It is with sadness that we announce the death of liveryman Tony Horn, who died suddenly on 12 January, shortly before his 77th. birthday. Tony had spent a lifetime in the hatting industry and the Horn family has been involved in hatting since the early 1800s.
He left Dunstable Grammar School in 1949, and spent two years in Switzerland studying bleaching and dyeing before joining the family firm of H. Abraham in Luton. H. Abraham were dyers to the hatting industry and following several mergers are now Baxter Hart and Abraham, suppliers of all materials, trimmings and accessories for hats, and still have their associated dye works called Barford Brothers Ltd. Tony joined the Feltmakers’ livery company in 1988, and his career led him to take on many duties related to the hatting industry, including Chairman of London Luton Bleachers and Dyers Association in 1956, member of the British Colour Council and colour selection committee from 1956–78, member of the Hat, Cap and Millinery wages council for 20 years, member of the council of the British Hat Guild 1970-90, and Chairman of the Millinery Trades Benevolent Association in 1985.
Tony was a family man, marrying his wife Jill in 1958 and they had two sons, Richard and John, and a daughter, Karen. John works in the family firm and is a liveryman in the Worshipful Company of Feltmakers.
Tony was keen on skiing, tennis, golf and table tennis, and also enjoyed model engineering, woodworking and building radio and hi-fi equipment.
His funeral was held on 1st. February at The Priory Church, Dunstable.
