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Gemma Fox with her brother, Paul |
Singer pays tribute to her amazing dad, Wally
SINGER Gemma Fox has paid tribute to her father Wally – one of Gospel Oak’s best-known faces – after he passed away on Monday.
She told the New Journal yesterday (Wednesday) how she took part with her daughter, Tyra, in a five-kilometre
sponsored run through Regent’s Park on Sunday to raise funds for the cancer charity Cancer Research UK.
Just 24 hours later her father died from the disease in the Royal Free Hospital, in Hampstead.
Gemma said: “I did my run for cancer research and then went straight to the hospital for his blessing, which was beautiful. I had time to tell him I was thankful for everything that he has done for me.”
Mr Fox, a popular bus driver and champion darts player, worked on the number 24 bus from South End Green to Pimlico for 30 years. He was well known and greatly respected in Gospel Oak.
Born in Weedington Road, he went to Carlton Primary School and worked all his life in the area. He was treated for his illness at the Royal Free Hospital and his family paid tribute to the staff.
His wife Pat said: “He got fantastic care. It was second to none – we just don’t know how to thank the doctors enough.”
Wally, 67, used to throw darts at the Mitre Pub in Kentish Town and won a series of trophies.
Gemma said he was surrounded by his loved ones as doctors told the family they could do more to help him.
She added on her web page: “I know you never knew my dad, but take my word for it he was the most amazing, caring, loving, giving happy, unselfish man in the whole world. He would do anything for me and his family, he would take me anywhere at any time.
His son Paul spoke of how Wally, a dedicated Arsenal fan, fought his illness for nearly 13 years.
He said: “The way he dealt with his illness was so brave.”
– See next week’s New Journal for a full obituary of Wally Fox. |
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