Tony was born in Derbyshire in 1933 and moved with his family to Headington in 1939. He attended Quarry School before moving on to MCS, where he met Robert Avery, Mike Pinch and John Brown. He captained a junior cricket team and took up rowing. He was a member of a winning Richochets at Bisley.

On leaving MCS he took up an apprenticeship in Bradford and studied at Bradford Technical College to gain his engineering qualifications. He then joined P&O as a junior engineer working on cargo ships to the far east and was then promoted to passenger liners carrying people emigrating to and from Australia. In 1963 he took over the family engineering firm of Cole Marchant & Morley which he ran for some 30 years, specialising in hydraulic cylinders. After disposing of the firm he had time available to enjoy golf, jazz festivals, fell walking, and world cruises. He supported Oxford united and Bradford City. In 2013 he moved to Clevedon to be near to his daughter, and became a volunteer on the pier.

He married Gillian Carter in 1964. He is survived by his daughter Jane and grandchildren Tamsin and Zac.