I remember dad telling the story of walking to collect you, from where you had been playing football, and being thrilled to tell you that you had a new baby sister.
You were not impressed! You were two months shy of being twelve years old and probably felt the whole concept highly embarrassing! I also suspect that news of a new baby brother may have held more appeal, someone else to play football with possibly!
When dad was offered a promotion, within the Post Office, it entailed a move to Penzance, in Cornwall. I was six weeks old. You , had just passed your eleven plus and so were enrolled at 'The Humphry Davy' grammar school in Penzance.
Mum and dad, shortly after moving to Cornwall,  were able to rent part of a house in, 'Clarence Street', which fortunately for you was situated directly opposite the Grammar School.
I remember being told that you were terribly nervous about the prospect of starting at a new school, in a new area, where you knew no-one. and so you waited in our front garden, until a boy wearing the Humphry Davy uniform passed by. You caught up with him and introduced yourself and felt confident that now you at least knew one other pupil there!
You excelled at the Grammar School, both academically and physically, becoming a hugely talented athlete and sportsman. You were selected so often to represent the school that when you were approaching A levels dad became concerned that as every Saturday was taken up with you playing sport, you, as a consequence, on a Sunday, were physically exhausted and your studies were suffering. From then on you did have the occasional Saturday, 'sport free.
Mum was, no doubt, a little relieved that, on the occasional Saturday, when you were at home, she would not get the usual knock at the door, and find you standing there with various sporting injuries. There were numerous over the years apparently, i.e. teeth missing, broken bones etc.
Both of our parents were hugely supportive of us and would have wanted to watch every match/event you participated in. You were adamant that they could not spectate as you said you would have felt more nervous, knowing they were there, and not have been able concentrate fully on the game.
As a consequence dad used to sneak down to our local park, when you were competing in tennis tournaments, and climb a tree, from where he watched you play, with you unaware that he was there!
When you were nearing A levels, dad was again offered promotion, to a much larger Post Office in Falmouth. Both Mum and Dad decided he should only accept it if it would not interfere with your predicted grades. After discussing it with your teachers they were advised that it probably would have a detrimental effect, so dad turned the promotion down.
You always appreciated that sacrifice, as for numerous reasons it would have been beneficial for us as a family, but our selfless parents always considered you and I their priority.
Rugby was a great love of yours, as was football. You excelled at both, but ultimately had to commit to one or the other. You chose rugby because, as you told me, the social life was better and there was great team spirit after matches. Rugby tours were popular with you too!
By the time you left the Grammar School, you had decided on a career in teaching and left Cornwall to embark on your teacher training in Cheltenham.
You often recounted the time, when, after your first break and visit home to Cornwall, it was time for you to return to college. Dad drove you to Penzance Railway Station and you admitted to him that you did not want to go back, to college, and had been terribly homesick. He found it so hard to have to persuade you that it was vitally important to at least try it for another term, as you had so wanted to teach. You always remained grateful and thanked him on numerous occasions for having helped you to make the right choice that day, even though, emotionally, dad would have loved to have driven back home with you that day.
As I was only now reaching the age when I could appreciate having an older brother, my clearest memories of you were during your breaks from college, when you would return home, to Cornwall.
By this time we had moved to Long Rock, near Marazion, famous for beautiful Mounts Bay and St. Michael's Mount and where Mum and dad were able to buy their first house.
I was so excited when you were due home. You often used to take me on the bus, into Penzance and ask for my assistance with your purchases of shirts and floral ties, as you were colour blind, particularity with regard to pastel shades, which were, 'all the rage' back then.
Travelling home afterwards, you would take me to the top deck of a double decker bus, where we would sit at the back and you would  invariably sing! None of the other passengers seemed to mind and in my eyes you could do nothing wrong, and had a wonderful singing voice!
At one stage you chanced upon dad's army 'great coat' in the garage, which he kept laying across the bonnet of his car. In those days dad tried to keep the engine warm, to aid with many reluctant starting motors! You loved it and insisted upon wearing it (to Mum's horror) continuously and thinking you were extremely trendy, which in fact you were at the time.
As well as studying hard, whilst at home, you had great times, 'catching up' with friends, and sport.
During the holidays you were able to find seasonal work, to aid your finances, ranging from working at Land's End, during the summer, where you would encourage tourists to have their photographs taken under a signpost there. You would then slot the appropriate letters and numbers into the directional arms of the signpost, so that it showed how many miles Land's End was from their home. (See photo page).
At Christmas time, dad usually used to be able to find you a postal round, and I can remember being so excited to not only have parcels delivered, containing Christmas presents, but to have them delivered by you! Mum always had a cup of milky coffee, ('Camp' in those days) and ginger nuts ready for you, so that you could take your break with us.
Every visit of yours entailed Mum making sure you had all of your 'favourites' in the cupboard, i.e. Cornflakes, gingernuts, Nuttalls mintos and tinned pears, with Carnation milk to pour over them. Mum always used to say that even on Christmas Day, if she had asked what you would like to eat, it would have been cornflakes and toast for breakfast, boiled eggs with bread and butter for tea, followed by tinned pears and carnation milk.  Always cornflakes were a must with you for supper. Needless to say, however you always enjoyed a traditional turkey roast, with Christmas pudding to follow, plus hidden sixpenny pieces or three penny bits hidden inside.
