Tributes paid to 'devout catholic' and 'gifted oncologist' (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Neighbours pay tribute to Hale's 'gifted oncologist'

12:21pm Wednesday 13th February 2013 in News By Barbara Jordan

NEIGHBOURS paid tribute to Hale village surgeon Anthony Owen at his inquest in Warrington yesterday.

They described him as a ‘devout Catholic’ and ‘gifted oncologist’.

Bachelor Mr Owen, aged 68, was semi-retired and had worked at hospitals in Manchester, Leeds and Wrexham.

He was working part-time at Wrexham Maelor Hospital when he died in March, last year.

He had a private pilot’s licence and was a keen motoring enthusiast.

Hours before he was fatally attacked near his home in Hale Road, he had been cleaning his cars, a silver Mercedes, maroon Jaguar and white Honda Civic.

Neighbours David and Joan Baker, who have lived in Hale for 40 years, said in a statement read out at the inquest: “We had been become close friends with Mr Owen.

“He never married but had a number of girlfriends.

“He devoted most of his time to caring for his mother and was renovating it.”

Mr Baker said: “He had a girlfriend called Gilllian, the only one we met. We assumed it would be their home at some time.”

The property had been empty for many years, he said, and often attracted vandals.

Mr Owen was constantly checking the house and on one occasion, had discovered youths damaging the property.

Neighbours Peter Teebay and his wife, June, had been friends with Mr Owen’s family since the 1960s.

They had seen Mr Owen, the eldest son, go to medical school and qualify as a surgeon.

In a statement, they told the inquest: “We were good friends with his family. They used to attend social functions at our house.”

Mr Owen’s brother, Eoghan, from Sussex, said his brother, Anthony, was still grieving for his mother, Ann, who died four years ago.

He told the inquest: “I don’t think my brother ever came to terms with her passing.”