Tony Jacobs had a vibrant and adventurous childhood growing up in Bethnal Green, where he embraced life to the fullest. Though formal education didn’t always hold his interest, Tony was far from idle. On his 8th birthday, he received a magic set, igniting a lifelong passion for magic. By the age of 18, his interest had evolved into escapology, performing daring tricks such as escaping from ropes while suspended from a crane, submerging underwater while tied up, and even eating fire, which once led to burns!
Tony’s escapades may have seemed reckless, but they were part of a larger journey. Drawn towards a religious life, he joined a worldwide brotherhood and spent two years in California, where he assisted in sacristy work and found his true calling in helping the community. His adventures didn’t stop there – he also spent time in Rome, where he cared for a church, Santa Maria del Pianto, for a priest friend, Father Basilia Maria. One particularly memorable experience was discovering that the church’s light switches were located entirely at one end, leaving the rest in total darkness – apart from one eerie illuminated effigy!
Despite his dedication to the brotherhood, Tony’s earlier carefree years eventually caught up with him when it was suggested that he wasn’t academically capable of achieving O levels. Undeterred, he enrolled at Bethnal Green Adult Education College, and after just eight weeks of hard work, he earned O levels in English Language and Literature. This success propelled him forward, and he went on to study Sociology, Philosophy, and Psychology at City University, where he met his future husband, Christopher. After 35 years of friendship, they became husbands.
Tony’s academic achievements didn’t stop at undergraduate level; he completed a postgraduate degree in Sociology and the Social History of Gender at Essex University. He was even accepted to pursue a doctorate, though funding constraints meant he couldn’t follow that path. Instead, Tony began teaching as a visiting lecturer at universities and further education colleges.
Christopher, who was studying law at the time, jokingly compared Tony’s academic pursuits to Maureen Lipman’s famous “ology” line in a BT advert. This sparked Tony’s interest in law, and he went on to achieve a Postgraduate Diploma in Law and complete the Legal Practice Course, where he met the current Master of St George Abadan Lodge.
Though Tony was a full-time carer for his mother and unable to work full-time, he accepted an offer of work experience at a solicitor’s firm, where he quickly secured a training contract. He passed with flying colours and has now spent 14 years specialising in criminal defence and extradition law.
Tony and Robyn, the Master of St George Abadan Lodge, would cross paths again after both became Joining Members of the Lodge, having each previously held the Senior Warden’s chair in other lodges.
Finally, a Quote to Reflect On: Jean-Jacques Rousseau once wrote, “A man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains.” This influential philosopher, writer, and composer of the 18th century offers a fitting reflection for Tony’s life journey, where freedom and responsibility have intertwined in remarkable ways.