Tony spent his formative years in South Shields and later in North Lincolnshire.
After leaving university with a degree in computer science, he returned to Humberside/North Lincolnshire to join the police force, being posted to Hull and Scunthorpe. Tony moved to London in the 1980s and to take up an IT role within the banking industry and then leading a number of IT based projects within the City.
During this time he became an active volunteer within the homelessness sector and took up a role as CEO of the Whitechapel Mission in 1996, a post he still holds.
Tony was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list of 2012 for his work with the homeless, as well as holding other awards for his involvement within the local community. He became a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Coopers in March 2016 and a Liveryman three months later, having received the Freedom of the City in 2006.
He is very active within the local community where he is involved with several other social organisations, a trustee of two charities, and governor of a couple of local East End schools. Tony is married to Sue, has three grown-up children, and is a member of the Bishopsgate Ward Club.
