Hero of the Month: Sgt Antony Reynolds (1977 – 2018)
Sgt Antony Reynolds was a devoted father and experienced soldier in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, where he served as a helicopter technician for over two decades.
During this time, he completed operational tours of Kosovo, Bosnia and multiple tours of Northern Ireland and Afghanistan.
On the first 1st of July 2018, Antony died by suicide. He was 41 years old.
His children, Molly, Emily and Isabelle were fourteen, seven and five.
Sgt Antony Reynolds
“Antony was very much a hands-on dad,” says Sarah, Antony’s partner. “He worshipped the children and was completely dedicated to them. He absolutely loved being with the kids whenever he could, and although we had separated when he died, we remained best mates and he was always a huge part of the girls’ lives. They are all so proud of him and everything he accomplished.”
When not on duty or spending time with his children, Antony could be found enjoying his two favourite passions: running and photography.
Molly, Emily and Isabelle Reynolds
“Photography had been a serious hobby of his for a long time – he was quite particular in the way he liked to do things, and I think photography really appealed to that side of him. Finding the perfect position, lining up a shot, getting everything just right. Before she went to university, our eldest daughter, Molly, had a whole wall in her bedroom full of pictures he’d taken. It’s a really nice way to remember him.”
Sarah continues: “Running was his main way of keeping fit. He ran the Manchester Marathon with my brother-in-law and did quite a few half-marathons in his time as well. Our middle child, Emily, used to love running with him. They completed a local 2K challenge together when she was only six years old. She’s still very sporty to this day, which she gets from him!”
Emily and Antony moments after completing a 2K run together
Antony first attempted to join the military as soon as he left school, but was asked to come back once he had put on some weight. He ultimately joined the Army at age 19.
“He had been very skinny growing up. We sometimes joke that he was the only person that went to Afghanistan and came home heavier!”
The structure of military life immediately appealed to Antony and he quickly excelled. Maintaining the military connection their dad gave them is massively important to the girls, who grew up as British Forces children.
“Keeping a military connection is so important to us. Especially Molly, who’s now 19. She moved around a lot as a child and remembers saying goodbye to her dad whenever he went off on tour, the feeling when he finally came home again after months away, and sending lots of letters and parcels to him in the time between. All that stuff was a really pivotal part of her childhood and we still live in the town where he was last posted.”
Molly holding a photo of her dad
Antony had a profound impact on the children, and it’s clear to Sarah how they have all taken after him.
“Molly was Antony’s little sidekick. They were practically glued together when she was growing up and she has so many memories of them doing things together and having fun. One of her favourite memories is when Antony and the girls all went geocaching together – they had to pull up on the side of the road and carefully clamber across a long log leading over a pond. Emily is now 13 and very artistic and sporty, just like her dad. Our youngest, Isabelle, is 11 and looks the most like him. She also wants to join the RAF as a pilot. She gets her love of aviation from her dad, since he was a helicopter technician.”
Molly, Isabelle and Antony at a local Remembrance service
The girls think about Antony every day and all like to remember him in different ways. However, there’s one special tradition they all share.
“Every year, on his birthday, we get a Colin the Caterpillar cake. We got him one every year when he was still with us and it’s just a nice little way to remember and celebrate him.”
Since joining Scotty’s in 2018, Molly, Emily and Isabelle have benefitted from Scotty Breaks, grants, group events and the option to access one-to-one bereavement support. Through these opportunities, they have been able to meet lots of bereaved military children who can understand and relate to what they’ve been through.
Molly, Emily and Isabelle holding Scotty's wreath at the London Remembrance Parade
“We love the Scotty Breaks, especially staying at Scotty’s Lodge in Northumberland. The girls love being by the beach and exploring outside, which they get from their dad. We’ve been with Antony’s parents on a couple of occasions too, and we always have the best time.”
Sarah continues:
“Scotty’s feels like part of our family. They’ve been there for us from the very beginning and are so important to the girls. We’ve all made great friends through the charity and it’s so reassuring to know there’s always a team of people who are there to support you on the other end of the phone. Scotty’s is one big comfort blanket.”
Molly, Emily and Isabelle with some of Scotty's Members and the charity's founder, Nikki, outside 10 Downing Street
