Recollections of Blaisdon Hall
National Newsletter
Tony Brady
TONY BRADY: He was a pupil in Salesian School, Blaisdon Hall from April 1952 - May 1955. Then he was employed on Stud Farm from May 1955 - Dec 1960, as a stockman and general labourer. He was principally in charge of the pig herd - at peak 500 head - under the tutelage of Father Dan Lucey SDB. He learned tractor driving skills from Bro. Joseph Carter SDB.
On leaving Blaisdon, Tony moved to Belgium and lived there until July 1962. He worked in a TB Sanatorium for 8 months and later completed one year at The Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp and was awarded a basic Certificate in Tropical Medicine. He became bi-lingual in French & Flemish. He returned to England and trained in nursing at Bethnal Green School of Nursing. After 4 years in the NHS and two years at St. Joseph's Hospice, Hackney, he moved to the Civil Service and was a Social Security Officer in Clapton & Stoke-Newington until 1973. He was then appointed The Welfare Administrator in The Providence Row Night Shelter, Spitalfields, London until resigning in 1978.
He attended The University of Paisley, Scotland - at that time a College of Technology - and obtained its Diploma in Alcohol & Drugs Studies. In 1980 Tony obtained a post as social/housing/policy Officer with the London Borough's Association and was attached to The Chief Executives' Department London Borough of Camden. From there he was seconded to The Department of Health & Social Security (Resettlement Centres). He retired as a Principal Officer Team Leader in 1994. In 1995 he was the founder Chairman of Greenwich EMMAUS - an accommodation and work project for homeless people. In 1997 he moved to Co. Fermanagh in Northern Ireland.
Tony married in 1968. His eldest son Paul is married and a Secondary School Teacher in Edinburgh, Scotland. His daughter Laura is single and is a Senior Manager in The Legal Services Agency, London. He and his wife Mary are co-carers of their profoundly disabled second son Christian.
Since 1998, Tony is a Trustee and Management Committee Member (Chairman since March 2009) of a registered Charity FACT/BARNLEE, a permanent residential Care Home for 23 Learning Disabled adult men and women in Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh. The Home employs over 40 Staff.