A father who built a new life with his daughter in Canada after they were reunited through the Watford Observer following more than 30 years apart has died.

Tony Ashby, who was originally from Bushey, had almost 19 years with his daughter Karen Perrin after she wrote a letter to this newspaper hoping to trace her father.

They re-established contact in 2002 and in July 2004 Tony moved to Canada to be near his new-found family after selling his flat, enabling them to be together permanently after being separated for so many years.

Born in Bushey in November 1944, Antony Michael Ashby, was the son of Frederick and Ada. He went on to study psychiatric nursing, which gave him a career of more than 30 years.

Tony also enjoyed travelling widely throughout England, Europe and the Mediterranean region during his life.

Karen was born in Shrodells Hospital, which became Watford General Hospital, but her parents split up shortly after and she went to live with her maternal grandparents.

At the age of eight, Karen moved to Canada in 1974 with her mother and her new husband.

She knew very little about her father and searched extensively for him over the years, but the internet and other sources proved fruitless.

In 2002 though, family friend Grace Burton sent Karen a copy of the Watford Observer’s nostalgia page and suggested she submit a letter.

This was published in March and it paid off. Karen received a host of emails from people who knew her father, while Tony was contacted via a person who had called his brother in Ireland to ask if he had seen the letter.

A cutting of the interview Karen and Tony did with the Watford Observer in 2004 shortly before he moved to Canada

A cutting of the interview Karen and Tony did with the Watford Observer in 2004 shortly before he moved to Canada

Tony immediately bought a copy and drove to the Watford Observer’s office, admitting in an interview in 2004 that he didn’t know how to send an email. A reporter helped him and that was how contact with Karen was first made.

Tony travelled to Vancouver that summer to meet his daughter, the connection was instant and two years later after receiving his visa he moved to Langley City to live with Karen, her husband Gordon and daughter Ashley. They enjoyed long walks, cycling, swimming, camping and catching up after all the years they had been apart.

This new life also saw Tony meet Jenny, whose Chinese name is Jie Lu. They married, made a life together in Langley and Burnaby and enjoyed travelling on cruises and bus trips.

An avid book reader, Tony was a keen darts player and was disappointed when the coronavirus restrictions meant that had to stop. He also used to meet his cousin Richard for a weekly drink and catch up at a local pub.

Tony Ashby died on February 16 at the age of 76. He is survived by wife Jenny, daughter Karen, her husband Gordon, granddaughter Ashley, her husband Tim, and great grandsons Nathan and Payton.