About

• Summary:
   

  Antony was the second of three sons born to John Weston and Mary Stretton. His elder brother, Lionel James, was to follow in their father’s medical footsteps but Antony’s future was severely challenged when, at the age of nine, he suffered a severe stroke. Notwithstanding this, Antony made a great success of his life, which is outlined below. When he died in 2010, Antony directed in his Will that his Executors arrange for stained glass windows in memory of the three surgeons to be erected in one of the three big churches in Kidderminster and that a Charitable Trust be established in the name of his father to support the training of local medical students. Further information about the Stained Glass Window installation at St John's Church can be seen here and the Charitable Trust has its own website here.

• Archive link: Link to Antony’s documents and images
• No of documents: 46
• No of Images: 18
• No of photo albums: 8
• Born: Thursday, 03 May 1928
• Birthplace: Kidderminster, Worcestershire
• Died: Friday, 07 May 2010
• Bio:
   

  Family:
  Antony's father, John Weston, was the third surgeon in the Kidderminster ‘Stretton Medical Dynasty’ that started with his grandfather, Samuel, in 1856. His elder brother, Lionel James, became a General Practitioner in Ironbridge and later in Hampshire whilst his younger brother, Robert Houghton known as Robin, was an engineer with his own business.

  Early days:
  Photographs in this part of the Archive, and in John Weston’s section, show the three young children enjoying holidays in Llangwnadl, North Wales. In the early 1930s, the family drove to the area with a caravan in tow and arrived at Moelyberth Farm, asking the owner, Pierce Thomas, if they could park in his field. This was the start of the present-day caravan site and the family’s long and endearing love of the area.
  At the age of 9 however, Antony suffered a serious stroke that left him with a withered right arm and severe disability of his right leg. He was treated by his father and his mother’s brother, Jimmie Smellie, who was consultant paediatrician at Birmingham Childrens’ Hospital. Apart from having access to the most up to date medical treatment available in 1938, both doctors believed that the best treatment for strokes was a rigorous therapy programme. Modern in their practice of medicine for their time, their determination gave Antony the chance of a fulfilling life.

  Antony was an enthusiastic Scout, helping his father who was District Commissioner for ten years. In 1944 he kept a diary for the whole year which can be seen under the Documents/Other section of Antony's Archive.

  Education:
  Because of his illness much of Antony’s education took place at home.

  Career:
  When he was 21 Antony was given £1,000 by his father and he invested the money in buying a plant nursery. For the rest of his life he was devoted to growing plants for the gardens of Worcestershire. His disability was well known and accepted by his customers and clients. His withered right arm ensured that everything had to be done using one arm only.

  This Archive contains a wealth of material from Antony’s career, including many of the Certificates that he won at horticultural shows.

  As he developed the business he added to his skill as a horticulturist with a realisation that his produce could be marketed in a Garden Centre, establishing Strettons Garden Centre in Blakebrook Kidderminster that was at the forefront of retail sales theory and practice in the 1960s.

  Notable aspects:
  • made a hugely successful career despite his serious disability
  • his Will financed the installation of stained glass windows in St John’s Church, Kidderminster in memory of the three Stretton surgeons
  • his Will established the John Weston Stretton of Kidderminster Charity to support local medical students through their training

  Later life:
  As he was approaching retirement, his father and mother were building Cobbler’s Corner, Whitehill Road, Kidderminster. They were to move here from Lea Grange after John retired but he died before the building was complete. Antony moved in with his mother and lived there until 1973, whereafter he moved to The Nook, Rock where he created a small nursery that he personally tended until his death in 2010.

  Death:
  Antony died peacefully in the Worcestershire Royal Hospital on 7 May 2010 at the age of 82. His funeral service took place at Rock Church, where his coffin was transported on one of his grandfather’s Funeral Biers.

• Place of Death: Worcester
• Spouse: Unmarried
• Father: John Weston Stretton
• Mother: Mary (Née Smellie)
• Sibling-1: Lionel James Stretton
• Sibling-2: Robert Houghton Stretton