years. One of them told me this week that they have never been able to find anyone as dedicated and professional since. He replanted my garden from scratch when I moved to a house which had been laid completely to gravel - I have vivid memories of him driving up and down on a mini-digger with the hugest grin on his face and saying how much greener and improved my new garden would look, once he had finished with it. He was right, of course.

If a plant ever withered or looked frail, he would investigate whatever it needed to rejuvenate it. He rescued a lovely apple tree which was looking incredibly sad and which I’d had to leave behind when I moved. He drove back to the old house without me knowing, dug the tree up (with the owner’s permission) and replanted it in my new garden. Despite its ill appearance, he never gave up on it - as I write this and look out of my window, it is loaded with this year’s apples because of the work Anthony put in to nurture it all those years ago.

Anthony always had that easy way of laughing at himself and encouraging others not to take themselves too seriously either. I will cherish so many side-splittingly hilarious conversations over the years, peppered with more serious conversations about literature, music, art, cookery, politics, history, architecture and so much more. He was able to talk about virtually any topic under the sun and to add a fresh and considered perspective.

One more memory that truly encapsulates Anthony’s humour and creativity is from 2004. I was holding a birthday party for Kiran (my son) and we were all outside in the sunshine. My mum had become paralysed and was in a wheelchair, but had always loved dancing. Anthony decided that we should do something to make her really laugh that day. He turned on his CD player and played a typical 1980s summer dance track and then got us all to copy him in the funniest “made-up” dance routine you have ever seen. My mum just laughed and laughed and laughed. He did. Our neighbours did. We all did. I could see how much that meant to him and I will always treasure that memory - along with so many others.

Thanks Anthony (Snaff) for all our conversations and times shared over the years, for our friendship, laughter, and our travels. Plus, for teaching Kiran so, so many things and just being there for him in so many vital ways. You were - and always will be - one of life’s best people. I will miss you very much. Sending all my love and thoughts to Jen and Tina and the whole family. xxx

Jan