It is with great sadness that we have to pass on the news that our colleague and friend Tony Browne passed away in the evening on Saturday 17 February.

Tony worked front of house as an attendant and Head Usher at ENO from 2007 until 2017 and had still been popping into the Coliseum to visit us regularly until only a few weeks ago.

He was an incredibly optimistic and enthusiastic character much loved by colleagues, theatre friends and visitors alike. Tony’s love of ENO was obvious to all and he had a seemingly encyclopaedic knowledge of the London Coliseum’s history. When he wasn’t working at the ENO, he could regularly be found in cinemas throughout the capital catching all of the latest releases as well as re-visiting some of his favourite classics. He had an incredible knowledge and love of film which came from his early days running the Curzon Cinema in Chelsea and could always be relied upon to fill in any gaps in our cinematic knowledge!

It was only recently that his illness came to light while he was working at the Victoria Palace, and he passed away surrounded by friends.

I think that we can speak on behalf of all his colleagues, Friends of ENO and patrons to say that we feel very privileged to have known Tony and that he will be deeply missed. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his friends and family.