25 Jul 2021 Written By Matthew Eastley
Marys’ boys head to Southport
The excellent Tony Walton (St Mary’s 1977 to 1984) with his lovely new wife Julie. A number of St Mary’s alumni joined Tony and Julie for a belated wedding celebration on the Lancashire coast
There was a decent showing of St Mary’s boys in Lancashire this weekend to celebrate the wedding of Tony Walton and his new wife, Julie.
1977 joiners Andy Hawkins (Bexleyheath), Chris Nutt (Bromley), Simon Pajak (Erith) and Matthew Eastley (Bexley) were all among the guests at the evening celebration at Southport and Birkdale Cricket Club.
Tony and Julie married earlier this year but covid prevented a full celebration.
Also present were two of Tony’s younger brothers, Dominic and Andrew, old boys of the amalgamated St Mary’s and St Joseph’s School.
Tony Walton, centre, with two of his three brothers, Dominic left and Andrew, right, both old boys of St Mary’s and St Joseph’s School
A third brother Chris – also an old boy and now based in Australia – was unable to attend due to covid restrictions, as was Tony’s Oz-based sister, Jane, a former pupil of Holy Trinity Convent in Bromley.
Tony, a former pupil of St Anne’s Orpington, was a popular member of the year and excelled at cricket, both with the bat and the ball, a point highlighted by his father, Philip, in a speech delivered at the reception.
Welcoming all the guests to Southport, Philip quipped: “It’s good to see a number of boys from St Mary’s Grammar School in Sidcup here this evening. They are all looking as old as I feel!”
Tony’s mother Sandra baked a quite outstanding wedding cake which the author of this piece regrets not bringing a couple of extra slices of home with him. If I say the cake was worth the long trip alone, it would be unfair on the happy couple, who are clearly an excellent match.
It was a joyously, convivial occasion in the Lancastrian evening sunshine and a fantastic chance to see old friends.
We all wish Tony and Julie the very best for the future.
0 Comments