The AA is saddened to learn of the passing of Frederick Anthony (Tony) Aspinall (AADipl 1959). The following tribute has been written by Melville Dunbar:
Having shown talent in drawing and an interest in historic buildings, Tony left Brentwood School and was accepted to join the AA in 1953, and he successfully completed his studies in 1958.
At that time, undertaking a ‘measured drawing’ was part of the tradition of architectural training. The information gathered had to be translated on to a sheet of Watman Paper, before being rendered in watercolour. Tony chose to site his measured drawing in Dedham, where he was introduced to Raymond Erith who proceeded to explain the difference between cast lead and milled lead, and how to re-bed coping stones and what mortar to use. He asked Tony where he was studying, and when told the AA, he replied, ‘I am afraid you won’t learn anything about real architecture there’. Tony left the AA to go into private practice joining Scott and Jacques at their Brentwood Office, where he worked on a whole range of projects until leaving to join Essex County Council in 1971.
Initially, his role was to try and persuade farmers to stop ripping out more hedgerows, and plant new copses to mitigate the effect of large fields and Dutch Elm disease. At that time, he produced design advice on improving the appearance of new farm buildings. In his spare time Tony was an avid model rail enthusiast and a collector of classic cars, working on their restoration and driving them daily. From 1975–80, Tony personally undertook the restoration of Black Notley Lodge to provide a family residence – a Grade II* building which had been extensively vandalised. Tony’s role at Essex County Council evolved into providing historic building and design advice to applicants. He believed in providing alternative ways to solve problems not just in words, but by providing sketch drawings as well. This was quite a different approach from that of English Heritage Officers who, in his words, ‘dealt out their negatives without seeming to care and were intellectually incapable of providing positive alternative proposals’.
Tony was a key member of the team that produced the original version of the Essex Design Guide and led the design philosophy in its first revision to ensure the key principles were retained and expanded. He then went on to implement many of the ideas contained in that document in the Essex County Council new town of South Woodham Ferrers. Some of his further innovations on layout and design were exemplified through his work and influence at the Notley Village Development. Tony was a true architect and planner, he was possessed of boundless energy, enthusiasm, and was entitled by qualification, ability and experience. A man of Essex and a gentleman who will be much missed by his wife Eve, daughters Julia and Karen, family, friends and colleagues.
