On Tuesday January 19th at 2pm, the funeral was held for Papa Tony at Old Buckenham Parish Church, in Norfolk. The Church was packed to capacity with family, friends and colleagues from all over the country. Tony had lived in Old Buckenham with his wife Sheila since 2006. Four moving tributes were paid to Tony from: 1. John Oakes, 2. Martin Haydon, 3. George Taylor, 4. David Hannah, as well as a eulogy given by his friend and local priest Rev. Alistair Monkhouse. In order to continue Papa Tony’s work money is still being raised to complete the library and learning centre. A project is also underway to educate students to become teachers in the village of Phortse and to train others. If you would like to make a donation in Papa Tony’s memory, please contact Sheila via email at: tony.freake@mypostoffice.co.uk

I first met Tony Freake when we came to live in Barnet over forty years ago. My wife, Lorna and I came from the North of England; Tony and his wife, Sheila came from the East of London, but otherwise we had an enormous number of things in common. We lived three doors apart, we worshipped at the same church, we both had young and growing families and our children grew up with their children. We also shared a keen interest in foreign travel and in climbing mountains. To me at this time, foreign travel meant France and Germany and mountains meant the Lake District. Tony always went for the big one and over the years he took us to Scotland, Austria, Nepal and the southern Himalayas, Africa and Peru. Of these, without a doubt, his greatest love was for Nepal and the village of Phortse, where so much of his best work was done. Tony had an immense sense of civic responsibility. He stood as a councillor in the three-seat Hadley Ward in the London Borough of Barnet. He gathered a team of several hundred helpers and enthused and persuaded us evening after evening to give up our time to deliver leaflets, knock on doors, argue and cajole. He also persuaded Sheila to give us house-room and the encouragement we needed on bad nights. I shall never forget those evenings with their deep blue skies and the pink cherry blossom petals falling like snow. I think that they must always hold local council elections in early May so that no matter what the result of the election may be, the candidates will still be able to remember those delicious May evenings. We who supported Tony on that first May evening will certainly remember it, because against the odds and the predictions, we won, and Tony became the only independent councillor in Barnet. He won again next time, and he would have won again after that if it had not been for the prevailing political situation. When most of us go abroad, we have a holiday, meet some of the people in the place we are visiting and come back home to resume our own lives and leave the people we have met to continue with theirs, When Tony visited Nepal he found the village of Phortse and his life was changed. He came back to England and raised money at various times to build a gompa or a community building in the village, a medical centre, a school, with accommodation for two teachers, a water and electricity supply and currently training for a local teacher, until it is true to say that not a single person in that little mountain village to the North of Katmandu does not have his or her life altered and improved by Tony’s association with Phortse. And the work of the Phortse Community Project continues and will continue for as long as Tony is remembered in the work he did there. Meanwhile, back in England, back in Barnet, Tony continued to work for Brookside Methodist Church, attending meetings, writing letters, sawing wood, driving screws or whatever needed doing; Tony was never really happy unless he was doing something that needed to be done. His wife Sheila was equally dedicated to that little church, where she was in charge of lettings, and church treasurer and forever to be found hanging curtains, cleaning the premises or whatever else needed doing. Few of us realised how great is the debt we owe to Tony and Sheila Freake. I finish with the memory of the time when I was,so I thought, alone in Katmandu. Suddenly I heard from across the street a well-known voice calling, ‘What’s John Oakes doing in Katmandu?’. I look forward to the day when I shall be able to reply, ‘And what’s Tony Freake doing in Heaven?’

