TRIBUTES have been paid to a "true legend" who led an initiative to help families cook healthy and affordable meals.

Former teacher, designer and restaurateur Tony Gibbons, who was most recognised as the founder of the Friendly Food Club, died last month.

The death of 82-year-old Tony was unexpected and a shock to all who knew him.

Tony, who lived in West Dorset, set up the now Bournemouth-based Friendly Food Club to improve the confidence and diet of struggling families through fun and free cookery workshops in local community centres.

He was known across many voluntary organisations in Dorset and in 2020 was awarded a National Lottery Award for Education in 2020 for his Cookbox deliveries to over 4,500 households during the coronavirus pandemic.

Sally Brown, a Friendly Food Club team member who worked closely with Tony for many years, said: "Tony was a true legend – our boss, our mentor, our hero and our friend.

Bournemouth Echo:

"He was passionate and inspirational in the Friendly Food Club’s vision to make a difference to peoples’ lives, relentless in his pursuit of funding in order to achieve this and genuinely happy to see people enjoying cooking and eating together in our workshops.

"His food-crusading legacy lives on through the Friendly Food Club.”

Pre-Covid the organisation provided holiday workshops for Pupil Premium families where people came together to cook and eat a free lunch and talk to each other.

Since the pandemic, the team provided Cookboxes with the ingredients, recipes, and a 'how to do it' video encouraging families to cook together in their own kitchen and post the results on social media, building a Cookbox community spanning different vulnerable communities across the conurbation.

Those who knew Tony said his passion and drive to help those less fortunate and bring people together through food and cooking was endless and selfless.

The Friendly Food Club team have vowed to carry on to Tony’s work to ensure that his legacy will live on.

His funeral was due to take place on Friday, March 18, at Harbour View Burial Ground, Lytchett Minster. Donations can be made to the Friendly Food Club via gofund.me/db6b212a.

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