Leicas and Lunches

From Phil Hanson, New Zealand:

Back when the 1970s were just starting I was working as a Vancouver Sun reporter with a nice side hustle freelancing for several of the Maclean-Hunter magazines. I would deliver my copy and photographs to the company’s local bureau for the “overnight bag” to Toronto. One day I was greeted by a new Western Editor, recently arrived from Toronto: a guy called Whitney, Tony Whitney; not too long in Canada from England. We had a pleasant conversation near the end of which we discovered to our mutual delight that we used the same cameras, Leicas. That did it, a friendship that lasted more than half a century was sparked.

We quickly discovered other things in common. We both liked cars (I was covering the automotive industry for the Sun, which evolved into the weekly column that Tony took over when I left the country in 1984), we both liked eating out, to travel, we both liked watches and fountain pens, and so on. Together, we lunched our way through the 70s. We also shared an enjoyment of Indian and Mexican food; Vancouver had many such places and we patronized a good number of them. But the restaurant we frequented most was Irish-themed O’Doul’s on Robson Street, where the food was good and the service wonderful. We became such regular customers that the waitresses served our dessert parfaits with extra syrup and pretty much knew exactly what we would order without having to ask!

As others have noted, Tony had a formidable knowledge of many subjects. Arts, sport, literature, weaponry, history, commerce, engineering, wine, property  … the list goes on; and it was real knowledge, too, not just a few things he’d picked up here and there. 

One of the things that impressed me most was Tony as a father. I always remember a trip up the Squamish Highway on a gorgeous day with him and his then very young son Robin. Tony kept on pointing out to Robin the natural features, the wildlife, the sunshine, how good it was to get out and enjoy nature, and so on. He said later that he wanted Robin to realise there were better ways to get on a high than drugs or alcohol. Fast forward and Robin and Spencer turned out to be exceptional sons; Tony was hugely proud of them and often told me so. Later, he showed similar pride in his three grandchildren.

I am hugely grateful for having had Tony as a friend and colleague for so long. After I left Vancouver we stayed in touch by letter and fax and when email became a “thing” we often corresponded several times a day, exchanging views, ideas, information, jokes, solving the world’s problems; it was almost like being at O’Doul’s but without the parfait. And, of course, I always stayed with him when I was back in town. I have lots of things I’d like to share with him right now. But I can’t … and that’s going to take a lot of getting used to. RIP.

Tony working diligently in his office at Maclean-Hunter