Hello! My name is Martin Haydon. I was elected to the Executive Committee for the Austrian Alpine Club (UK), Sektion Britannia at the time when Tony Freake was Chairman. Tony had taken over from Geoff Pearson and was our chairman for 12 years from 1989 until 2001. He had been our President ever since. When Sheila asked me if I would like to say something about Tony, I thought: “How do I encapsulate all my memories of times spent over many years; How can I possibly do justice to the many thoughts, both private and otherwise, of a man I have held in such high esteem? A person who achieved so much yet with a humility that endeared him to virtually all he met.” I suppose my first real recollection of ‘Papa’ Tony as he became affectionately known, was when in 1990 with my family, we joined the Club’s Alpine Meet at the Berliner Hütte in the Zillertal Alps. With our two children aged just 10 and 7, we joined around 40 other members for a memorable holiday. Tony as chairman master minded the meet as he also did the 50th Anniversary Meet of our section in 1998 and the Glockner 2000 Meet. His smiling face helped to make us feel very much part of something very special. He was very much a persons person and it was this special quality that throughout his involvement with the AAC, firstly as Chairman and then as President that created a strong club bond which helped set up the AAC for the future. Tony was a charismatic leader, firm and to the point, but with a cheerful disposition which ensured a happy team. He bonded a combination of formality needed on committee, with an informal approach to members. He created an environment based on friendship and although committee work involved being a section of the Oesterischischer Alpenverein the OeAV, he never forgot we were a club, for like minded people who enjoy walking and climbing in the mountains. When I joined Tony in 1997, to represent Sektion Britannia at the OeAV’s Hauptversammlung (the AGM of all the sections), I saw at first hand how Tony’s ‘one to one’ approach not only endeared him to all he met but achieved results for our section. We met many of the important figures on the main committee and he always came away with successful conclusions. There followed many official presentations with the OeAV in Austria involving our Club, such as the opening of the Britannia Room at the Innsbrucker Hütte and several other such events all procured by donations from our Hut Fund. These were always friendly affairs, much due to the rapport Tony had with those he met and his ability to make things happen. I have in my mind many pictures of events which expressed how I remember Tony. Such as the time when Tony and Sheila joined one of my Scottish Meets. On one day, Tony walked the streets of Fort William promoting the AAC and securing discounts at shops such as Nevis sports. Or the time quite recently and I believe Tony’s last AGM with the club, when he so graciously made a presentation to Don Anderson on his retirement as Chairman. Or the time at Chris Johnson’s funeral when as we were scattering the ashes from the bridge at Hubberholme, Tony united the gathering with a dignified and simple prayer for Chris. Or for me and a very special iconic moment, when at the break of dawn on July 27th, year 2000 and the 200th anniversary of the first ascent of the Gross Glockner, I along with a large group assembled outside the Oberwalder Hütte to attempt Austria’s highest mountain. As we waited, Tony came out to personally wish us all success, quoting Ed Hilary's famous misquoted words. My most poignant memory though is of Tony last September when he and Sheila joined Ros and Martin Adam’s club meet in Corsica at Storrischen Esel, the holiday village owned by the OeAV. Tony quite obviously in much discomfort, invited a few of us over to his chalet for drinks before dinner. After about 15 minutes and much to our dismay, he passed out. We left to join the entire group of 35 as Kurt Müller owner of Storrischen Esel was presented to us. In no time, Tony walked in, adorned with a Topi, his Nepalese hat, and with a broad smile that left us in disbelief. Ros presented him with a prayer scarf and from the photos which followed, one could be forgiven for believing he was in full health. Tony conducted himself in those latter days as he had always done so, with dignity, faith and optimism. He had an immense zest for life along with a joyful humour. He was a fine leader of our Club. Quite simply Tony Freake was Mr AAC, and everyone's friend. God Bless you Tony and ‘auf wiedersehen’ .

