Tony Fowler, a story worth sharing

Not just our milkman, he’s our guardian, our protector and our hero!
I’m sure this won’t have been the first occurrence when a member of the public sings the well earned praises of our Local Hero. With all the bad and depressing news in the papers today, it could be a welcome break for your readers to know of a unique man who spontaneously switches from a determined businessman into a totally unselfish real life hero when he encounters anyone in trouble, he probably dials 999 more times than he dials his wife’s number.
Our background
My wife and I married in 1970 and moved into our brand new Northampton home. We lived on a newly built housing estate which didn’t have the luxury of a milk delivery service. This all changed in December 2002 when we move into our current Thrussington home.
On the doorstep was a welcome cake left by a kind neighbour plus a small Welcome Box of essential groceries left by milkman Tony Fowler. We’d managed for thirty two years without a milkman and never saw the need for one, as we were sure it wouldn’t take us long to find our nearest supermarket. However, we hadn’t sold our Boughton Northants home so were moving our furniture with cars and trailers over several days. Because it was a very busy time, my wife thought it sensible to enjoy the experience of indulging in the luxury of a milk and essentials delivery until such times as we’d get proper shopping sorted and then stop Tony from delivering what was, and still is, a more expensive luxury than buying from supermarkets and wholesalers. That was over 22 years ago and we’re still enjoying the luxury of Tony’s incredibly reliable 364 day a year all weather service. Now at 76 and 73 we appreciate luxuries more and more ad have no intention of giving up any, especially Tony’s milk and essential provisions service. We know it costs us more to have Tony deliver but we simply accept and appreciate that all luxuries cost money, so it’s an indulgence we’re happy to pay for. We share this story should you wish to share it with your valued readers.
Fowlerman
Over many years we’ve read and heard many real life stories of this unique man, who’s even won TV awards for his own take on Care in the Community. Yes we can all escape reality by watching fictional Superman, Spiderman, Delboy and Batman heroes on the big screen but Tonyman is for real, these are but a few of recent totally unselfish and spontaneous acts of heroic help from which he stood to gain absolutely nothing:
Foiled Attempted Suicide
In the early hours one morning Tony came across a 17 year old about to jump off a railway bridge in Melton Mowbray. He immediately called 999 and used many words of comfort until the police arrived. Had he not acted then there could have been a mother mourning over her lost son.
Stops Drunk Drive
Last Easter, again in Melton Mowbray, he saw a driver swerving all over the road and assumed the driver was ill, possibly having a heart attack. He unselfishly used his own vehicle to force the driver to stop. It turned out the driver was heavily under the influence of alcohol which of course resulted in a 999 police call. If Tony had ignored this, the drunk driver could have killed himself or others so Tony acted totally unselfishly, potentially putting his own life at serious risk to save others.
Man Unconscious in the Road
Another 999 call when Tony found an unconscious man lying in the road in the early hours of the morning outside Pizza Express again in Melton Mowbray.
Had to Break into a Customer’s House
This time it was in Rearsby that saw our hero spring into life. He couldn’t get a response from an elderly customer’s house but saw lights on. Once again this was in the early hours when he called 999 who said it would take a while before they could get there. So, with their knowledge he forced entry into the house where he found the victim slumped and struggling to breathe. Tony later learned that the poor victim had suffered a seizure and also had pneumonia.
Elderly Lady in her 80’s on Floor
Another occasion when, following a 999 call, Tony had to force entry into the lady’s home as he could see her lying on the floor. It turned our that the lady had fallen and had badly dislocated her shoulder.
Rescues Elderly Lady with Dementia wandering the streets in her nightdress
Once again this heroic man found another poor lady in the early hours of the morning. Obviously 999 had to be called as this poor woman was wondering the streets in her nightdress looking for her husband, a husband who had died many years ago.
Conclusion
Whilst these few above examples are all hearsay with names omitted, no doubt Tony Fowler will be able to supply names and dates, all of which will be substantiated by the many 999 records of his calls.
As my wife and I are nearing our eighties, we dread the day coming when, for whatever reason, we lose our real life hero. Whilst we hope and pray that we’ll never need these extra services he selflessly provides, we know that he looks out for us and that’s a great comfort. As the cost of living gets higher and higher, we feel we’d rather eat less or turn the thermostat down a bit than lose or jolly hero, he’s one of our few luxuries we’ll always find the extra pennies for.
Mr R. Allsop