Anthony Onioriode Akpeki was born in London on 10 February 1961.He was the third child of Late Justice Patrick Akpeki and Mrs Veronica Akpeki . His older brothers were Patrick Joseph Akpeki and Gerard Akpeki. A lovely child, happy and playful he spent one of his early years with Chief Mrs and Chief Mr Anthony Igere. He remained close to the Igeres through his life. Later in life, Eddie Smith who married Christa Igere became a close companion.He was closely followed by his sister Teresa (Tesse) and brother, John . Other brothers followed, Emmanuel and a sister Mary another brother Martin and a sister Annemarie. From an early age Tony delighted his parents, uncles, aunties, cousins and friends with his humour, his wisdom, his insight, his laughter and his love for life. Forever a generous person he held nothing back as a child, a practice he continued into adulthood. At the age of five, Tony moved with his parents and siblings to Northern Ireland, Belfast.In 1966 he went to Nazareth Lodge where he was a solid and stabilising, loyal and dependable presence for his sisters Tesse and Mary and his brothers John and Emmanuel. In December 1971 he went with his siblings to Nigeria. He fell in love with Nigeria, a relationship which continued till his untimely death at the hands of a hit and run driver on 17 December 2020. Tony went to University of Benin, Abraka campus where he studied History. He loved teaching and enjoyed travelling round Nigeria with a drama club performing in universities.
In May 1988 he decided to come back to London to see what future he could create for himself. Ever the adventurer he arrived in London with no money other than the fare to get to Sudbury Town where he turned up on the door of Lawrence Onwufuju. Tony had never met Lawrence before, but it was friendship at first sight, and a life long relationship was formed. Lawrence took Tony in and introduced him to another friend Akpome Akpobaro. The three musketeers were solid in their support for each other and were inseparable as friends. After his arrival he ensured that his doting sister and brother Tesse and John joined him in London.
Tony, John and Tesse moved to London Road in 1989 and then moved to 11 Eton Avenue in Sudbury Town in 1992 Tony's love to serve made him join the Police and he trained in the Metropolitan Police Training School, Hendon as a special constable - a role he enjoyed before joining the Job Centre. .It was in 1993 he met and married Fiona and had his first son Darren Anthony and beloved daughter Kimberley. He was a loving dad to his two lovely children. In 2004 he met Ufuoma. He described the attraction as "love at first sight". They got married in 2006.. He moved from Bridge Meadow to Northumberland Heath and had two sons, Kevwe and Noel.
A family man, Tony was always keen to provide for his wife and children. He would do anything to be autonomous. He was keen to be self-employed. Tony took the biggest leap in life when he left the government service to start his own security business. Never a person to stray away from hard work , he took service as an honour and his clients as a treasure. He always said that " service was an honour and that hard work never killed anyone". The highlight of his life was ensuring that his family was ok. He doted on his mum and dad and took care of them till the day they died. He had an extraordinary bond with this parents -in -law, visiting all parents regularly to ensure they were ok. He always wanted to relocate to Nigeria, a plan he held till the day he died .He did not feel that London in his words ‘was a place for old bones’.
On 17 December 2020, the sad day that his life was cruelly cut short , he was working, serving the NHS with a smile on his face. He joked with the care home staff as he picked up the package and they remember the smiling man with dreadlocks who made them laugh. A happy man to the very end, he will be sorely missed. His has left a gap in the family, the world, in our community and in our lives. Daddy, Anthony (Tony) you had a big heart, you had a brilliant spirit, you were loving, caring and simply brilliant. We will always remember the flavour the joy, the light, the excellence you added to our lives. We will never forget you. Your legacy lives on in our hearts, our minds, the works of our hands and in our spirit. May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace.