For those who do not know me, my name is George Taylor, and I first met Tony at the beginning of a walk organised by the AAC in Hertfordshire in 1990. Tony immediately welcomed Margaret and myself to the Club – he always made sure that everyone was welcome and included in the group – no-one was ever left on their own. Little did either of us know that 10 years later I would succeed him as chair of the Club’s UK section and that the meeting would have such an impact on our lives. Tony’s first visit to Nepal was in 1989 when he went with a commercial group to climb Mera Peak. His sirdar, Ang Phurba later joined with others, Deepak Lama and Ang Zangbu, in Wilderness Experience, which has organised so many expeditions led by Tony for Club members. The partners, their families and all at Wilderness Experience have asked me to read this tribute: Papa Tony – all of us at Wilderness Experience Trekking in Nepal are so sorry on your passing away. This is a great loss to us all. You always gave us good guidance and love. You were not only a good patron for our business but a long-time friend and a source of inspiration. Ang Phurba personally wants to thank you for your contribution to the Phortse people, and feels very lucky working with you on this project. On this day of the full moon, which was four days after you died, we performed a PUJA (a tribute) at Bhaudhanath Stupa, (the main Stupa in Kathmandu), and lit hundreds of butter lamps praying for the eternal peace of your soul. May the almighty God give strength to Sheila and her family to bear the loss and may your soul rest in peace. We shall miss you greatly. Tony fell in love with Nepal and its people and visited the country 28 times. That love was reciprocated by the many Nepalese who became his friends. On his visit to the Khumbu in 1989, Tony passed through the village of Phortse, then rather off the beaten track and poorer than other villages in the area which saw more of the tourism trade. That visit to Phortse was to change both his and Sheila’s lives, and more important, it changed the lives of the people of Phortse, whose welfare became his purpose. Following the visit, Tony went into action and founded the Phortse Community Project, which over the years built a school, the teacher’s house, a medical centre and a gompa, and then most recently, a library. Tony linked the village with mains electricity and drinking water, a remarkable achievement. Whilst ensuring that the improvements took effect, Tony was always keen to ensure that the local people could manage the projects once built thus developing their self-confidence. In providing this help for Phortse, he directly involved people from the Club, both in the UK and in Austria, and also young people from Canning Town and from Eton College. Margaret and I first joined one of Tony’s expeditions in 1998 on a circuit of Annapurna followed by a visit to the Annapurna Sanctuary – which I still believe is the most beautiful place in the world. Our second trek with Tony was in the Langtang, where one of my treasured memories was when Tony was visiting one of those blue tents which we all have to visit at regular intervals. Suddenly there was a cry of ‘leeches’, and the tent rather than remaining upright, began to take on a life of its own, extending at random seemingly in all directions until it finally collapsed. A number of sherpas rushed to the rescue and a few moments later there emerged a smiling Tony, having defeated the vicious monsters! Last year we joined Tony for what was to be his final visit to the Himalaya. We trekked in Sikkim and then explored Bhutan, but sadly Tony was not well enough to join us there and had to return home early. Margaret and I have now led three expeditions to Nepal, and we owe a great debt of gratitude to Tony, as we should not have done it without him. He gave us an enormous amount of help, and we learned a huge amount from him and so were able to conduct our own treks with confidence. Tony – we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. In November last year – barely three months ago – we stayed a night in Phortse. In the four years since our previous visit, much had changed. The school had somehow come alive, with the walls covered with the children’s work, and it would have looked good in an English classroom. The library was excellent, again with a collection of books which did them credit. A month after our return, Margaret and I visited Tony and Sheila, and although weak, Tony was able to derive pleasure from seeing our photographs of the Khumbu and particularly those of Phortse. In 2008, Tony won the Hillary medal which was awarded for ‘remarkable service in remote mountainous regions’ – it was exceptionally well deserved and a mark of great distinction. The award was to recognise the work which Tony had led with such energy in Phortse. The people of Phortse have prepared this tribute: Dear Papa Tony We, the entire Phortse village community, are grateful to you for your kind and generous support. We shall miss you very much. Your untimely demise is an irreplaceable loss to us all. To remember you, we shall erect a combined chorten and statue at Phortse as a tribute. May your soul rest in peace. I should like to conclude by telling a little story about the time when Margaret and I first visited Phortse four years ago. We were entering the village and one of our sherpa friends said to an old lady coming our way ‘these are friends of Papa Tony’. There was a moment’s pause and she looked at us and said ‘he has opened our eyes’. There is no finer tribute which could be paid to any man than that. We say farewell today to a man who was modest but had nothing to be modest about. Tony, on the surface an ordinary man, achieved extraordinary things. In life, we respected and we loved you, and we now salute your memory.

