Anthony John Walsh (24 Feb 1952 - 3 Jun 2016)

Very sorry to hear that Tony has passed away. Me and my fellow tour managers remember him as a very pleasant and jovial fellow on the tours, a pleasure to have around. A true gentle man - and a gentleman.

Graham Dinsdale

No words can describe how sorry I am for your loss Ann. I am honored and blessed to have known your brother Tony. He has been a colleague, a good friend and was proud to have shared great times with him during my time in the UKBA and I will miss him dearly. When I think of Tony, the first thing that comes to mind is his gentle smile and that cheeky look in his eyes. I used to have a good banter with him and as he is a man of few words, he will only give me that look and stare and his eyes speaks for itself. It was a pleasure to have his company when I opened my restaurant in Hampton Hill. Remembering his wonderful and gentle soul will forever remain in our hearts. I will never forget his kindness. May God give him eternal rest. May he rest in peace!
With heartfelt condolences,
Merlinda & Sanjay

So very sad to hear of Tony's death. We have shared some really good times with him on aircraft tours, especially the first time we met which was on the way to Japan. He was our excuse for having an ice cream, you know, oh well if you're having one , so are we! We always kept in touch, and we knew that Tony was unwell, but it was still a great shock to hear he had passed away.
Sleep well Tony, and dream of aeroplanes and ice cream.
Lots of love
Linda & John

As mentioned elsewhere Ann I was shocked to receive your e-mail updating on the demise of Tony, our original historian & archivist. Sadly, I understand he passed away on 3rd June, and I recalled speaking to you some time ago after he had moved in with you temporarily after your dear mother's sad passing. I remember Tony had an operation some years ago now which was intended to correct an inherited defect which I believe led to his mother's demise, and I had hoped that he had resolved matters for the future. He was always busy latterly with his navy ships publications and I used to let him know if ever a warship was docked in Canary Wharf, though he was always on the case with that kind of thing.

I usually called him once a year but this year has been so busy and littered with other deaths of people and friends well before their time besides those in the wider world that I had forgotten and hoped that he was still receiving his PDF newsletter which I always e-mail to him. He was a big help in early days of the Victor Association as our archivist, whereby he used to send me book reviews when he had the time, and to lose another old friend of the Victor Association after many years (I became involved in 1992) is a blow I had hoped to do without for some time. We never met after his op though my annual calls helped me learn how he was doing as he always seemed too busy to e-mail me and I always hoped he was doing well with his work along with air shows, which seemed to be his passion in life.

I recall picking up Tony on a slightly foggy day in Croydon in 1993, when we travelled to RAF Barnham to look over the cockpit section of Victor XL160, which the Victor Association was looking to buy for restoration at that time. He was also there to lend a hand when we finally roaded her from Barnham to Cliff Aldred's place in Halesworth, Suffolk, where the cockpit resided for a decade before moving finally to the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum near Bungay. Aviation played a big part in Tony's life so it was quite a surprise when he decided to compile his various books on navy ships, and as far as I know he did that up until his passing.

I will publish these words for him including these in our next newsletter as some members will remember him from the early V.A. days. I have lost old friends and acquaintances myself over the last year or so while other people in the association have also had similar experiences and it has been an onerous task to write many words about them to date. Too many people seem to be passing on far too early to judge from many contacts and friends I speak to and to pass away in his early 60's dosesn't seem enough as ever, for the quiet and happy man I used to know. 

I will give Ken McGill a call who is our former founder to inform him of this sad news. As per my e-mail please accept my condolences and on behalf of the V.A., and I will be thinking of you and the family at this very sad time.

Garry

Garry O'Keefe
Editor, Victor Assoc.