I met Tony in late 1975 if I remember correctly. We both started karate around that time at the old St. Mark's church hall. Tony had started a month or two before me. I remember meeting him for the first time as on that day he wasn't joining in the class. He sat on the stage watching with his arm in plaster, broken from a previous session (Tough training in those days). As we were about the same age, about eleven or twelve, we became good friends. Later, Mick joined and we spent many days kicking lumps out of each other (usually my lumps). Neil tagged along and he would be employed holding the punchbag while we "booted" him round my back garden. These were the days before the internet, so Tony and I would have to buy all of our martial arts paraphernalia from magazine mail order, Exchange and Mart, or travelling to far-off places such as London or Birmingham to martial arts shops that we'd heard about. We had some Bruce Lee cine films and a projector (way before video and other digital luxuries). There was no sound. The soundtrack was provided on a cassette tape which we had to play separately. Trying to sync it with the film was a disaster, but we spent hours trying. I used to go round his house and his lovely mum would make a nice chicken dinner for us. Later, the ice cream van would come round and Tony and I would run out with a bowl to get it filled with soft whip. Fabulous. Time passed and as teenagers we went our separate ways. Sadly, apart from a couple of short, off chance moments, our paths never crossed again. I was totally shocked and very saddened to hear of his passing. My thoughts and deepest sympathies to Alison, his family and friends. Great times and fond memories. Rest in peace, Tony my old friend. Jez.