Page 81 - Gilbert & Me_Neat

Awarded to
Tony Gillings
In recognition
of outstanding
services to the
community
May , 2019
In recognition of
service to his country

Tony Gillings
Royal Air Force
1979 - 1986
Columbia University
Awarded to
Tony Gillings
The Teaching of English
In New York
Teaching Certificate

I eventually decided to change out a phone of myself with Lord Ashdown, who was the leader of
the Liberal Democrats when I was selected to fight the 1987 UK General Election, for the
constituency of Durham North West. I had been a long supporter of the Liberal Democrats;
immediately I completed my RAF service, I signed up as a member of the Party and, while living
at home (with my parents) for a short while, contested and won election to my home Borough
Council. When I was promoted at work and relocated to Northumberland, I continued with my
political activities, eventually being elected as Vice Chair of the North East England Region.

When the opportunity presented itself for me to be a candidate for the Party, I didn’t hesitate, and
was overjoyed at being selected, following a contested hustings, as the candidate for the Durham
North West constituency (where I was living at the time). It was a fantastic experience, and one I
will never forget. I met many wonderful, inspiring people, received a lot of media attention –
TV, Radio and print, and even developed a cordial relationship with the incumbent Labour MP,
whose family had held that parliamentary seat since for generations.

I remained a member of the LibDems until I moved to Ireland in 1998. I’m still keeping up-to-
date with their policies and political fortunes, but that photo, of all the ones on display, had
served its time. It also needed a much better frame than the cheap damaged one it was in at the
moment, so I retired that photo and its old frame.

But I still had the new frame to use. Then, while I was investigating and deciding which one of
st
the remaining photos to reframe, I took down and removed a picture of me with my 1