A retired solicitor has celebrated 50 years as a member of the IW Catenians Association at a party at Ryde Castle.
Tony Gale, who was born in the town, joined the Island Circle, a Catholic men’s society, shortly after it was formed.
His family and the Catenians National Director, Roger Lillee and his wife, Margaret attended the event.
Tony was presented with a framed scroll by Mr Lillee and a 50th anniversary tie, made by Circle member Max Paul, by its President Mal Butler.
He started training at the offices of Roach Pittis and Co, Newport, in 1946 and, after passing the Solicitors’ Final Examination in 1951, he received his call-up papers for National Service in the Army the following year.
He married his late wife Maureen in 1955 at St Mary’s Church, Ryde, and they moved to Northern Rhodesia where he worked as a solicitor in Ndola the commercial centre of the Copperbelt for Lloyd Jones and Collins.
After the birth of their first child, Peter in 1956, they returned to the Island in 1958 where he worked for Roach Pittis, having been offered a partnership in Newport.
He remained there until his retirement in 1994 after spending most of his career as an advocate in the Magistrates’ and County Courts. He continued sitting as a part-time Deputy District Judge until he was 70.
The couple had four more children, Richard, Susan, Nicholas and Beth.
He became interested in local history after going to Roy Brinton’s lectures on the History of Ryde and started investigating the history of the Pubs of Ryde.
He also found the Coastguard service on the Island and Smuggling fascinating and researched both and wrote a book on Island Coastguards. He wrote small booklets on Ryde Pubs and the History of the County Club in Newport.
Tony was involved with Maureen in starting the MS Society on the Island and this later led to his involvement with The Cheshire Home at Shanklin where he was Chairman for more than 10 years.
He was a member of the Ryde Round Table and later a Rotarian at Newport, Ryde and Ventnor. He was also a governor of Ryde High School from 1962 until retiring in 1990.
He said:
“The Catenian Association had established a Circle on the Island and this provided welcomed friendship and relaxation not only with other members but also their families – the cricket matches against Portsmouth Circle had a large alcoholic content which made up for the lack of skills in most of us!”
Tony has also been a member of Probus, 41 Club and was made an Honorary Member of Ryde Rotary Club.
He added:
“It was a lovely evening and I’m so thankful to everyone who attended, especially Roger and my family.”
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