My father, Tony Halle, who has died aged 86, never lost his zest for working with young people. In 2013, his considerable campaigning efforts were rewarded with the opening of a children’s playground at Trent Park, Cockfosters, near his north London home.
Tony had worked with children for three decades, first as a volunteer at his local synagogue and then for 15 years as the first national youth director of Liberal Judaism. After his funeral, one young person was heard to remark: “Tony was more important in my life than my own parents.”
Son of working-class Jewish parents, Louis and Hettie, who made and sold aprons for market traders, Tony was born and went to school in Hackney, east London. He forged a career as a television and film lighting electrician and spent six months in Spain on location during the making of Lawrence of Arabia (1962), his favourite movie.
In 1975 Liberal Judaism wanted a national youth organisation. There was only one person for the job. So, at the age of 47, Tony opted for an entirely new career. He retired in 1991, but was more than 70 when he finally stopped running a youth club.
In his mid 80s, as the chairman of a group of friends, he challenged those who thought Trent Park should not have a small children’s playground next to its cafe. His good humour, contacts and sheer persistence wore down his opponents.
Tony is survived by his wife Josie (nee Chernanko), whom he married in 1953, two sons, Graham and me, by his brother, Kenny, and five grandchildren.
