Anthony Head, known for his role in Ted Lasso, was deeply saddened by the unexpected death of his partner, Sarah Fisher, who passed away shortly before Christmas after nearly 40 years together.
The couple’s daughters, Daisy and Emily, spoke for the family, saying their mother’s death at 61 was a complete shock and happened very suddenly.
The sisters, both well-known actresses, paid tribute to their mother, describing her as an extraordinary, kind, and talented woman. They shared that they were incredibly proud of the positive impact she had on countless lives and the wonderful legacy she leaves behind.
They were largely speaking about the work their mother did as an animal welfare advocate. The Daily Mail recently reported that she passed away from a rare and fast-moving type of thyroid cancer.
Alongside her husband’s rise to fame from television commercials to international stardom, Sarah devoted herself to two passions: caring for rescued horses, ponies, and donkeys at her animal sanctuary, and working as an expert in dog behavior.
The Daily Mail is now sharing the incredible story behind the devastating events that deeply impacted Sarah and led her to where she is today.
It turns out a unique inheritance allowed her to begin the work she would dedicate her life to.
Anthony, 72, and Sarah created a 90-acre animal sanctuary to honor the memory of their close friend, Cynthia Lund, and her daughter, Erin, who sadly passed away at the young age of three after a battle with cancer.
Cynthia was deeply affected by the loss of her daughter in 1994. Hoping to find peace, she moved to France, but sadly died in a horseback riding accident just four years later.
Erin’s illness brought her families closer together while she received treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Anthony and Sarah were there for Cynthia during a very difficult time, and when Erin had a short period of improvement, both families decided to move from London to the countryside, finding a home in Somerset where they could spend valuable time together.
Documents obtained by the Daily Mail show that Cynthia updated her will around that time, leaving all of her possessions to Sarah.
She officially canceled any previous wills she had made and began creating a new one, using the address of her relatives, Anthony and Sarah, near Bath, Somerset, as her own.
On June 1, 1996, Cynthia signed a legal document leaving all of her possessions, including property and personal belongings, to Sarah.
The legal process of settling Cynthia’s estate, called probate, was officially approved in November 1998, five months after she passed away in Brittany on June 23rd.
Following Sarah’s wishes, she and her husband bought Tilley Farm, a local agricultural property, for £425,000 in 2001 to make their shared dream come true.
They began converting the land, now valued at millions of dollars, into a horse sanctuary and a safe place for animals.
Over time, Sarah gained more experience and expertise, which led her to create the Animal Centred Education (ACE) programme. ACE offers courses and workshops focused on a holistic approach to animal wellbeing and learning.
In addition to her other work, she dedicated many years to helping animals as a foster carer and ambassador for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, and she also supported numerous other animal charities as a patron.
The couple shared the story of how they became caretakers of this amazing property in a detailed post on their website.
Tilley Farm has become the peaceful animal haven and calm learning space it is today because of the dedication of Cynthia and Erin.
Erin received a diagnosis of an incurable brain tumor at just eighteen months old, and the following year profoundly changed our family’s life.
We bought a house in Somerset because of the wonderful relationships we made while Erin was receiving treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
After Erin’s cancer went into remission, we moved from London, and Cynthia and Erin enjoyed a lot of happy times together at our house.
Stories from that time showed how bravely Erin faced repeated, exhausting treatments after being diagnosed with a tumor in March 1992.
Following a seven-hour surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital to remove a portion of the tumor, doctors began a new type of chemotherapy treatment. Initially, this treatment appeared to be successful in reducing the cancer’s size.
It was devastating to learn, after nine months, that the growth was accelerating. I understand my sister, Cynthia, was horrified at the thought of radiotherapy – it carried such serious risks, potentially leaving Erin with brain damage or blindness. It was a truly frightening prospect for all of us.
When traditional options didn’t work, I was so relieved to learn she found a clinic in Houston, Texas, that was trying something different – a treatment using protein peptides. It felt like a real turning point, offering a new hope when we needed it most.
Unfortunately, the treatment didn’t work, and Erin spent the final two months of her life unconscious, with very little sign of awareness.
The morphine helped manage her pain, and she received daily visits from other children who would talk to her and hold her hand, even though she couldn’t respond.
When all hope was lost, Cynthia made the heartbreaking decision to stop her daughter Erin’s medical treatment, allowing her to spend her final days at home in Whitton, southwest London.
Cynthia and her husband briefly reconciled during the final weeks of Erin’s life, and both were reportedly with her when she passed away.
After Erin passed away, Cynthia shared, ‘I find comfort knowing she’s at peace. She truly lived life to the fullest and experienced everything she could. You can’t ask for more than that.’
Erin was suffering greatly and scared towards the end, but she insisted on staying with her loved ones until the very end. Now, we need to find the same courage she showed.
Deeply saddened by loss, Cynthia relocated to northern France hoping to start over. She initially lived on a boat before moving into a small house in the countryside.
She found a new sense of purpose through animals, especially horses, which are believed to have helped her cope with the heartbreaking loss of her child.
Cynthia, remembering her childhood love of horses, bought four of them. They gave her a renewed sense of purpose and helped her cope with deep sadness.
Cynthia was having trouble with her horse, Fleur, whom she’d saved from a riding school. To improve their relationship, she travelled back to the UK to study behavioral training methods being pioneered by Sarah at Tilley Farm.
Following her initial meeting, she stayed overnight with the couple at their house before returning to France the next day.
It was the last time Anthony and Sarah would ever see her.
A few weeks later, Cynthia was thrown from a horse. The horse belonged to an older man who owned the village shop where she lived.
