A former concert pianist who for years lived in a battered old car on a west London street after falling on hard times has been killed in a road accident.

Tributes have poured in for Anne Naysmith, a familiar and beloved character in Chiswick, who died in a collision with a lorry.

Naysmith was a promising pianist who once played at Wigmore Hall in central London. But in the late 1970s she ran into financial problems and suffered the heartbreak of a failed romance.



She was evicted from her home in Prebend Gardens in Chiswick and took to living in her Ford Consul on the street outside the flat.



Worse was to follow. In 2002 her beloved car was towed away after a neighbour complained it was blighting the well-heeled area. Other makeshift homes since then have included a shelter carved out of bushes and small trees in the corner of a car park at the foot of a London underground embankment.

Naysmith died on the streets she has paced for decades in the early hours of Tuesday.

The Royal Academy of Music was among those who paid tribute on Twitter.

Sad news: #piano #alum Anne Naysmith – former concert artist, cherished Chiswick character – died last night. http://t.co/VlfHJs7Rsu — Royal Academy Music (@RoyalAcadMusic) February 10, 2015

Others described Naysmith as a stalwart of the neighbourhood.

Just found out a homeless lady who I've known all my life was hit by a car & died this morning. Rest in Peace Anne Naysmith you magical lady — Henry Moller (@hccmoller) February 10, 2015

Some pointed out that Naysmith had demonstrated that it was not always necessary to follow a conventional path.

There isn't one way to live ones life. Anne Naysmith showed us that. You can create value wherever you might find yourself. — Labyrinth Ear 平和 (@LabyrinthEar) February 10, 2015

The story of Naysmith has echoes of Miss Shepherd, who lived in a van on the drive of the writer Alan Bennett’s home across the capital in Camden, north London, and was immortalised in his essay and play The Lady in the Van.

Both were talented musicians who fell on hard times, had run-ins with the authorities but throughout it all remained fiercely independent, proud and dignified.

Residents also took to the pages of the website CHISWICKW4.com to express their sadness, to offer funds to pay for her funeral – and to promise to tend the scrap of a garden she loved to keep in the corner of the car park.

Local councillor John Todd wrote: “A real character in every sense. I and most Chiswick councillors dealt with Ms Naysmith frequently at our weekly surgery. She was always polite, informed and charming in every sense.



“She politely declined all offers of help, which included housing, getting a freedom bus pass and other matters.



“Why she chose to adopt such a harsh life style is unclear - but she never moaned or criticised. She never sought any form of help either. I saw her all over London.

“Others felt the edge of her tongue when she saw cyclists on the kerb and other minor indiscretions. Rest in Peace Ms Naysmith. I and many others will miss you.”

Charlotte Kasner wrote: “She was so much a part of Chiswick and loved both of my dogs. I have lived here for 35 years and she never seemed to change. Over the years, she gradually told me a little about her life but I learned never to initiate the conversation or indeed offer her so much as a boiled sweet, although she was always offering to share her tea or snacks.

“She always took a keen interest in my professional engagements as a musician and, even if I hadn’t seen her for weeks, remembered exactly what my dog had won at his last show.”

Robert Fish added: “One day many years ago I heard her singing like an angel in the street. It was obvious she was a talented musician. Sometimes I felt sorry for her, but often I reflected that, with that fierce pride of hers, she probably never felt sorry for herself.”

Stuart Kerr wrote: “Not a nice way to go – BUT... She lived her life exactly the way she chose - and for that alone ... ROUND OF APPLAUSE!”



