The Worcester Evening News, together with its readers, is trying to come to terms with the tragic loss of a good friend and colleague Tony Moore, the paper’s deputy sports editor.
Tony had worked for the Evening News for more than a decade, starting as a sports reporter after leaving The Bucks Herald. During that time he gained the respect of the county’s sporting fraternity.
A stickler for accuracy, fact, figures and punctuation, Tony soon became the department’s “memory man”.
“Who scored that goal for Hereford when they played Darlington in 1996, Tone?” You would get the answer in seconds – and with a few pertinent details added.
He was Mr Sporting Statistic – a rare talent and a great asset to the newspaper.
But there was more to Tony than reporting and editing. Well-respected by the editorial department as a whole, his name would be first on the list when it came to a staff “do” and a night out with his colleagues. He was one of boys; one of the bunch. And it was appreciated by all.
Over the years, Tony’s hard work, commitment and dedication to all things sporting meant that Worcestershire adopted him as one of their own.
When he was promoted to deputy sports editor and no longer had a responsibility to cover Worcester City FC, Tony continued to attend matches regularly and took on assisting roles at the club, becoming secretary of the supporters’ club. He had taken Worcester to his heart and Worcester had reciprocated.
Tony never forgot his Devonshire roots and his regular visits to Plymouth Argyle.
He also had a wicked and wry sense of humour, combined with his camaraderie and his fondness for dreadful puns that made the sometimes doom and gloom world of newspapers seem a lighter and better place.
In a world of teams, Tony was a true team player – ever reliable and almost ever present.
Our team has lost a great player – a star centre that we cannot replace.
From all your friends, contacts and colleagues in Worcestershire – thanks, Tone.
Stewart Gilbert, editor,Worcester Evening News
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