A tribute to Tony: May 2015

Thursday 14 May was just like any other day...Paul was loitering with intent in Newcastle on National Express while your blogmaster was attending his place of employment and being harassed telephonically when I made a call that changed the focus of everything. Now I can only wish I had sat down when Paul had advised me it would be a good idea, as it was with great sadness that Paul informed me that our good friend Tony Challons had collapsed and died from a suspected heart attack on Bank Holiday Monday 4 May. Paul himself had only found out moments before by making a chance call to query the purchase of some parts to aid 2599's restoration.

As some of you may recall, Tony was most influencial in getting us the brake shoes for the RE and having the throttle plate rebuilt, and on a personal note I had known Tony since childhood and we would often catch up in passing, stop for a quick natter in the street while the traffic lights were red as he drove an E-Coaches minibus full of schoolkids, and would end up popping in 'for a quick chat' only to spend hours sat talking, enjoying a brew and a laugh and often coming away with at least one item of bus-related memorabilia, so it came of something of a shock to learn of his passing from this life into the next.

Tony was certainly one of life's characters, he always called a spade a spade and would tell you how it was (often in no uncertain terms!). He himself had once owned an Ulsterbus RE, 2438 now preseved at Lathalmond in Scotland, and was in the process of restoring ex-Midland General dual-door RE NNU449J at the time of his death. We were most saddened to hear that his life had ended so abruptly and in such a cruel manner, and on behalf of the Ulsterbus 2599 Group and its followers I offer my thoughts and condolences to his wife Rita, daughter Louisa and family.

I include here a photograph of Tony's former Ulsterbus RE 2438, seen here back in August 2013 while working an internal shuttle at Lathalmond. I only wish you could've had the opportunity to sample 2599 for yourself once she's done...