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Antony Michael Ansell (1940-2017)

Antony Ansell was born in March 1940 in Maltby, Yorkshire, while his father, Mike, was in Northern France waiting for Germany to invade. Mike had just been promoted to command a regiment but this was delayed by a bout of measles. On hearing the news of Antony’s arrival from his wife, Victoria, he replied: “Well done. Have got command of the Lothians and German measles.” In June 1940, Mike was wounded and captured so Antony was three years old when he met his father for the first time. At the end of the war, Mike and Victoria bought Pillhead, a beautiful rambling house with a large garden overlooking Bideford in North Devon.

Antony’s lifelong love of nature began in the “wilderness”, a wild wooded part of the garden with a winding stream running through it.  Aged seven, he became an avid photographer and album keeper.  His stories and albums tell of a wonderful childhood with his elder brother Nick and younger sister Sally; riding, sailing, cycling, camping, stalking.  Nick’s account of them being caught up in the Exmoor flooding of August 1952, published in the Christmas Number of ‘Horse and Pony News’, is a terrific tale of brotherly adventure: a kitchen waist deep in water, rescuing a paddling terrier, launching cider bottles full of drinking water to a stranded family (four of the six reached the family unbroken) and trying to get to sleep at 2 a.m. in a single bed.  It seems to have been a somewhat raucous version of the Famous Five.

After Wellington school, Dad joined the 12th Lancers on a short service commission.  His first posting was to Cyprus as part of the UN peace-keeping mission. By this time, his father Mike was a household name due to the success of British Show Jumping and “This is Your Life” wanted to do a programme. Victoria was absolutely opposed to this but the producers said that if she agreed, Antony could be flown home from Cyprus as the surprise star guest with a week’s home leave. Victoria’s concerns about privacy evaporated and Antony appeared on the show in full military uniform.

Antony then took a two year posting as Aide-De-Camp to the Governor of South Australia. The role played to his talents of organisation and efficiency. His stories and albums are full of pomp and ceremony, water-skiing, the outback and beautiful Australian young ladies.  He loved his time in Australia and on leaving his post, his sister Sally joined him for a 14 week tour of the country.

Antony met his wife on the day of his return when Sally invited her old school friend Susan Liddell to a dinner at the Cavalry Club.  Antony and Susan became engaged in May and married in Wherwell Church in October 1964.

Antony  had returned to join Fullers brewery (the family firm). He joined the board in 1967 became marketing director, a newly created post, in 1973. The brewery was changing from being a conservative, family-bound concern to being outward and forward looking. Antony introduced the concepts of marketing and PR to a sometimes-unwilling, elderly board. He was responsible for the brown, orange and yellow corporate design which lived in the minds of customers long after had been replaced. He inherited a dash of the impresario from his father.

Antony and Susan had found a run-down house in Sherlock Row not far from Reading. They renovated it, extended it a few years later and reshaped the garden.  In Jubilee year 1977; aged 37, with a young family, a wonderful home and a great job, everything looked rosy as the family set off on a summer Christian week in Wadhurst in Kent.   Here their life changed.  Susan’s Christian faith had deepened some years before, and at Wadhurst, Antony’s faith was transformed. He was called to the priesthood and they followed this call.

His departure from the brewery was marked with headlines ‘Beer boss gives it up for the Church’ in the Evening Standard. Another was ‘Fuller’s Director gives up the profits for the prophets.’ The Chairman of Fullers, Lewis Turner, generously stated in the Standard: ‘Our recent prosperity has been largely due to his efforts’.  Fifteen months on from the week in Wadhurst, the family moved to Nottingham and Antony was enrolled at St John’s Theological College.  He was ordained as a clergyman in 1980.  He loved studying the Bible and deepening his faith. He never claimed to be academic and he was proud of the one ‘A’ grade he received for an essay which required the definition of a gentleman: ‘a man who uses a butter knife even when he is on his own, and who can play the bagpipes but doesn’t.’

When he left Nottingham, they went to St Michael and All Angels’ Church in Harrow Weald. Although technically a curate, he led the parish as there was no vicar.  He and his wife embraced parish life.  Apart from Sundays, there were endless groups and events. Antony always enjoyed ministering to older teenagers and young adults. There were large Sunday lunches and during the summer they would be cooked by him on the big, kettle barbeque.  He learned how to preach, preparing his sermons on Saturday evenings.  His faith was simple, centred on the person and teachings of Jesus. He invited all followers of Jesus to take communion at his services with no requirement for confirmation and no distinguishing between denominations.  He  was was an evangelist. There was always a danger, particularly on public transport, that he would strike up a conversation with strangers.  The conversation would start harmlessly enough but a half chance to introduce Jesus would be taken.

By the mid-1980s his calling had developed. Rather than a normal parish ministry, he was ministering to people in leadership positions in politics and business and the family moved to Durand Gardens in Stockwell.   He was attached to St Michael’s, Chester Square, and supported people working in parliament; MPs, Lords, officials and other staff. He played a key role in the Parliamentary Fellowship and led the organisation of “National Prayer Breakfast”. He also led “Midweek in Mayfair”, a lunchtime meeting for people working in property.  While not a vicarage, 10 Durand Gardens often resembled one. There were many bible and prayer groups, large Sunday lunches and Antony often invited people at Church who he sensed did not have another plan.

As retirement approached, they inherited Fullerton Mill. Both the building and the garden became wonderful projects for them. The inside was transformed into a beautiful modern liveable space. Antony loved combining the old with the new, so the Mill Wheel and many other features are preserved. The garden mixes lawns and flower beds and a wild boggy wilderness area where he was surrounded by nature including his favourite, the kingfisher.

At 60, Antony took up marathon running and he and his son ran the London Marathon together in 2000.  Antony then ran two further marathons both 25 minutes faster than their joint effort.  After retirement and before his illness, Antony and Susan had two round the world trips, both with extended stays in Australia. During these trips, they visited the outback and saw old friends.

Shortly before his 70th birthday, his illness became evident. He bore this with fortitude. For the initial years of he remained strong and he could lead a full outdoors life with plenty of gardening.  When my mother became ill, the family realised the seriousness of his illness and that he needed professional care, so he spent the last three years of his life in Winton House.

Antony died on 11th February 2017 and a thanksgiving service was held in Wherwell church on 27th February.  Antony’s ashes were interred next to the family grave in the churchyard.

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