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is David Hannah and I have lived in this village for the last 23 years. How do you describe a beautiful piece of music that moves you?, How do you describe an absolutely stunning view that takes your breath away for the first time? How do you describe the way you feel about someone who made a tremendous impact on your life? Occasionally in your lifetime you may be fortunate enough to meet a special person who makes an impact on your life, someone who you feel an instant warmth and connection with, a person who inspires you, helps you think differently, helps you achieve dreams you never thought were possible, a person who shows great love and humour, for me that person was Tony. The first time I really met Tony was Oct 22nd 2006 in this Church over a cup of coffee. Such was the impact that Tony made on me I can almost recollect our first conversation ‘word for word’. After we’d introduced ourselves I asked Tony how he was and he told me he had a sore throat, I asked if he was concerned about this and he replied that he was a little concerned as he was going to Nepal in 2 days time. I told him that I had always dreamt of going to Nepal and that I would love to go with him. In what I was later to discover was ‘typical Tony style’ he replied “Well why don’t you come with me?!!’, I replied that of course this was not possible, so he replied ‘Well why don’t you come with me next year” - “So you go every year?!” - “Well I’ve been 23 times over the last 19yrs” replied Tony. Whereas I was an ‘armchair’ enthusiast, I learnt that Tony was the ‘real thing’. As well as being a climber for many years, he also told me about his love of Nepal and in particular his village of Phortse and the people who lived there. We agreed that I should go with him the following year, so in the autumn of 2007 we spent three glorious weeks together trekking in the Khumbu region accompanied by his Sherpa friend Panuru. During this time I learnt not only about Tonys love and respect of Phortse and the Sherpa people, but also about his apparent unconditional love of the human race. Tony appeared to have a natural gift of viewing who ever he met as being a member of his extended family. There were many many occasions where Tony showed his love for others but there was one simple act that will stay with me for ever:- We had been trekking for 4days,we were at 4000mtrs, we were still on our way to Phortse, it was 6pm dark and very cold outside. We went into the baking hot communal room of the Tea House where we were staying, it was like entering a Tuberculosis Ward, people sitting on soft covered benches with horrendous coughs, colds and goodness knows what! Whilst I was trying to eye-up the most healthy person to sit next to Tony plonked himself down next to a young Australian guy who even before he burst into a chest ripping cough I could tell he didn’t look well. “I think we’ll sit here” announced Tony. Tony shuffled up alongside the Australian, stretched out his hand and said “Hello my names Tony” the chap looked at Tonys outstretched hand and said “You’d better not get too close to me I’ve got a lot of bacterial stuff going on!”, Tony kept his hand outstretched - smiled at the man - and replied “But there’s nothing wrong with your hand is there?!” Make of that what you will, but to me it was a sign of unconditional friendship shown to a total stranger. I was also completely overwhelmed by the obvious love and esteem the local people had for ‘Papa Tony’, as he was known locally. As for his concern for me if I was unwell, Tony would just smile, chuckle & say “you’ll get over it!!” Two years then flashed by, during which time Tony treated me to other meaningful experiences and bottles of ‘Tashe Delek’ homemade wine!! The sad day came when Tony told me in his kitchen that he had cancer, he then immediately asked … “Would you like a beer?” In typical Tony style, rather than say how awful it was, he looked to the future and got on with life. Over the following months, as well as battling his illness, he ripped out his front hedge, planted a new one, drew up plans for a new porch, saw it built and had some wonderful holidays with all his family lovely around him. It is easy to undervalue the phrase ‘An honour and a privilege’ but for me, it was truly ….. ‘An honour .. and ..a privilege …and jolly good fun to have known Tony. …. and … incidentally ……. There’s nothing wrong with your hand is there?

