We have learnt of the death of Antonio Gomez, aged little more than 60. He died last Friday, April 3 in the Rye Memorial Hospital, having suffered with cancer. Better known as Antony, he kept the Tiny Book Store, near the south door of St Mary’s church. It was a treasure trove of second-hand books, thousands of them crammed into a tiny space.
Antonio was born in London, and went to school in Highgate. He came to live in Rye about 15 years ago, after working in Liverpool and Hastings, where he was employed by Robert Muchi, bookseller and antiquarian in the Old Town. In Rye, he sold second-hand books at the top of Lion Street, before setting up his own business at the Tiny Book Store in Church Square.
Apart from his love of books, Antonio was an accomplished photographer and artist. He made and sold Box Art, three dimensional objects of interest illuminated and set as a scene behind glass. He had an interest in steam trains from the 1950s and was very fond of his pet dogs.
He was generally quite reserved, a private person, much loved by his friends. Our condolences go to his wife Külli and his son Thomas.
The funeral will take place at the Hastings Crematorium on Thursday April 22 at 2.45pm.
Image Credits: Kenneth Bird .
I popped into the shop before the Christmas lockdown and he was just lovely to me and my friend. I could have stayed there all day browsing the books and he was very chatty to my bookworm friend. Very sorry to hear the news.
First Met Antonio on a 100/101 bus from Hastings to Rye in the summer of 2018. Got chatting and soon found out we had Chelsea Football Club in common. We met again when both on our travels to and from Rye.
Always a pleasure to talk with, and set the world to right.
(Although the type of World we variously agreed on may not have suited everyone !)
Time spent with Antonio was time very well spent.
One World
One Love
Pat Barrett
Such sad news, Anthony was a lovely man, always good company. Thoughts with Külli, Thomas and all who knew him.
Thank you Kenneth Bird for this news item. Lovely to read some of the comments. Anthony will be greatly missed by us all.
His friend Barry, Liverpool.
Antonio was my half brother. I had learned about him in 2019, and we had only been talking for 2 years. When I was told he had died, I was told it was April 2nd. Good to know it was the 3rd. I miss talking to him, I miss his smile and laugh (we used to talk through Skype). Our younger brother died 2 months before. His name was Anthony as well. I just happened on this, trying to learn more. Thank you for the information.
While there on holiday, my girlfriend & I spent the best part of an hour chatting with Antonio in his shop in July of 2019. He was sly, witty, eloquent, charming…a real character. We left with a small watercolor of one of the town gates along with a postcard that he had signed for us (which has been prominently displayed in our kitchen ever since).
Cut to last week. We were back in Rye, and after unsuccessfully trying to find his shop we found out what had happened from the owner of the store next to his. Though we had spent less than an hour with him, the news hit me harder than expected. I had so been looking forward to speaking with him again. Am very thankful we have that little painting and the postcard to remember him by. Our deepest condolences to his family.