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We deal with almost 1000 cases a year assisting communities, groups and individuals in protecting their local spaces and paths in all parts of England and Wales. Can you help us by joining as a member?
Our member for 50 years, the late Tony Newman, has left us a generous legacy.
Tony was born in Tottenham, north London, in 1929. He lived in London and Surrey during his childhood, and began his working life in Thomas Cook’s head office in Piccadilly, in the winter-sports department. After National Service, from 1947 to 1949, he worked for the Imperial Smelting Corporation, later Rio Tinto Zinc.
Our loyal member Tony Newman.
The outdoors was always important to Tony, and his knowledge of London’s streets and alleyways was extensive.
In 1986 he took voluntary redundancy and he and his wife Rita moved to Rugeley in Staffordshire where they commissioned the building of their own narrowboat, Ferndale, moored on the canal that ran past the end of their garden. This opened a new chapter in their lives where they were free to explore the extensive UK canal system for weeks at a time.
In 2002 they moved to Mold in Flintshire to be near one of their daughters. It was here that Tony pursued the crop obstruction of Mold footpath 93. Many times he wrote to us about it until, in 2010, he was able to report that, for the first time in his memory, the path had been clearly defined through crop—thanks to his persistence.
Tony enjoyed researching the operation and history of public transport, particularly buses, coaches, trams, and trolleybuses. He wrote numerous articles and a book about these subjects.
Tony died at Bradshaw Manor care home where he was well cared for. One of the last conversations Tony had with a member of staff there was when she was on her final nightime round and Tony beckoned her back. ‘Are we on a tram?’ he asked. ‘Yes we are,’ she replied. ‘Sit back Tony and enjoy the journey.’
We shall miss Tony’s enthusiasm for our work and his determined defence of public paths.