There is in the 12th chapter of the Gospel of Mark and account of a scribe asking Jesus ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this; “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Tony, did more than anyone I know to live by this maxim. His service to God and to mankind and his love of everyone he met is beyond question. His love and affection and what he did for the villagers of Phortse in Nepal would take many people many lifetimes rather than what he achieved in the last twenty years of his life. Tony was born on 6th April 1937 in Banbury Oxen, the youngest brother of Bob. His parents ran a Post Office and General Store in nearby Bloxham. They moved to Dalston, East London when he was six months old. His parents continued to run a Post Office and General store at an area called ‘Waste’ in Kingsland Road. He had a favourite Auntie Joyce at Cambridge and he and his brother were sent to stay with her at the outbreak of war. However Cambridge was bombed more often than London at that time and so they returned back home to get away from the bombing raids. Educated at local Primary and Secondary schools he left school at the age of 15 and was taken on as an apprentice at Nagretti & Zambra the worlds most famous instrument maker in Kings Cross. National Service was deferred until his apprenticeship was completed at the age of 21. Joining up he served his time with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) for 2 years During this time he was offered a posting either in Hong Kong or Taunton. He decided Taunton for it so happened that just at that time Shelia was studying at Exeter University. After National Service he returned back to Nagretti & Zambra to take up employment where he had left off. Soon after returning to civilian life he took up a post in the Physics department at King’s Colledge London. There he worked in the research workshops designing and making specialised research equipment. After a short time he moved to Queen Elizabeth College, Kensington when the reader in physics at Kings took up the new chair of Physics. Tony set up the new research workshop at Queen Elizabeth’s. He worked there as chief technician until there was a move by the government to amalgamate colleges to make centres of excellence. It was Tony’s task to then move the Physics department back to Kings College. Soon after he took early retirement in 1988 at the age of 51. He first met Shelia in 1953 at the Methodist Church Youth Club run by Shelia’s father. They were married on 4th August 1962 at the newly built Methodist chapel. The original chapel had been badly damaged during World War 2. They settled in New Barnet where they lived for 44 years until they moved to Old Buckenham in 2006. -2- Tony and Shelia have two children, Andrew now living at East Harling and Julie who lives at Aylsham. Both have two daughters and one son making a total of six grandchildren. The family worshiped at Brookside Methodist Church East Barnet. There Tony held office as a steward and also looked after the property, and doing repairs to the fabric of the building. During the seventies he was chairman of Christian Aid in Barnet. It was around this time that he became interested in local government. He formed a residents association and was elected to the council where he served as an independent councillor for eight years loosing his seat at the time of the Falklands war. The J. P. who signed the record of his expenses for that election suggested he might like to think of offering to become a J.P. He was appointed in May 1984 and served on the bench for 15 years. Good friends John and Lorna Oakes introduced the family to the Lake District and sowed the seed for many adventures in the British mountains. Another friend from Barnet, Peter Lappage, who was Tony’s agent at election time, suggested that Tony and Shelia should join the British Austrian Alpine Club, when Tony was planning a family holiday in Austria in 1975. We have heard today how their association with this club developed. After many happy trips to the Alps with friends, Tony set his sights higher – literally. In 1988 he made his first trip to Nepal and to the village of Phortse for which he did so much during the last 20 years which we have heard about in the tributes today. In 1995 Tony was awarded a ‘Unsung Heroes’ award for helping the Sherpa people by the celebrity Guild of Great Britain. Later he was also thanked and presented with a Karta scarf by the Dali Lama in recognition of all his work with the Sherpa people. Tony was never content to just ‘belong’. He had to be involved. This was particularly true of the British Austrian Alpine Club where he served on the committee, becoming Chairman and finally President. Possibly not too many people in Old Buckenham knew much about Nepal and the Himalayas, other than Mount Everest, until Tony and Sheila moved to this village. Following many talks from Tony we soon discovered the fascinating story of the village of Phortse, which you have heard today in the tributes. Very soon he was known as Papa Tony to both young and old. To use his own words ‘I went to climb a mountain and fell in love with a community of Sherpas’. Of all his work in Phortse, comprising 27 visits over 20 years; the uniqueness of two major projects has stuck in my mind. The first is the setting up of the 60 kw hydroelectric scheme bringing electricity to the village. It was not so much the building of the power plant it was the involvement of all the villagers. There are no motorways, highways, A or B class roads in the