Always look on the bright side of life 🎵 😎
Tony Ward
With heavy hearts, we share the passing of Tony Ward, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, who left us peacefully in January 2025.
Tony, the only son of Peter and Peggy Ward, was the devoted husband of 50 years to Ina, a loving father to Jo, Lucy, Amy, and Adam, and a proud grandfather to Henry, Mary, and Ellis. He was a man of immense talent, generosity, and humour who touched the lives of so many.
Tony’s love for music started at a young age—so young, in fact, that he built his first-ever guitar himself. From that moment on, music became a lifelong passion. His first semi-professional band, Watneys Starlighters, played in clubs and holiday venues along the East Coast. Later, in the 1960s and 70s, he performed around London in a three-piece folk band called Corrida. In the late 70s and early 80s, while living in Chesham and Lay Hill, Tony played in a band called The Entertainers. Having played in bands all his life, in the 90s and early 2000s, he set up and performed in The Cheddar Blues Band, where his skill and passion for music left a lasting impression.
Beyond performing, Tony was also an inspiring teacher, spending years sharing his love for guitar, bass, and ukulele with students of all ages in his local community. He always said he could tell which students would go on to be truly great musicians—the ones who simply couldn’t put their guitars down, like his grandson Henry. His talent was undeniable, but it was his kindness, patience, and encouragement that made him an inspiration to so many.
Tony’s creativity extended far beyond music. With an incredible eye for design, he studied interior design, which was evident in everything he did. As a highly skilled artist, he excelled in drawing, painting, and photography. While living in Somerset, he was often commissioned to create beautiful watercolour paintings of local houses, pubs, and personal projects. His intricate signage work, featuring complex typography styles, was another testament to his artistic ability. His creative talents left an indelible mark on the community.
Tony was also a DIY master, never shying away from a challenge. He tackled home projects of all kinds with enthusiasm and skill, whether it was building a huge rear conservatory/sunroom extension, redesigning kitchens and bathrooms, or building spiral staircases! He approached every project with confidence, handling it all himself and always completing it to an incredibly high standard.
Beyond his talents, Tony filled life with laughter and adventure. He had a brilliant sense of humour and a generous spirit, always making sure his family had fun. He built swings, treehouses, massive sandcastles, and even huge water slides in the garden, ensuring childhood was filled with joy and excitement.
Per Tony’s wishes, there will be no funeral. Instead, we will be celebrating his life with an event in Somerset at the end of May, where friends and family can come together to remember him, share stories, and enjoy the music he loved so much. More details will follow.
This page will continue to grow with photos and memories, and we invite all who knew Tony—whether as a musician, teacher, artist, friend, or family—to share their stories. It is always wonderful to hear how he touched the lives of others.
Tony, Dad, Grandad—you gave us music, laughter, and love. You will be deeply missed, but your legacy will live on in every chord played, every brushstroke made, and every smile shared.
Rest in peace.
Gallery
Memory wall
My Heart goes out to you and the family today on the sad news of Tony’s passing. I have such lovely memories that we shared all together with you both. Toney was such a genuine, lovely person who had a heart of gold and kindness which has always stayed with me
My love and thoughts are with you and your family at this sad time.
You had your own way at looking at life, which was quite unique and so often you would put a different perspective on things.
You gave us space to be creative, with plenty of paper, pens, paint and unorganised free time. Painted walls in the garden for chalk. Zip wires, hand built treehouses, slides…. And a house full of music and instruments, and home-brew! Which was perfected.
So much music will lead me to you, evenings by the fire, talking us through various albums and looking at all the artwork on the covers as we listened. You were light hearted and often found humour in life.
I hold very fond memories of the cheddar blues band, and you had a good following.
They were days to be treasured. You helped many people onto there musical journey, and set up a recording studio in your shed to help them produce an album.
In your studio amongst the array of guitars, sat all your brushes and art equipment.
You had such natural talent more than you ‘d ever take credit for, a very gifted watercolour artist, like your self taught father.
You were such an artistic inspiration to me, and I loved our trips into bath to the art galleries. We would go at sunrise so you could take photos of the rising sun moving and changing across the landscape.
You were as passionate about Photography and art as music.
Another huge part of your life was DIY, You rearranged houses, putting your training as an interior designer into practice.
Always hatching ideas,
Moving the kitchen to the lounge,
Making my bedroom into a bathroom. Spiral handmade staircase. The conservatory that arrived in pieces, which took a summer to paint and put together.
