Tony Cousins is a Coventrian and was educated at Bablake Grammar School. National Service in 1959 saw a first rail trip to Bridgnorth on a troop train from RAF Cardington; after training at Hereford Tony was posted to the Far East for service at RAF Swanton Morley (near Dereham).
Fell in love with the steam engine at an early age and spent many happy hours linesiding and shed bashing which he says “Improved my UK geography no end.” Many trips were planned sitting in the waiting room of Coundon Road Station on the Coventry – Nuneaton branch.
A keen sportsman, Tony played works league cricket in Coventry and also took up hockey in which he still participates by coaching club umpires in Rugby. Tony enjoys music with a wide taste from classical to traditional jazz and Big Band; Tony sang for many years with the Coventry Savoy Opera Society and other music groups.
Marriage to Stella in 1965 resulted in a happy family of three children and more recently Tony and Stella have enjoyed exploring Europe by train and discovering some new steam such as the fabulous Harzer Schmalspurbahnen.
The railway hobby continues with longstanding membership of the Severn Valley Railway and more recently the Stanier Mogul fund and the 82045 Steam Locomotive Trust – “this latter is an exciting project” says Tony – “An ideal engine for the SVR and after years of the steam hobby a real insight into what’s required to get a working engine into service.”
