Tony Aston is a former Scotland Yard detective and counter-espionage specialist within the UK Defence Industry. His first book, “Redditch – From the Chip Shop to the Batchley”, published in May 2022, tells of his life growing up during the 1950s and 60s in the Midlands town at a time when it was trying to repair, rebuild and reinvent itself after WWII. He has a great interest in 20th century civil and military history, demonstrated in his first, currently “work-in-progress”, novel which explores the “Troubles” in Northern Ireland in the 1980s and 90s.
In non-fiction, Tony’s second book is the compelling story of wartime bravery, unbridled passion and eternal remembrance. The author has captured the drive, emotion and fervency of husband and wife, Helen and John, their story of commemorating the crew of a WWII Lancaster bomber shot down in 1944 with all souls lost, then drawing together, nearly 80 years later and for the first time, family descendants of the crew in an emotional and poignant war memorial dedication, all as a result of the finding of an old, beaten up, metal weathervane, fashioned in the shape of a Lancaster bomber, buried amongst a myriad of items for sale at a salvage yard in leafy Surrey.
Tony published his third book in late 2024. “This Is How It Was”. is the lifetime memoirs of his father, Eddie Aston, with Tony contributing additional material. It tells the story of growing in in abject poverty in the Midlands during the 1920s, becoming an officer in the Royal Navy during WWII, creating his own business in the 1960s and 70s, and everything in between.
His current non-fiction work-in-progress project is entitled “The Last School Bell”. Tony attended Redditch County High School in the Midlands during the 1960s. On the hall hung (and still hangs), a Roll of Honour memorial board, naming 21 former pupils who fell during WWII. He says he must have seen that board a million times without taking, He’s ashamed to say, any notice of it. He is now researching each named individual and telling their stories; school history, employment before the war, where they lived, where they served and fought and, ultimately, where they died. The book will recognise those brave young men as the heroes they are, such that present and future generations, particularly those who attend the school, now renamed Trinity High School, can appreciate the sacrifices made by these men, not much older than many of the pupils, allowing people today to live in freedom.
Tony is a Fellow of The Security Institute, a member of the Society of Authors and the Historical Writing Association. When not writing, he is able to give talks about his writing. He is registered on the Public Speaking Corner website – his page can be found at https://www.publicspeakerscorner.co.uk/?s=aston – and Speaker Finder at https://www.speakerfinder.co.uk/speakers/tony-aston
Tony’s website can be found at https://www.tonyastonauthor.com
Tony has a passion for Birmingham City FC as well as enjoying photography, cooking, and spending quality time with his wife, Kay, golden doodle Harvey, and family. Oh, and he loves chocolate Hobnobs!