Nothing was ever daunting you just got on with it or found a way to make it work.
You always said to think laterally which you often did,
I’m so glad you’re not in physical discomfort anymore, you were so brave, your stamina fighting cancer years ago and your positive attitude throughout and courage during these last years and particularly in the last 5 months.
With mum right by your side.
Now you’re ‘free as a bird’
On your ‘stairway to heaven’
I Love you so much, I trust you’ll find Henry up there and finish that genesis song ‘Horizon’ together. You will be so missed, and never far away from my thoughts, hope to see you in my dreams. I love you.
Rest well Dad ❤️
I remember the day I helped you and Ina move to Axbridge. We stopped at the White Hart and had a really good talk over lunch. It sticks in my memory as it was the first time I spoke to you my then father in law one to one. And it only stood to confirm what I by then knew. What a wonderful funny kind and jovial man you were. and ever since Lucy and I married you've been the best father in law I could have ever hoped for. I'm sure you'll keep a watch over everyone. I'll miss you always mate
Thankyou for the years of fun and laughter, you always knew how to make me laugh. Thankyou for being there, being your music library when you needed a certain song to teach a student all those years ago before you got the Apple computer, loving it 1 minute and hating it the next😂. Thankyou for all those rounds of badminton we played together going to Wells leasure Centre in your racing green MG. Thankyou for being kind and generous. Thankyou for doing the tea and biscuits in the morning before school and college. I get a lot of my personality from you. I miss you so much dad, if I could have just one big wish I would wish for you to be still here with us. I smile when I hear a song you used to play in your band, I smile when remembering the time when I had to rescue you from the pub, I found you right near one of the large speakers near the stage in the pub garden where a Beatles tribute band were playing you decided to stay, I danced with you until they finished, I've never forgotten that. I love you and miss you dad.
Rest in peace xx
Lucy xxx
You’ve done so much for us all as a family and achieved so much.
Thanks for all the weekends you patiently looked after us when we were kids, all the crunchy bars, walks with Ben and games you played with us. I’ll forever be in awe of your talent and creativity for turning an average house into a masterpiece (all on your own!) whilst also being the most amazing, naturally gifted artist, guitar player and all round musician. It was so lovely to grow up in such a musical and creative household. I used to love it when you’d come home from work and play a tune on the piano and not so much when you were playing your guitar and not answering my endless questions 😂
I’m so sad that I won’t get to experience these things with you again, but I hold the fondest of memories that I will never forget. You were such a hilarious and unique character and have given us more happiness and good times than you will ever know.
I love you so much and will be eternally grateful for having such an incredible Dad ❤️
Amsa
Xxx
Music has always been a big part of our lives & you have patiently taught many young & not so young to play the guitar.
I will always love you & be very proud of you especially how you coped uncomplainingly with your ill health.
Keep playing that guitar Tony & I’ll keep an eye on our 4 & our growing family & our Peggy, all my love forever
Ina xxxxxx
Thank you for filling my life with so many happy and funny memories - ones I find myself reflecting on every day. You gave us an endless supply of laughter, and I’m so grateful for that.
When I think back to my childhood, all I remember is laughing with you. Tickling me, cracking jokes, dancing around, doing silly voices and impressions - there was never a serious moment, life was just fun!
As I grew older, through my teens and into adulthood, you were always there, supporting me through every challenge. Now that I’m a parent myself, I truly appreciate the way you guided me - not with pressure or expectation, but with patience, wisdom, and love. You showed me how to find my own way while always making me feel secure and confident in myself. That’s not easy to do as a parent, but you got it just right.
Looking back, playing the drums in your Cheddar Blues Band at the White Hart is still one of the biggest highlights of my life. I felt so privileged that you let me be a part of it - you always had so much faith and belief in me, just as you did in everyone around you. It’s no surprise that so many of your guitar students remember you so fondly, you were patient, encouraging, and made learning feel easy and fun. I’m so grateful we had more regular jam sessions together this past year, and I promise I’ll keep practicing - hopefully, one day, I’ll manage a lead guitar solo even half as good as yours!
I’m incredibly proud of how you handled everything your body threw at you over the last ten years. I still can’t believe how much you had to battle through, but you faced it all with such strength and bravery -and barely complained, which is more than I could’ve managed! I miss you immensely, Dadsa, but I take comfort in knowing you can finally rest, without pain or worry. And I like to think you’re somewhere, playing your guitar as loud as ever.
Love you always,
xxx
Celebrate Tony's Life 🎸
