AS TOLD TO BC PIRES

A shorter version of this feature, which itself appears in the hard copy paper today, appeared in July 2015. This longer version has not appeared before. Walk good, Tony.

My name is Tony Harford and I’ve been walking in the Botanic Gardens since 1993.

I’m an undiluted “town boy.” Never lived further than five miles from Port of Spain. I’ve been in Cascade for 16 years. That is as “City” as they get. I can simply walk down Frederick Street from home.

According to my sister we now live in a flat house: the pillars, my parents, are gone and the four of us are left, two boys, two girls. In fact, four old people now. I am the eldest, fast approaching my allotment of three score and ten.

Family means a lot to me but I have never “passed probation” so was never married. I have a son, Jarred. He is 30.

I was born and raised and am a practising Catholic. I thoroughly enjoy the serenity of attending mass regularly, at least once weekly usually more. My own life experiences, bad and good, convince me that I am not in charge and that a higher being is.

I wanted a red car since I was a boy.

I would pay a lot of money to see Billy Joel and Michael Buble.

People frequently confuse me with (longtime media professional) Tony Dennison. This is baffling as he is better-looking and far more talented. Tony Dennison hosted Thursday night rock concert, while I hosted Saturday nights 10 pm-2 am, both on Radio 100, one of just two FM stations on air at the time, the other being 95.1. Both the rock concert and Shindig were immensely popular and made our bosses distinctly uncomfortable, as FM Radio was expected to be “proper “ even “staid” in those days. Before us Billy Reece had turned things upside down at Radio Trinidad. His sidekick who would go on to become a DJ legend, was Rennie Bishop.

I joined the NBS family at 100FM, in 1973.

I have been around for a very long time and have seen radio go through irrevocable change.

[caption id="attachment_928089" align="alignnone" width="980"] The late veteran sports journalist and administrator Anthony Harford. - Newsday File Photo[/caption]

I’m a big Bond fan. Connery was the best Bond. I enjoy going to the movies.

Especially as I now get the TTARP rate!

I have never been able to curb my enthusiasm for pelau.

In 1988, my friend Bruce Aanensen and I saw a need to offer ground handling services and cheap accommodation to sporting clubs visiting Trinidad. We bought an 11-bedroom house in Woodbrook and offered teams US$10 per person per night and that was the start of All Sport.

We have since morphed into sport management and sport television services.

I have been richly blessed to have travelled the world through sport.

The two most beautiful places in the world are New Zealand and The Grenadines. Both are relaxed and unhurried and unspoilt.

I don’t miss home when I am on the road. But, after about a month, I am ready to get back home to the people I love.

I have the most profound respect for sport and media. I owe these professions my life and