Tony lived in London for many years, and whilst there worked for the family business and in youth and community work, a field in which he excelled. He was a Liberal Party activist (in pre-merger days) and also studied in Sunderland for three years for a degree.
I first met Tony when he moved to York in the 90s. Immediately he applied his talents to a new situation, and turned his hand to running history tours for a while. He stood as a candidate for the Green Party in the local elections in 1999 (for Knavesmire Ward) and again in 2003 (for Micklegate Ward), the same year in which the Greens gained their first seats on the council in the neighbouring Fishergate Ward.
Tony became very interested in boating and waterways, and was the main driving force behind the establishment of the North Riding Branch of the Inland Waterways Association, in which he continued to play a pivotal role right up to the end. He also took a community boating certificate and was lead lock-keeper at Castle Mills Lock in York, which is operated by IWA volunteers under agreement from City of York Council (the owners). He attended a training session for new volunteers last September (picture above).
He also edited nine issues of "Ouse News" and subsequently fourteen issues of the "Northern Navigation News" (after the IWA newsletter was retitled), whilst continuing his networking and tireless advocacy to advance the cause of boating and the waterways in York and the surrounding area.
Tony's volunteering and community work in other areas continued to expand; he was actively involved as a member of the Guildhall Ward Planning Panel, with York's Unitarian Chapel in St Saviourgate, as a tenant inspector for the Council, for the York Older People's Forum and as a volunteer guide at Fairfax House in Castlegate.
I think what is most memorable about Tony is the immense energy that he brought to the many and varied things that he did throughout his life. He will be greatly missed.
Andy
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