Exeter dementia campaigner pays tribute to 'shining star' who backed her charity

Exeter dementia awareness campaigner Gina Awad has paid tribute to a man who helped bring her charity to national attention.

Tony Husband was a gifted cartoonist best known for creating the Yobs strip in Private Eye.

He died on his way to a party the magazine was throwing in London last Wednesday (October 18) after collapsing on Westminster Bridge.

The Blackpool-born illustrator had become heavily involved with Gina's charity, Exeter Dementia Action Alliance (EDAA), by chance. She first met him after a talk he gave at Exeter Phoenix in 2016 about his book 'Take Care, Son: The Story of My Dad and his Dementia'.

Gina approached him afterwards and following a short conversation they discovered their shared passion for dementia and exchanged email addresses.

Tony returned to Exeter the following June and spoke in support for DAA. Despite his celebrity he would only accept payment for his overnight accommodation and train fare.

Over the following seven years he and Gina created two dementia calendars together, which were sponsored by individual businesses in Exeter and made an impact globally, and produced a book called 'United: Caring for our loved ones living with dementia'.

In an emotional tribute, Gina described Tony as having shown generosity "beyond words".

She said: "His generosity is beyond words. He was one of the kindest, most gentle, compassionate people I've ever met.
"I had a message from somebody who met him once through the alliance who said 'I feel like I know him so well and I feel the need to shine a light on the brilliance of him how he's impacted our community'.

"The world has lost a shining star and is a darker place without Tony Husband in it. But now we’re left with memories to cherish forever as are the millions of lives he has touched.

"He was the most humblest of men who adored his family, friends, music and football with a glass or two of Sauvignon Blanc".

Typical of Tony, it emerged that on his way to the Private Eye Party, fearing he would be delayed, he had drawn a quick sketch on the train and sent it to his fellow cartoonist Nick Newman. It shows the barge sailing away as a figure stands on Westminster Pier waving...