Many in Phuket are in shock today following the untimely death of well-loved expat, Tony Kelsey-Stead, late on Monday. Actor, musician, deejay and writer, Tony had touched the lives of many on the island.

A former contributor and editor at the Phuket Post and renowned for launching the acting troupe, The Andaman Players (TAP), Tony, just 58, returned to England earlier this year to undergo chemo-therapy for Acute Adult Myeloid Leukaemia at London?s University College Hospital.

Complications arose from an infection and pneumonia, and he was moved to the hospital?s ICU on Wednesday. Sedated and sleeping, Tony passed away at 3pm UK time on Monday. His brother was with him at the end.

Tony was last seen on stage in the annual Green Man pantomime this past Christmas, where he delighted dozens of children and their parents with his performance as Widow Twanky in The Andaman Players production of Sinbad the Sea Gypsy.

TAP, currently in rehearsal for a show at Mom Tri?s Villa Royale, this Friday, have been left staggered by Tony?s death. Up to the very end, Tony had been an active contributor to rehearsals for ?Love is a 4 Letter Word?, even tuning into TAP gatherings via Skype from his hospital bed just a week ago.

?I know for a fact that Tony would have wanted the show to go on,? TAP member Baz Daniel said.

Other TAP members shared the sentiment and also expressed their sadness for the tragic news. ?I only met Tony very recently, but his love of theatre and also of the Andaman Players was enormous and infectious,? said Ben Dudley-Foster, a new recruit to the Players.

Tony was also an enthusiastic musician having gigged in the UK as a drummer and had appeared on stage in Phuket with many local bands, including at last year?s Blues Rock Festival. Fellow muso and band-mate Tony Chainsaw Wilson said it had been ?a privilege and an honour to have shared the stage with [Tony] on many occasions.

Well-known on the airwaves for his Sunday Timewarp show on 91.5FM, Tony?s fellow deejays were equally stunned by the news. ??his passion for music was, to say the least ?energetic?? DJ Doris said in a message to the radio station?s fans, saying that he had ?often seen [Tony] playing his air guitar/drums in the studio!... A great guy who will be missed. Always the life and soul of the party was Tony.?