10-04-2025
Tributes paid to Workington's 'quiet hero' Tony Harrop
TRIBUTES have been paid to Workington's 'quiet hero' Tony Harrop.
Tony sadly passed away at the age of 84 on Monday, March 17 at West Cumberland Hospital.
Originally from Keswick, Tony enjoyed a distinguished career in the Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service which saw him rise to the rank of sub-officer and earn a Good Conduct Medal in 1981.
Tony was also a well-known wildlife enthusiast who had an immense knowledge about local wildlife and took pride in visiting Workington's swans on a daily basis as well as taking care of injured animals.
(Image: Supplied) In 2017, Tony received a special award from the Mayor of Allerdale and Mayor of Workington in recognition of his services to the natural environment.
Raegan Blacker is the Workington Nature Partnership officer who manages nature reserves and green spaces in the area with the help of volunteers and was on hand to pay tribute to a 'true wildlife hero'.
She said: "Tony was a true wildlife hero, a fountain of knowledge, and a great friend to many but particularly to Workington's swan population
"Tony's garden was always a menagerie of animals from fancy ducks to cockatoos to injured gulls and sometimes he'd be making the trip through to Knoxwood with injured wildlife a few times a week.
(Image: Supplied) "I left a brood of tiny, cold ducklings and several hedgehogs in Tony's care over the years.
"Injured otters would turn up right in front of him as if they knew who to go to for help.
"Everything came from his own pocket and his heart of gold."
Alongside a successful career and love for wildlife, Tony married his wife Carol in 1978, with the pair enjoying 47 years of marriage in which they had six children, 15 grandchildren, and soon-to-be 12 great-grandchildren.
Tony's funeral took place at Workington's St. John's Church on Tuesday, April 1, and saw friends and family gather to share their fond memories of the 'quiet hero' and pay tribute to his enduring memory.
(Image: Supplied) One tribute read: "Tony's journey began in Keswick, where he attended school, before stepping into the working world at Twineham's.
"His early career saw him briefly serve as a swimming instructor, sharing his skills and encouraging others.
"But it was when he joined the Fire Service that Tony truly found his calling.
"He gave his heart and soul to the Fire Service, and his dedication was not only respected, it was honoured.
"In 1981, Tony was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, a testament to his unwavering commitment and integrity.
(Image: Supplied) "Rising to the rank of sub-officer, he took on the responsibility of training drivers and breathing apparatus instructors.
"His leadership and calm under pressure made a lasting impact on those who served alongside him.
"Tony was a quiet hero - a man who served his community with pride, who looked after the smallest lives with tenderness, and who never stopped giving.
"His presence will be deeply missed, but his spirit lives on in the ripples of the river he loved, in the wings of the birds he protected, and in the memories of everyone who knew and loved him."