She was severely injured and sadly died a few days afterward. It was then we discovered she had left everything to us in her will.
The couple continued: ‘It was important we created something positive from all the loss.
‘The money we inherited enabled us to purchase Tilley Farm.
We don’t think of ourselves as owners of the land, but rather as caretakers for the present time. If anyone truly had a claim to it, it would be shared by everyone.
This peaceful haven has improved and even saved countless lives, and it’s where many of the modern approaches to animal care began.
We’re incredibly grateful for the support of our family, friends, and amazing team – including our furry companions! We plan to keep building on this journey for years to come.
‘Some say it takes a village. We know it takes a farm.’
After Cynthia passed away, her horse Fleur, along with another horse named Equinox, were moved from France to the UK, where Sarah and Anthony began caring for them. This was the start of the couple providing a safe haven for many horses in need.
Sarah dedicated many years of her life to working at Tilley farm, and she continued to do so even while fighting cancer.
Friends shared that she had surgery and was initially recovering well, but her condition suddenly worsened.
Someone at the animal rescue, who knew her well, shared that she had been successfully fighting cancer for the past two years, but recently experienced unexpected complications that led to her passing.
Sarah, a writer of several books about caring for dogs, horses, and donkeys, intended to document the story of Cynthia and Erin and the impact they had before her passing.
In the 1980s, Sarah worked as an administrative assistant at London’s National Theatre where she met Anthony, a promising actor who was performing in a play there.
He didn’t become widely known until a few years later, when he starred with Sharon Maughan in a six-year Nescafe Gold Blend TV advertising campaign that made them a famous couple on screen.
As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always been fascinated by relatable love stories, and this couple truly embodies that! They were neighbours who fell for each other gradually, over simple things like sharing coffee. It was a slow burn, but it completely captivated audiences – millions were hooked! It just proves that sometimes the most beautiful romances develop right under our noses, in the everyday moments.
Oh my gosh, you will NOT believe this! Emily, our Emily – the incredible Carli D’Amato from The Inbetweeners, yes, that Emily – was born way back in 1988! It’s so wild to think about! Her parents, Anthony and Sarah, were just starting their journey as parents then. I’ve followed her since the beginning, and knowing this little detail just makes me love her even more. Thirty-seven years old and still amazing! I can’t even!
Daisy, 34, who appeared in US drama Guilt, was born three years later.
Anthony became internationally known for his seven-season role as Rupert Giles in the popular American horror series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
When Anthony got the part that launched his career, he had to move to Los Angeles for five years, leaving his family back home in the UK.
Oh my gosh, he’s talked about rushing home whenever he had a moment off from filming, just to be with her! And it’s so sweet – even with all the distance, he says Sarah was his rock, always there for him. It just proves how amazing their connection is, doesn’t it?
I’ve always been fascinated by how they make things work. He always jokes there’s no real secret to their long relationship, though Sarah will playfully say it’s because they spend so much time apart! It’s a funny dynamic, but it seems to really suit them.
Having a good sense of humor is really important – it shows you’re accepting and genuinely like the people around you. I especially love Sarah.
Anthony shared that the couple chose not to get officially married, describing their relationship as happily being together without a formal ceremony.
Okay, so he was explaining why Sarah wouldn’t even think about getting married, and it’s honestly so her! He said she just completely shuts it down – like, a straight-up “no way!” and then literally runs to be sick. It’s…it’s perfect, honestly. That’s my Sarah!
‘I just can’t imagine my life without Sarah. And I definitely wouldn’t want to’.
The actor recently gained international recognition for his roles in the popular Apple TV+ comedy Ted Lasso and the BBC series Motherland. He notably played the tough club owner, Rupert Mannion, in Ted Lasso.
Interestingly, Anthony played the husband of Tanya Moodie’s character, Meg, not long after Moodie’s character in the show Motherland received a cancer diagnosis.
Following Sarah’s passing, Daisy and Emily shared that their mother had requested people remember her online rather than holding a funeral. They promised to carry on her work at ACE in her honor.
Dog trainer and TV personality Victoria Stilwell was among those sharing condolences, fondly remembering Sarah as a ‘dear and treasured friend’.
Victoria, 56, described Sarah as a devoted and passionate mother, a strong champion for animal welfare, and a uniquely bright presence in the lives of many – not just within the dog training community, but everywhere she went.
Sarah was truly exceptional – a remarkable person who will be remembered for positively influencing countless lives. Those who knew her were fortunate to witness her incredible talent with animals and experience the power of her intelligence combined with her kindness and elegance.
I’m so grateful I met Sarah a long time ago. She’s been a truly supportive friend, and our connection goes far beyond just work.
Victoria shared that she was fortunate to spend meaningful time with Sarah before she passed away. They enjoyed simple things like having lunch together and taking walks around the beautiful grounds of Tilley Farm.
You know, that property has a really interesting story. It actually came into Sarah’s life quite unexpectedly years ago – it’s one of those things that just happened through a series of lucky events, and it’s always felt special to her because of it.
The place has a unique and comforting atmosphere. You can really feel Sarah’s caring spirit everywhere, and it’s clear how much she loves the animals she looks after.
The legal documents don’t specify exactly how much money Cynthia left to Sarah when she passed away. They only state that the total value of Cynthia’s assets in the UK was no more than £200,000, but after debts and taxes, the remaining amount could have been less than £10,000.
But Sarah and Anthony were in little doubt about its true worth.
Although Cynthia and Erin’s story began with sadness, it has transformed into one filled with joy and hope.
‘It has changed us, shaped us, and many others too.’
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2026-04-25 13:01