TONY CASE, the most charismatic man in town, has died at the age of 71. He was taken to hospital early on Thursday morning, suffering from a massive embolism, and within hours was declared dead.

It was a sad end for the twinkling personality with a limitless supply of funny stories, a keen eye for a practical joke and gifted with a deep-brown voice that could charm every woman and influence any man.

His hundreds of friends and business associates were stunned as the tragic news filtered throughout the district. Many were reduced to tears.

Tony, from Carr Mill Road, Billinge, never retired, even after turning 70. He had given up his own thriving estate agency some years earlier, then helped and guided the Hyland property business in North Road, St Helens.

He was also kept busy on his own drawing board, puffing away on his fag, whilst sketching out complex plans for new club and housing developments and for such lucrative projects as major barn conversions. He had actually begun his life as a young draughtsman.

Tony was one of the best known personalities in the region, a sturdy little figure with a ready smile and bespoke wig, willing to help anyone in difficulty. Give him the problem and he’d flick a few switches and turn a few knobs, normally achieving a happy solution.

He was no early bird. More a creature of the night. Ten in the evening was his idea of the time to go and hit the town, after his customary two hour nod on the settee at home. A few whiskies were then nicely in order.

It was a habit that I was too easily drawn into, with the usual dizzy 2am return home, head spinning after another of Casey’s liquid adventures. My wife was never too overjoyed to see him tip tapping on the front window at 10.30 at night and asking her: “can your Alan come out and play?” By that time I’d already been out “playing”!

The most mundane evening could explode into a big night as he crept up to the bar, acknowledging the hearty wave of recognition from his old chums. He was in tune with every celebration in town—the wedding parties, retirement dos, the opening of a new pub, the golden wedding anniversaries. And all of these produced a good natured open-door welcome for Tony and his chums.

Tony made friends wherever he went. He was at the flag-waving closure of Burtonwood’s American air base, among all the well-heeled dignitaries and among the gleam of Mayoral golden chains. Move the clock forward and Tony was arranging a photo session with the press photographers in the base bar. He had one arm around the neat waist of the military top man’s fragrant wife. Two more entries on his friendship list.

Tony was a rare guy. Generous to a fault, always sympathetic and willing to go the extra mile for any of his friends, whether he be a leading businessman or a labourer from the local farm.

Tony’s funeral takes place at noon on Friday, October 21, at Birchley St Mary’s, Billinge.