Popular taxi man dies on the M25
anthony willard, taxi driver from bexhill killed on A259
BEXHILL’s taxi drivers were mourning the loss of one of their own this week after a popular and well-respected local cabbie died in an accident on the M25.
Anthony Willard (pictured), 50, who was employed by Town Taxis, in Station Road, was returning to Sussex from Heathrow Airport, West London, when his white Skoda Superb taxi and a silver Volkswagen Golf were in collision just after 7am on Monday.
The crash, between junction 11 at Chertsey and junction 10 at Wisley, led to the motorway being closed in both directions during the morning rush-hour to allow an air ambulance helicopter to land on the carriageway.
Paramedics fought to save Mr Willard, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. He had been alone at the time, having dropped off his passenger at the airport to catch an early flight.
Stuart Robertson, proprietor of Town Taxis, said: “From what I’ve heard, it may be that Anthony was taken ill at the wheel just before the accident.”
Clockwise lanes on the M25 were reopened shortly after 8am, but it was a full hour later before traffic was released anti-clockwise.
It meant severe delays for southbound traffic, with queues building up for several miles, all the way back to junction 15 for the M4.
Hastings-based taxi driver Chris Morgan was among those caught up in the jams as he, too, was making his way back to the coast from Heathrow. He said: “I’m a Bexhillian by birth and I got a terrible shock when I eventually drove by and saw a Rother taxi had been involved.
“It was clearly marked Town Taxis, and because of the long delays - I was held up for nearly two hours - I knew that something really bad must have happened.”
Tearful colleagues at the firm’s office were in shock as news of Mr Willard’s death sank in. Mr Robertson said: “It’s been a huge blow to everyone who knew Anthony, and clearly for his family, too.
“Anthony had been driving for Town Taxis for about five years, and was one of those larger-than-life characters, always full of jokes and stories to make you laugh.
“He was a member of Highwoods Golf Club and whenever he got the chance would sneak off for a quick round of golf. He was also keen on badminton, which he played at Bexhill leisure centre.
“Anthony was popular with both drivers and customers alike. Before he came here, he drove taxis for his cousin Gerald Saunders’s firm, GS Travel. His father was a taxi driver before him, so it’s in the family blood.”
Mr Robertson said he had been alerted to the crash by other local taxi drivers returning from Heathrow, and had spoken of his fears to his other drivers.
One had volunteered to call round to see if Anthony’s wife had heard anything from him, and Mr Robertson said: “Just as she drew up at their home in Windmill Drive, police arrived to confirm that Anthony had died. It’s an absolute tragedy.”
Mr Willard and his wife, Jo, had three young sons - Ajay, aged eight, and Leo and Ryan, who will be five and two respectively next month - and Mr Willard also had four older children from a previous relationship - Louise, Tyler, Adrian and Polly.
A keen Manchester United fan, he and Ajay had watched television together only the day before to see the team defeat local rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup competition.
Gerald Saunders said his cousin had been “a close friend as well as a relation”. They often played golf together and had enjoyed a golfing trip to Essex last June to celebrate Mr Willard’s 50th birthday.
Mr Saunders said: “Anthony loved his sport and was a talented darts, pool, snooker and five-a-side football player, too. He had a real competitive side to him.”
Among many others to recall Mr Willard with much love and affection were his sisters Shirley and Sandra, brother Roy, brothers-in-law Phillip and Billy, and sister-in-law, Lin.
Dave Dickens-Smith, chairman of the Rother District Taxi Drivers’ Association, paid tribute to Mr Willard on behalf of fellow drivers, and said: “I knew Anthony well. He was one of the nicest guys you could ever wish to meet, and always there if you were in trouble.”
A post mortem examination to determine the exact of Mr Willard’s death was due to be held today, Friday. Details of funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.
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Weather for Bexhill-on-Sea
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South west
