Tony Cornell – who worked at the Romford and Ilford Recorder for 25 years – died of a heart attack on March 22, aged 76.
His daughter Alison Handley recalls how the Recorder was his “heart and soul” and a “massive part” of their family history.
Tony would drop her off at school on the way to the office in Ilford, Alison said, and she even visited the Romford office when Tony was general manager.
Tony at his desk in the old Romford Recorder office (Image: Alison Handley)
“I remember when I was really small going to visit him at the office along from the Market Place in Romford,” Alison told the Recorder.
“I just remember the smell of that office – it smelled like newspaper.
“We’ve got photos of me and my sister, taken by one of the photographers at the Recorder, sat in my dad’s chair at his desk.
“He really loved the Recorder – it was his heart and soul.”
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Tony started out in advertising sales in the late 1970s and eventually worked his way up to general manager in the early 1980s.
He knew “so many” people in the area, Alison said, and was “admired” by his colleagues.
Former colleague Paul Gibson called him “THE Romford guy”, with a reputation for being “warm and funny” that preceded him.
Describing when he first met Tony in 1986, Paul said he was “suited and booted, [with a] loud tie and a gentle but enthusiastic laugh”.
“I immediately admired him and wanted to be like him,” Paul said.
“Tony was steady, in control and thoughtful. And so friendly.
“Nothing happened at the papers without his knowledge and influence.
“I was in awe of his ease and expertise – I wanted to be like him.”
Outside of his work, Tony was sporty and had a passion for fishing, golf and music – and had a “brilliant brain”, according to his daughter.
Growing up in Leyton, he played a lot of football in his youth, even trying out for Leyton Orient as a goalkeeper.
He moved from Leytonstone to Romford in the 1980s with his wife Jan, and they now have five grandchildren who are “very sporty, like him”, Alison said.
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Tony was also a member of Romford Golf Club for 50 years, and was in a band called the Par 5s, inspired by his love of golf.
“At Romford Golf Club when he passed away they did a minute’s clapping for dad instead of a minute’s silence because they felt like it was more appropriate for him,” Alison told the Recorder.
Tony’s main golf partner, Steve Baker, called him the “best friend someone could ever have” and said he brought people together with his humour.
