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Anthony was born 11th December 1941 in Whitminster, Gloucestershire, during the height of the Second World War, the second child of Kenneth and Olive.
Educated at The Abbey preparatory school in London and then in 1954 he moved to Lancing college. Anthony thrived on life at school where, in addition to his academic endeavours, he developed his love of all sports, in particular cricket. He joint-captained the 2nd XI at Lancing and also subsequently played for Hertford. He often recounted stories of his time at the school to his family and looked back with fondness on these formative years.
On leaving Lancing, Anthony trained as an accountant at a London firm. After 18 months, and on realising, he was on the wrong career path, he enrolled at the national bakery school for the following 2 years with the intention of joining the family business, GJ Pearce Ltd. After leaving the National Bakery school he went to Germany for 6 months to work for the continental bakery, Heinemanns.
Eighteen months after his return from Germany, Anthony married Mary Mantle at Brompton Trinity Church behind the Brompton Oratory and he joined the family company. They initially set up home together in Ongar, Essex before, in 1972, moving to their eventual family home with their two sons in Anstey, Hertfordshire.
In the years that followed, the business was to flourish under his stewardship and at its peak the business consisted of 25 of its own retail outlets as well as supplying national supermarket chains.
He was fully invested in the baking industry and as well as the family business also held directorships of Associated Family Bakeries and The London Bakers Buying Association. And further gave his time as Director of the National association of Master Bakers and held office for a year as the President of London Associations of Bakers. He was also a member of the Worshipful Company of Bakers.
Anthony retired in 2005 and focused on his family, on travelling the world with Mary, as well as pursuing his love of golf, and the passion he had for his garden, which remained his favourite pastime throughout his life.
Anthony is survived by his wife, Mary, his sons, Nicholas and Jeremy and grandchildren, Bethany, Imogen, Luke, Harry, and Jamie.
Jeremy Pearce