It has taken me a couple of days to be able to post about the heartbreaking news about Anthony Stewart Head, who passed away due to complications of pneumonia with his family by his side, just a few short months after his long term partner Sarah. He was 72 years old.

I am sure I am not alone in mourning the loss of this wonderful, talented, kind and compassionate man. I was fortunate enough to be able to meet him some years ago and he was nothing but genuine warmth and generosity. For many of us, in his role as Rupert Giles in Buffy, he was a father figure not only to the Scooby Gang but to us as well, or if you were bit older, something of a heartthrob. His work, alongside his partner Sarah, with resuced animals, including as an Ambassador for Battersea Dogs Home, showed his great compassion.

The messages from his cast and crew of Buffy, also speak of his laughter, kindness and generosity. He will be greatly and sadly missed and my thoughts are with his family, his friends, his fans, everyone who was touched by him either through his work or his homelife.

He leaves behind two wonderful daughters, Daisy and Emily and below is the statement they made on his passing:

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of our extraordinary father, Anthony Head.

“He passed away peacefully of complications due to pneumonia, surrounded by his family.

“It has been, and forever will be, an honour and a privilege to be his daughters, and to have witnessed first-hand the impact both he and his work have had on so many.

“We know how dearly he will be missed by friends, colleagues and fans of the shows he was in – he loved his job very much and he always considered himself incredibly lucky to have been able to work alongside such exceptionally talented people, in such wonderful productions, across a career that spanned severl decades.

“Our grief is far greater than the hole he has left behind but we know his legacy will love on in the shows he was a part of and in the audiences that love them.

“How lucky we are to know we are able to watch him doing what he loved, even when he is no longer with us.

“We kindly ask that our privacy is respected at this difficult time.”

Goodnight Tony, our Watcher always, Rest in Peace.