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Anthony Hughes was a friendly and popular schoolmate, active in sports and successful academically. He decided not to attend university but instead entered a banking career. Anthony married Patricia Smallwood in Escourt about 1969, and they had two children. The marriage ended in divorce, and Anthony entered a second marriage with Ann Bremner in 1985, which also led to divorce.
Antony left banking in order to pursue more lucrative interests, but his various business ventures ended in failure. Anthony fell on hard times, compounded by severe alcoholism. Friends tried to help him but to little avail, and he died destitute in late 2010. His daughter Amanda lives in New Zealand, and his son Dale lives near Durban.
Please see classmates' words about Anthony below.
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Richard Bell
Anthony Pearse Hughes was born on 11 December 1943, in Durban. His brother, Reginald John Hughes, was born in 1945 & wrote matric at DHS in 1963. Sadly, John succumbed to cancer in 2010. Swimming prowess must have been in the Hughes genes, because John, like Anthony, was a strong swimmer & was awarded half-colours for swimming .
Anthony attended Addington Primary School. At DHS Anthony was a proficient cricketer & bowled for the Second Eleven. He played several times for the First. He was a member of the Pirates Life-Saving Club, based at the Country Club Beach. Dave Guy has mentioned the shennanigans perpetrated by himself & Anthony during those years ! Anthony's parents lived in Morningside, within easy striking distance of the ocean. His father, Reginald, was a DHS Old Boy.
I remember Anthony as a tall, good-looking boy, who seemed happy with life & always had a smile & a cheery word for his class-mates. I never saw him bad-tempered or sullen. Academically, Ant was a diligent worker, well-liked by his teachers. Anthony was awarded half-colours for cricket.
Anthony showed no interest in pursuing a tertiary education. He worked for Lever Brothers & then the bank, attaining the status of branch manager. After resigning from the bank, Anthony was involved with a pyramid scheme, which proved financially disastrous for him. A sports shop enterprise also failed. Various jobs followed, but by then Anthony was an alcoholic. His marriages & eventual demise have been described elsewhere. Anthony died in late 2010.
Much of the above information was provided by Anthony's cousin, David Lewis Telfer, who showed a lifelong interest in Anthony & John & often reported to me on their fortunes. David supported Anthony financially during his decline, to no avail. I must pay tribute to Dave's generosity & kindness towards Anthony. Well done, David.
Anthony was a good person whose life spun out of control. May you Rest in Peace, Anthony. You will always be fondly remembered by all who knew you.