Every Picture Tells a Story

Tony's 25 year career with the army has been as varied as they come. He now lives his Leconfield, the place of his last posting where he and his family settled, but his roots lie in Corby, Northamptonshire. It was almost expected that the young men of the town would gravitate to a job in the famous steelworks, however Tony had other ideas. Restless and looking for a challenge he joined the army at 16 and never looked back.

Army days

His career in the Royal Engineers took him not only to areas of conflict; Northern Ireland, Kosovo and the Gulf during the first Gulf conflict in the early 1990s but to Ascension Island where he counted turtles for a wildlife project and to the Himalaya during an army expedition that tested his levels of fitness and endurance. Throughout his army career, he and his wife Cathy, who herself was in the army when they met, have raised a family. Although he claims that one of his finest army colleagues was a hamster who was more than just a pet, in his interview he explains why 'Bob' was so important.

Leaving the army

He says being in the army was very rewarding although he hints at some painful experiences and memories which have left their mark. He's a supporter of associations that help veterans and their families and the need for such organisations is just as great as it ever was. Upon leaving the regular army, he joined the Territorial Army's Prince of Wales Own Regiment (now part of the Yorkshire Regiment) for a couple of years and had a series of regular jobs including a stint as a postal worker in his local area.

Supporting others

These days he's one of four full-time trainers within the region for St. John Ambulance. This is a commercial arm of the organisation to help support its charitable endeavours. And it's in the field of fundraising for charity he's been setting his sights of late. He's pushed beds to raise money to support research into dealing with breast cancer.

Coast to coast

He also has walked, 'coast to coast' to help raise money for Menigitis UK and his picture is of him standing in front of one of the support vehicles. His journey started in Blackpool and took him across the country to Bridlington. He'd only bought a one way ticket to get to Blackpool so he had to complete the trip come what may. He said he was overwhelmed by the generosity of the people he met on the way, and comments it was those who seemed to have the least to give who gave the most. He says the support he receives from the local people in his area is amazing and he's recently become involved with the Beverley Lions to help with their fundraising efforts.

Hobbies

His work and fundraising keeps him busy and brings him into contact with people from all walks of life but he still takes time to go walking in the mountains and is a great hoarder. He collects and restores tilley lamps and Eddie Stobbart trucks. Thankfully for his long suffering wife who has to deal with his 'clutter' the trucks are of the model variety and he cleans out his own aviary for his bird collection.