'Beloved and inspirational' author and dad-of-two Joe Hammond has died

Dad-of-two Joe Hammond, 50, who lived in Petersfield, died on Saturday at his home.

Joe is survived by his wife Gill and his two sons Tom and Jimmy, aged 7 and 3.

Last year he spoke to The News and told how he has written 33 birthday cards for the boys to open every year until they reach their 21st birthdays.

His memoir A Short History of Falling was published to critical acclaim in September.

Following the announcement of his death, his agents at Janklow & Nesbit described Joe as ‘beloved and remarkable’.

Will Francis, Literary Agent, Janklow & Nesbit said: ‘Joe’s mind only seemed to become sharper as his disease progressed. He finished writing another extraordinary piece - a dispatch from the very end of life - just a few days ago.

‘I hope Gill, Tom and Jimmy will draw comfort from the book he left, which is full of both his wit and his love for them. He was a deeply original writer who used his own mortality as a lens, to see familiar things anew.’

While his publisher described him as being ‘inspirational’.

Helen Garnons-Williams, associate publisher 4th Estate & William Collins, added: ‘Joe Hammond was a remarkable person, and it is our great honour – and pleasure – to have been his publisher.

‘His memoir is a lasting legacy: a book of consolation, wisdom, and – most astonishingly – wonder. Above all, it’s a celebration of love. Joe was hugely loved, and will be hugely missed.’

When Joe spoke to The News last November he said: ‘In my life I have loved nothing as much as being a father. To not be part of my children’s future is really, really painful for me.

‘My boys love our family and being part of their family, they are very happy boys.’

Joe was a writer and playwright. He took part in the Royal Court Studio Writers’ Group in 2012, having previously been mentored by the theatre and BBC.

His debut London production Where the Mangrove Grows played at Theatre503 in 2012 and was later published by Bloomsbury.