Richard Anthony Barnfield was born on 19 January 1949 within the sound of Bow Bells (except that they had not been ringing for several years because of the Blitz in the Second World War). His father had only been demobbed from the Army for a couple of years and was newly married to the young actress Elizabeth Gibb.

Childhood was spent in the Western suburbs of London - Edgware, Southall and Harrow in Middlesex - and by his teenage years, Tony had demonstrated a flair for journalism (publishing his own series of newspapers from the age of nine) and self-publicity, with something of a talent for business and organising. After dismissing thoughts of being a bus driver or conductor, or (interestingly) a hotel manager, he set his sights on a career in radio as an Announcer.

After leaving school at eighteen, Tony studied business at Ealing Technical College and then spent nearly two years at Stockwell College of Education in Bromley, Kent. At both Colleges, Tony became Social Secretary among other things, and rather than employ a disc-jockey for the College Dances (these were days when live bands played for most of the evening, with a dj spot for half-an hour in the middle), Tony took to the turntables himself. In July 1969, at the age of twenty, he appeared as a "DJ Discovery" on BBC Radio 1's "Stage 1" talent show.

That Summer, he worked in the Presentation Department of Radios 1 and 2. Also new to the networks, standing in for a holidaying Dave Cash, was the relatively unknown Terry Wogan, and while Tony had a full-time temporary contract for the Summer, a new voice was about to hit the airwaves working with Tony on the five-minute daily Radio 1 pop competition, his contemporary Noel Edmonds, who had a similar contract - for just two afternoons a week!

By the mid-1970's, Tony had worked as Assistant Manager at the Watford Palace Theatre, Chief Cashier of The HMV Shop in London's Oxford Street, and was now a regular on the London disco scene, working mainly in West London but also in such celebrated venues as The Marquee Club in Soho and Mayfair's Saddle Room Club. He also worked for BBC Radio 3, preparing the schedules, announcements and records for the announcing team, and then came his big chance, an "Attachment" as an Announcer on BBC Radio 4.

Soon afterwards, Tony decided on a freelance career as a radio presenter/interviewer and producer, and in the next couple of decades he was to appear on all the national radio networks as well as World Service and some commercial stations. Over the years, he interviewed several Prime Ministers, Royalty, film stars, actors, musicians, dancers, television presenters, and people in many other walks of life. Tony appeared regularly on major programmes like "Today", "Woman's Hour", "Round Midnight", "Friday Night is Music Night", and more besides. For many years he had almost exclusive radio access to the stars of BBC Television programmes, working regularly with major names such as David Attenborough, Val Doonican, The Two Ronnies, Jason Donovan and other "Neighbours", "EastEnders" stars from Dot to Dirty Den, and international personalities like Tony Bennett, Oscar Peterson and Larry 'JR' Hagman. Indeed, it was when he made a trip to Bournemouth to interview tv chef Susan Hicks about her forthcoming BBC-TWO series and book "The Fish Course" that Tony discovered that The Nurse's Cottage was on the market. He saw it on a Saturday, made an offer the next day and everything was agreed with the vendors by Monday lunchtime!

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