Grieving family releases tribute to ‘kind, loving’ Tony

Tony Brightwell, 53, from Hove, held a pilot license and regularly attended Shoreham airfield to watch planes land and take off.

On the day of the accident, Tony, a health care manager for Sussex Partnership NHS and Brighton and Hove City Council, was indulging his passion of watching planes and cycling and was very excited about seeing one of the last flights of the Vulcan bomber.

His fiancée Lara said: “He was the love of my life, my soul mate and I am devastated that our plans of a life in the sun in a few years time won’t now happen. He was a kind, loving man who always helped others and just enjoyed spending time with family and friends over a bottle of red wine. I watched him cycle off into the sun on his treasured ridgeback bike to watch the air show at Shoreham for a couple of hours, but he never came home.”

A statement issued at the request of his family said: “Tony had a real admiration of Second World War pilots and the huge, terrifying responsibilities that men and women faced.

He loved food and cooking - he regularly cooked Thai green curry, Spanish baked risotto and paella - and loved Indian takeaways, chicken tikka pathia being his favourite dish.

He leaves behind a heartbroken family - fiancée Lara, daughter Gemma, sister Judy, nephew Adam, parents Barbara and Ernie, best friend Andy and a large extended family, friends and colleagues. Forever in our hearts our darling bike warrior.

We thank everyone who has sent their love, condolences and prayers and while we appreciate that many others will be experiencing similar unspeakable grief in such tragic and public circumstances, that we now be allowed to grieve ourselves in private and in peace.”

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