I remember one Christmas you brought me a beautiful pair of patent shoes, from Penzance, but had been unsure of my size. When I unwrapped them I was so excited and thrilled. I immediately put them on, but unfortunately they were too small. You all advised me that you thought, they were, but I was insistent that they fitted perfectly as I could not bear the thought of having to part with them whilst you bought a bigger size.
I wore them to a children's party, not long after, and they pinched terribly, but I persevered. I did not wear them again, as they hurt too much, but I treasured them for a long time after!
As time passed you would bring various girlfriends home, who were very kind to me.
I loved watching them apply their, 'make up' in the mornings, which I longed to be old enough to do. One particular girlfriend, of whom I was particularly fond, had a father who was part of the Cadburys Chocolate Factory. I remember that she would bring boxes of 'seconds'  from the factory, so that was a huge treat for us all.
Your first teaching post was in Aylesbury and the following letter was something of which our parents were justifiably proud. Mum painstakingly copied it out, into her much treasured, 'memory book',  along with her favourite quotes, prayers, sayings etc. Her entry is attached.
She was also hugely relieved that the great coat had been abandoned, your beard shaved off and you therefore met her standards of being very presentable. You always insisted on wearing a suit and shirt and tie to work, feeling that if the students were expected to wear uniform then you should be smartly dressed too. This was so typical of your thoughtfulness.
You eventually met and married your first wife, Alison, with whom you had two beautiful children, namely Ellen and Ben, who you adored and were justifiably very proud.
By this time I had left Cornwall too and Mum and Dad had retired to Weston-Super-Mare, in order to be nearer us both, and also Mum's brothers and sisters (she was one of six, with one half brother). Consequently we have numerous relations, with whom, before we left Devizes, you spent much of your childhood with, spending wonderful summers playing on our Aunty Edna and Uncle Laurie's farm, with a very special group of cousins.
Unfortunately you later suffered a marriage break up, as did I. My sons were still young, six and four, respectively, Ellen and Ben of course being much older.
During this time we met during as many half-terms and school holidays as we could. It gave my boys the opportunity to spend time with you and they remember you as an uncle who was always great fun, great company and very loving. They in turn loved you very much and so looked forward to seeing you.
On one occasion, you and I rented a cottage, which was situated on the outskirts of St. Ives in Cornwall, for a week's holiday. You drove down to Minehead, where I was living, picked up myself and my boys and we all travelled, with you, down to Cornwall.
During the journey they were delighted that their uncle Tony opted to continuously play cassettes by, 'Queen' at almost full blast, singing along with them and thumping the steering wheel, along with the rhythm.
On other occasions you stayed with us, or we with you. We all had such fun times and often visited various theme parks, whilst staying with you. This was a wonderful treat for the boys, as we did not have access to anything similar, in the West Country.
Mum had always struggled with Rheumatoid Arthritis, which ultimately affected every part of her body, even her eyes. Dad was always a devoted husband and eventually carer to her. They remained so grateful that you took the time to write weekly letters home, with all your news. It meant such a lot to them, especially as mum became increasingly housebound. Despite the constant pain she was in, she never complained and kept an amazing sense of humour, as did dad, who never resented the constant time he had to spend helping her with every day tasks. We both admired and loved them so much.
As mum's health deteriorated, they found it difficult to cope at Weston, so they moved to Minehead, where dad had my garage converted into an extension, designed to suit mum's needs and where I could be of assistance to them both.
As a consequence you were able to come and stay and spend quality time with us all.
On a couple of occasions I was able to come and stay with you in  Chelmsford and we had many outings together, including meals, when we had the opportunity to talk endlessly about our childhoods and past. We became so close and realised how very similar in all aspects of life we were.
When you met and married Susan, who also had two children, you happily took on a new role as her husband, stepfather and later grandfather.
Consequently we were not able to meet as often as we we had been able to do in the past, but we always knew we were only 'a phone call away'.
My sons now grown, married and with children of their own made me a hugely proud gran, so we had much in common.
When you developed Parkinson's, of course you became increasingly less mobile, though we still had our 'phone chats'. You faced the disease and all restrictions it caused with great humour and courage, so indicative of Mum and were often able to laugh about various mishaps that had occurred during your every day routines. 
We understood each other so well and you knew behind all the laughter, my heart was breaking for you and all that you had to endure.  
So many people have known and loved you, through you religious beliefs and marvellous sermons. It is wonderful to think, that you have, no doubt brought comfort to people through these attributes and talents.
With regard to Mum, Dad, myself and later my family, you were just 'our' Tony. You didn't feel the need to discuss or quote the bible, or be anything other than a very loving, kind and quick witted son, brother and uncle. We shared an unspoken understanding of our Christian beliefs and tried to follow the high moral upbringing we had experienced with Mum and Dad. We had been taught and led by example, to always be ready to help and try to listen to and understand others, display kindness and consideration and wherever possible, put others first. We all shared a love of children and tried to assist with any who were in need and you no doubt enhanced and enriched many young lives through your teaching. A lasting legacy.
Although life now inevitably goes on without you, and I am lucky enough to have a wonderful husband and family,  I shall always have three pieces of my 'jigsaw' missing, Mum, Dad and you, my adored brother and best friend. I always have and always will love  and miss you.


Jane x