I was asked by Marion to say a few words about Tony. I have known Tony for about 48 years, going back to when we first met in 1964. I think we were about 18 years old at that time. We both started practicing Aikido at the infamous Regal Snooker Hall which stood where the Gabalfa interchange is now. It was run by Colin and, at the time, there were a core of us that also consisted of Les, Frank, Ray, Glyn, Gwyn, and of course Clive. We grew up together in the spirit and world of Aikido, became firm friends, and over the years got to meet girl friends who became wives and we went to all the weddings. Although the years have seen us take different paths, the bond formed through this martial Art meant that we were never strangers to each other; someone once remarked that each time we meet its like we are carrying on a conversation we broke off just a few seconds ago. At that time, besides practicing Aikido, Tony and I got very interested in Buddhism and Tibet and anything metaphysical and we tried some strange and wonderful things. Through the books written by Tuesday Lobsan Rampa, an alleged Buddhist Monk who had lived in Tibet, we used to set aside time in each of our homes each week to practice mental telepathy and thought transfer, with, I have to say, quite a degree of success. The only down side being that Tuesday Lobsan Rampa turned out to be a plumber from Devon. One thing we did learn from that is if you look, everyone has something to offer. Links made then stayed with us throughout our lives and one of those made by Tony was with Les O'Grady, who now lives in Australia and he became one of Tony's closest friends. Besides keeping in contact with him, when Marion and Tony visited Australia in 2007, they also stayed with him. Les asked to be specifically mentioned in this eulogy as when he was going through a difficult period before he emigrated to Australia, Tony and Marion were the ones who offered him help and assistance. Les wanted everyone to know that Tony was closer to him than either of his brothers and sisters, and in true Australian style reckoned that Tony was a really Top Bloke. And I know that at this moment in Australia it's 11.00 at night, Les is awake and thinking about Marion and this service and is having a glass of red wine in memory of his friend. During our times together in Aikido we moved to different premises, starting with the Regal in 1964, moving to a very cold and damp church hall in Llandaff, from there to Franks front room and then Colin found a place in Adamsdown, Splott which was above a stable, where Tony not only practiced, but helped out teaching the children's class. And it was here that Tony met Marion and they were married in 1970. They were married for over 40 years. In 2006 Colin started up another Aikido Club, this time in Sully and Tony after a few years absence from the mat retuned to practicing Aikido. He resumed with the same boundless energy that he always had, never missing a practice, turning up each Friday and Sunday. After many years of practice, in 2007 he was awarded 1st Dan black belt for which I know he was immensely proud, although he did say to me that he thought they gave it to him out of sympathy for being around so long! This was plainly untrue, as anyone who practices knows, you have to earn the right to be a Dan Grade. In December 2011 he was awarded by Colin 3rd Dan, which was a recognition of his time and services in Aikido. I know that outside of his family, Tony regarded this as his finest achievement. Tony, as you know, worked for many years at L'Oreal, and in 1971, together with Marion, spent seven very happy and wonderful years living in the USA where they made lots of friends and where both their daughters Claire and Alison were born. In 2007, after 29 years with L'Oreal, where again he made lifelong friends whom he respected greatly, Tony took retirement and made the easy transition into looking after the grandchildren. One of Tony's other interests was wood turning and he used to attend the Bridgend and District Wood Carving and Turning Club every Monday, where one of his activities seems to have been making the tea. He did however produce some quality pieces, some of which were used as presentation gifts to visiting Aikido teachers, one of whom was Chiba San. Tony! Now Tony was not perfect. He did have a few interesting qualities: Firstly. Now some people collect swords, or in my case books, but Tony had a thing for collecting hammers. I know this used to drive Marion mad, as any trip out without her seemed to result in more being added to his collection. At the last count there were 30 plus. Secondly. The down side of woodturning is that the materials you need for this hobby are obviously wood, which is why is seems to Marion that every drawer and cupboard has bits of wood falling out of them that Tony had collected. And lastly, anyone that had a converstaion with Tony or received a phone call from him would know this: as his daughter Claire said of her Dad, "Why use 10 words when he could use a 100?" As someone recently remarked in this year of the Olympics, if there was a category for talking then Tony would walk away with Gold, no problem. So when Tony phoned, usually about tea time, you knew that your dinner would go cold and have to be reheated in the microwave sometime later. However, what you did was listen. And it was a phone call from Tony a few months back informed me that he was concerned over the health of Colin and that I should contact him, and from this we three went out for coffee (Colin's solution to anything is to go for coffee and I can't better that). So initially we met up because of concern over Colin's illness but this was overtaken when unfortunately a few days later Tony was diagnosed with cancer. Earlier on I mentioned that Tony's love of Aikido and his Dan grades was one of which he felt most proud and with this understanding Marion and the family have requested that he be buried in the full Aikido outfit and that the club members act as pall bearers. But before I finish, one of the things that always struck me with Tony was that he always had a quiet centre, never complained, respected other people, supported, helped, and just got on with life. I looked up the Buddhist text for the day Tony died and I would like to share this with you: 'Humility does not mean believing oneself to be inferior, but to be freed from self-importance. It is a state of natural simplicity which is in harmony with our true nature and allows us to taste the freshness of the present moment.' Throughout Tony's life I believe that's what he did: He lived for each fresh moment, whether it was turning wood into something creative, practicing Aikido or more importantly being a family man. So it is time to say good bye to Tony, a really Top Bloke and one we will never forget.