Book of Remembrance

In Memory of Ann Richardson 1955 - 2006

It's been quite some time since I last saw Annie, and I'm ashamed to say that I had
rather relied on the knowledge that Trevor was always there for her as an excuse
for never quite getting around to making a visit myself.

When I saw her last, Annie was not looking well. Her health always troubled me greatly
and in recent years my response to this was to stay away rather than draw
closer to her. Now, if I have any regrets it is that I kept myself away.

I moved about a year ago and did not pass on my new number to Trevor,
as I intended, but recently this was playing on my mind so I resolved to give him a call.
Before I could do this I received a message that he was trying to contact me, and at
that moment I knew I was going to face some sad news that would affect me
deeply, what ever it might be. And it turned out to be the worst news of all.

My first recollection of Annie is of meeting and talking with her one dusky
evening on a 137 bus from Chelsea to Clapham Common in the early 1980's.
She would have been on her way home from Chelsea School of Art. I had already left Chelsea
but I was still around and I think that she had seen my films.Very soon after our first real
encounter on the bus she rescued me from the place where I was living
and we set up a very ramshackle and impoverished home together.

The prevailing and overwhelming odour of our humble home was that of
white spirit from Annie's painting, the room doubling as living and studio space,
and when combined with the ever burning gas hobs this produces a truly disgusting stench.
Nevertheless, our discovery of tin toys and a penchant for teddy bears of the Germanic
variety meant that this space was soon trebling as living, studio and display room for our
burgeoning collection of toys, bears and other artefacts and later on film equipment.

By 1986 we had been commissioned to produce or direct a small number of
corporate videos and music promos. The largest of these which we produced, designed
and directed was for The Monochrome Set's song 'Jacob's ladder'. This was made for WEA Records
one of the largest record companies in the world, but not having a telephone we did the business
from the public phones in Clapham Common tube station.
There were no mobiles in those days, folks!

Soon after these wonderful crazy days our journeys took us on progressively
differing paths, but in the early days we still remained very close companions
until life intervened and our interwoven threads gradually unravelled once more.

Annie was never far from my thoughts during the times when I did not see her,
she was an extraordinary person, full of love and compassion with an incredible intellect
which left me in the shade. She struggled long and ferociously with many problems that life had
brought her but which she never allowed to entirely overwhelm her. I know that what she has had to endure
in the last few years will have certainly broken her heart, if not her will,
but sadly, I am certain that you can die from a broken heart.

I will never forget her. She will not be forgotten while we remember her.
With love Tony.