mountains only tracks skirting around the mountainside. All the equipment was flown in by helicopter to the outskirts of the village 3,900m above sea level. All the supplies including a mile length of heavy-duty aluminium transmission cable was manually carried by over 100 of the villagers for two days. The line of sherpa’s carrying the supplies and cable looked like a snake winding itself along the track. -3- The second was when Tony laid on a water supply to the village. The villagers did not want the water piped to their individual houses but to one central point in the village. Otherwise this would mean that they would not collectively meet each day to pass on the local news and gossip. Tony did as they wanted The works of the late Edmund Hillary who climbed Everest in 1953 with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay inspired Tony. After climbing Everest Edmund Hillary dedicated the rest of his life to improving the lives of the mountain folk in Nepal. For the last twenty years Tony has emulate Edmund Hillary in his own way for the villagers of Phortse. In 2008 Tony was only the third man in the world to be awarded the Edmund Hillary medal. This was for his work in giving remarkable service in conservation of culture and nature in remote mountain regions. Today as we say our farewells the Edmund Hillary medal has pride of place with Tony. You may have noticed that David and myself are each wearing a scarf, which is known by the name of Karta. It is made of silk, by the villagers of Phortse and is known as a prayer scarf. It is generally used on great occasions or to welcome an important visitor. It is also given as a sign of friendship or presented at a time when a great project or occasion is completed. When Edmund Hillary died in January 2008 his coffin was draped with the Karta scarves on behalf of the people of Nepal for all that he did for them. We follow this today by doing the same on behalf of the villagers of Phortse, by draping onto Tony’s casket these scarves in recognition and thanks for all the many projects he completed. But his work does not stop here. Shelia and members of the family will be going out to Phortse in May where a memorial is being built in his name. Money is still being raised to complete the library and learning centre. A project is also underway to educate students to become teachers in the village and train others. So can I ask you to dig deep in your pockets as you leave here today so that your donations in Papa Tony’s memory will continue to help that very isolated village nestling under the shadow of Mount Everest. As you travel from Tony's home to this church you will pass along a Norfolk road skirting the largest village green in the country. Past village ponds and open countryside. On the other side of the world you would travel along mountainous tracks, pass large waterfalls and glimpse the snow-capped mountain of Everest to reach the village of Phortse. Tony was quite at home in both environments and with the people he met. All through his life he was thoughtful of others, his friendship was something special. If it were possible to help or encourage others less fortunate than himself then he would always do so. There is a passage in the bible when Jesus says 'What you do for the least of my brethren you do to me'. Tony in helping others in his life was living the Christian message, a message of hope for a future life to come; a time when we will be all reunited together. I'm sure Tony, would be the last person to think about this, but in his own way he was bringing about the kingdom of God on this earth. If more people accepted life, with all its joys, sadness and challenges, like Tony, then this world would be a far better place. -4- In the Gospel of Matthew chapter 25 it tells of the parable of the Talents. It describes where a man goes on a journey and gives to three men talents of money. One five, the second two, the third one and told them to invest them wisely whilst he was away. The first used the skills he had and gained five more; the second did the same and gained two more. The third frightened of his master just buried it. On return the master awarded the first and second for increasing their investment but to the third he scorned and sent him away for wasting his time. So it was with Papa Tony. He had been given certain skills and talents and all through his life he had used these to the benefit of others especially the village Phortse and as a result they are that so much better off. We give thanks for Papa Tony’s life. We bring before God our own memories of him and give thanks for his life and for the opportunity of knowing him and being touched by his life. As we do this we can only in tribute to Tony repeat the words of the master of the man that doubled his talents for the benefit of others. ‘Well done good and faithful servant.’ We pray that Tony, as promised by Christ our Saviour, may now rest in eternal peace, and rise again in glory. - Amen

It is with deep regret that I have to announce that after Papa Tony’s courageous battle against cancer, he sadly passed away on Sunday December 27th 2009.

I am writing this on his behalf so that all his many friends who have followed his work over the months & years will know why Papa Tony has not been in touch recently. If you would like to send a message of condolence to Sheila you can do so via Tonys email address: tony.freake@mypostoffice.co.uk - or you can contact me on thegables_2002@yahoo.co.uk

Please continue to visit this website as updates will follow at a later date.