My name is Brian Washbourn and I was the chairman of Chaldon Badminton Club.
 
For many years our small club played in the same men's league as Albury, one of Tony's other former clubs. This brought us into competition against each other and we fondly remember many close battles against Tony and his teammates. When I say close, these were highly competitive matches and ones where we always really wanted to beat Tony. Not only a fierce and feisty opponent, but he was also a damn good player.....oh and he was good company off court too.
 
How great for us then, when Tony joined Chaldon in 2007 and we finally gained some Madeira muscle......as well as some cracking deals on shuttles, rackets and re-strings!
 
Now the on-court ticking time-bomb (as we lovingly referred to Tony), was OUR ticking time bomb, and he was a regular for us in our successful men’s team over a number of years until his family's exciting move to Devon in 2017. Incredibly, Tony’s badminton was like a fine wine and only improved with age. In fact, his standard of play and agility around the court in his late 50s put several of us younger members to shame.     
 
Sure enough, on occasion, I nearly had to call on my public order policing colleagues if the oppo made a dodgy line call or engaged in some gamesmanship against the man with the iron calf muscles. But he was a great presence for us, good company and, clearly, a fine family man.
 
Chaldon also benefitted from the company of Leigh, Grace and Jo through our junior club, and whilst delighted for all, we very much missed Tony when he moved away.
 
It’s perhaps fitting then, that with the decline of village badminton finally hitting us hard after the pandemic, we decided to merge clubs with Albury last season and can now look forward to more of our favourite type of badminton - in no small part due to the close bond forged with our pals through and with Tony over many years.
 
On behalf of everyone at the new Chalbury, we offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Tony. We feel gladdened and privileged to have known him and we'll ensure we wind up next year's opposition in his honour.
 
We will certainly find joy in his memory and hope that you can too.
 
RIP our dear friend Tony