THE community of Hyde is set to honour the late, great cartoonist Tony Husband with an exhibition and charity auction.
Taking place from May 15 – 18 at the Joshua Bradley (Bluebell Suite) in Gee Cross, the event will showcase 21 of Husband’s original canvases -artworks he had intended to exhibit at POP, the Hyde-based creative hub he supported from its inception.
Tony Husband, who passed away in October 2023 at the age of 73, was a beloved figure in British satire.
Best known for his long running “Yobs” strip in Private Eye, his work also graced the pages of The Times, The Spectator, and Playboy.
He co-created the anarchic children’s comic Oink! and co-wrote the cult TV series Round the Bend. His cartoons, often laced with dark humour and sharp social commentary, captured the quirks of British life with wit.
Husband, who lived in Hyde, suddenly passed away from a heart attack on Westminster Bridge in 2023. He was en route to a Private Eye party. His final cartoon, drawn on the train that day, poignantly depicted himself waving at a departing boat.
In the wake of his passing, his wife Carole and son Paul made the generous decision to donate the planned exhibition’s canvases to POP to ensure that Tony’s legacy continued to inspire and support the community he cherished.
As Paul noted, “My dad was passionate about popular culture, about Hyde and about the vulnerable. POP does its very best for all those.”
The exhibition will be held in the Bamford Suite at The Joshua Bradley on May 16, followed by a charity auction in the Bluebell Suite on Sunday, May 18 at 1:30pm. Comedian Justin Moorhouse, a friend of the family, will serve as auctioneer.
All proceeds will go directly to POP, enabling the organisation to continue its vital creative sessions for people of all ages in Hyde. Lottie and the team at The Joshua Bradley have kindly provided the venue free of charge, making this tribute possible.