Proposed by Past Deputy Mark Wilby, and seconded by Past Deputy Rob Bezkorowajny, Tony Linton was voted in as The Deputy on the Choosing Day held Monday 1st December 2025. He will serve Brightlingsea for the year 2025 – 2026. Please see Mr Mark Wilby’s proposal below.
Mr. Deputy, Distinguished Guests and Freeman of Brightlingsea.
It gives me great pleasure to propose Mr Tony Alexander Linton as our next Deputy’ of the Cinque Port Liberty of Brightlingsea. I personally have known Tony for over 40 years now and throughout that time he’s been a very good friend of mine. Tony was born in Buckhurst Hill near Loughton in Essex on the 28th of July 1966 two days before England won the World Cup. Tony played rugby for his school and was a good swimmer and represented his school at county level.
Tony attended Churchfields infants and junior school in Woodford and then Caterham high school in Clay Hall Barkingside. He moved to Great Bentley with his family in 1982 and there he joined Mistley rugby club and boxed as an amateur for Colchester Amateur Boxing Club.
Tony tried his hand at various jobs in his early years and one of his first jobs was driving a transit van for CUPAC Express Plumbing, became a flat roofer for a company in Colchester. After a few years he was offered a job at a bakery engineering company called Bakafix where he trained to be an electrician. Tony later become self-employed as an electrician and as many of you know we see him driving around Brightlingsea today in his white van named Linton Electrical Services.
Tony met his true love Julie (nee Stevens) whilst drinking in The Sun Pub at the bottom of New Street here in Brightlingsea. They had their first proper date at a restaurant in Colchester called Sloppy Joes. By this time Tony had moved in to a flat that was the old police station in Ladysmith Avenue, Brightlingsea. Tony married his childhood sweetheart Julie on the 19th of May 1990 when they moved into their first house in Silcott Street Brightlingsea. Whilst there they had their first two children Connie and Jack.
Many of us can remember 10 years after their first move in the millennium year of 2000 it was a very wet Friday when we all helped Tony and Julie move up to Bateman Road where they reside today. Their third child Will was born four hours before moving in that same day – so with Tony and Julie both at the hospital, the help of many friends and family we managed to complete their move.
Tony has a wonderful wife and family supporting him. Connie, Jack and Will are a credit to their parents as plenty of you know how amazing these young adults are. Tony and Julie also have two adorable grandchildren Russell George and newly born Felix.
Tony become a Freeman in 1998 and joined the GILD on that very same day.
Being a GILD member every year since Tony has carried out many tasks and voluntary roles, the main one being our GILD chairman twice (which equates to another 4yrs voluntary work) the last time being 2020/22. You will all know Tony has been an Assistant to the past Deputies now for 6yrs and has always worked hard and supported all those in office continuously over those years.
For several years, Tony worked as a volunteer with the local Cubs and Beavers, helped with numerous BBQ,s at the Yacht Club and is always their to support and help his family, friends and those in need.
So to conclude I’m left to say that I know Tony will make an excellent Deputy and I trust you will support my proposal for Tony Alexander Linton to be our new Deputy of The Cinque Port Liberty of Brightlingsea.
Thank you.