Tony joined Emanuel in 1956 when it was a grammar school. In the second year there, aged 12, he joined the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) which proved to be an important part of his time at Emanuel. Having been poor at running and catching a ball, finding a sport that you can do sitting down suited Tony well and he became Captain of Junior Boats in his third year.
Rowing became an important part of his life and by 1962 he was in the school’s first Eight which was the first time Emanuel won the Schools’ Head of the River and sent a crew to Henley Royal Regatta. In 1963 he was again in the School’s Head winning crew.
In the CCF, Tony joined the Royal Navy Section and rose to become Petty Officer in Charge in his Upper Sixth year.
Tony passed his GCEs and A levels and left Emanuel with a Kitchener Scholarship to read Civil Engineering at Southampton University.
At Southampton he rowed all three years in the first Eight and in 1965 was at Henley in a Wyfold Four which won it’s first race easily in the fastest time of the day before crashing into the boom in the next race – victims of a cox-less Four where no-one could steer! In 1966 Tony became Club Captain.
After leaving Southampton with an Honours Degree, Tony worked in construction, spending time in the UK before going overseas to spend twelve years working in Oman, Saudi Arabia and Algeria before rejoining Tarmac Construction in the UK as a Director in Regional Contracting. This involved being responsible for Health and Safety and led to a new career as Group Director of Health and Safety, chairing the Health and Safety Committees for both the Construction Confederation and Construction Industry Training Board. Tony also spent several years on the Construction Industry advisory committee to the Health and Safety Executive and government.
On retiring, Tony set up as a consultancy in Construction Health and Safety, mainly working with the Construction Confederation and producing several published papers.
Tony’s interest in Rowing continued and after retiring from working overseas, in 1987, he coached the Juniors at Wallingford Rowing Club, near to his home. In the 26 years until 2013 he produced crews which won 39 National medals, won in quads twice at Henley Women’s Regatta and produced 22 young athletes who represented their country. Tony coached the GB Junior crews in seven events between 1988 and 2012.
In 2011, Tony was awarded the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire’s Award for Community Service for his work coaching young rowers.
After age and mobility ended coaching, Tony continued serving on the Committee at Wallingford Rowing Club and managed projects, including construction of a Club gym building (which in 2022 was named after him) and procuring new pontoons.
Tony’s daughter, Anna, pre-deceased him and he leaves a wife, Jean, son Andy and five grandchildren.
Andy Wheel, son
