[Jayne Osborn]

I'm very, very sad to announce that David Anthony died on 6th March.

He was a wonderful poet, a real gentleman and a truly lovely friend.

Condolences to David's family. He will be greatly missed.

Jayne

[Maryann Corbett]

Hearing this news today, I'm remembering with gratitude the encouragement David gave here to my earliest attempts at poetry. This would be a good time to call to mind David's own poems. Some of them are here:

http://www.thehypertexts.com/David_G...icture_Bio.htm

[Jayne Osborn]

It's Mother's Day here in the UK tomorrow (also known as Mothering Sunday).

I've always loved David's poignant triolet:

Mother's Day

I hold the phone, remembering—
no need to call today.
Routine's my raft, and as I cling
I hold the phone, remembering
a loss. It is a cruel thing,
this trick the mind can play.
I hold the phone, remembering.
No need to call today.

David and I went to West Chester together in 2012, and were upgraded at Heathrow Airport to 1st class (thanks to David's daughter Jane). What an experience that was; pure luxury!

David absolutely adored his Chocolate Labradors. They will miss him too, along with all the family and everyone who knew him. Such a sad loss.

Jayne

[Susan McLean]

What a delightful man, and what a loss! I knew him from West Chester and from Eratosphere, and I always loved his warm, funny, and moving poems. Once, when John and I were staying at Cambridge, we met up with him and Julie Kane at a reading she was attending there as the winner of a poetry prize. He took us all out to dinner, and it was lovely to chat with him and get to know him better. I have not seen him online much in years, and I was wondering how things were with him. I had always hoped to visit with him again. He will be much missed.

Susan

[Roger Slater]

Very sad news indeed.

Years ago, when I was just starting to write children's poetry, I received a book in the mail that I wasn't expecting. It turned out to be an anthology of children's poetry that David had happened across in a used bookstore. He saw it, thought of me, and sent it, for no other reason than to be nice. May he rest in peace, and may his memory be for a blessing.

[E. Shaun Russell]

Oh dear. Sorry to hear this. I always greatly appreciated David, and the poem Jayne posted above hit me like a ton of bricks when he first posted it -- so much so that he thought I was mocking him with my sincere praise! He was an institution here at the 'Sphere, and he will be missed.

[Michael Cantor]

Damm. Another one gone. David and I met on the Sphere, and subsequently at West Chester, and bonded over our similar non-poetical careers (corporate and finance) and totally opposed politics. We were an easy target for each other, and enjoyed it. He was a fine poet, and a gentleman.

[Brian Allgar]

I'm deeply sorry to hear that. I always enjoyed his poems and his posts, even if, like Michael, I didn't share his politics. He will be greatly missed.

[R. S. Gwynn]

David was able to come to a memorable dinner in London some years ago. The guests were Robert and Liddie Conquest, Wendy Cope and Lachlan MacKinnon, and my wife and I. David was a generous person and a fine poet.

[Mary McLean]

Very sad news. He was always kind and encouraging to me and I enjoyed his poetry very much. I was lucky enough to get to meet up with him a few times, including at home with Brigid and the lovely chocolate labs. I'll miss him a lot.