by Born in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, Tony was the son of Betty (nee Stokes) and Clifford Nicholls, who was in the RAF. The family moved many times in England, Scotland, Kenya and Egypt before Tony was 14, finally settling in Kingsbury, north-west London, in 1958, where Tony attended Kingsbury County grammar school.
He and his friends became a force to be reckoned with, setting up the local Young Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament branch in 1960, and in 1962 joining the Young Communist League and the Communist party. The same year Tony was sent to Reading prison for three weeks for “obstructing a policeman” at Greenham Common.
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In 1963, in search of models of socialist living, Tony stayed in kibbutzim in Israel. During this time he became a keen photographer, and, still a member of the Communist party, on his return to the UK Tony began working as a photographer for the Morning Star newspaper (1965-69), through which he travelled in the then closed communist countries, including Russia, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Albania. He also covered a sports match for the paper that led to one of his photos making the cover of Private Eye, in 1969.
Tony received acceptance to the newly established National Film School in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, in 1972 to pursue a career in documentary film-making. A man ahead of his time, in one of his student films he explored hidden cameras in cities that enabled governments to follow and collect data on the inhabitants.
Following graduation, Tony worked as a camera assistant on two features and edited a film on projects in Chad for Christian Aid. He then worked as a director and cameraman for Liberation Films, producing health education films, community arts documentaries, and campaign videos for various organizations.
He went on to produce six one-hour documentaries for Channel 4 on the history of trade in tea, sugar and coffee (1983-85); he made educational and promotional documentaries in Nigeria and Ethiopia and produced and directed Music and Musicians of the Commonwealth (1993), a film of a gala concert for Queen Elizabeth at Lancaster House, commissioned by the Royal Overseas League.
As well as his position at Bedford, he lectured at the North London and City Polytechnics and the American College in London. We met in 1989 and in 1993 ,our son, George, was born. We married in 1998. He is survived by me and George, and by his brothers, Phillip and Geoffrey.
Tony Nicholls lived a life deeply intertwined with a passion for social justice, a dedication to media and education, and a spirit of activism that spanned decades and continents. His journey, from a politically engaged youth protesting nuclear weapons to a seasoned documentary maker and UN consultant, reflects a consistent commitment to using his skills to inform, educate, and advocate for change.
His early experiences with the Young CND and the Communist Party shaped a worldview that informed his work at the Morning Star, providing him with unique access to then-closed communist countries and fostering his photographic eye. This foundation led him to the National Film School, where his prescient exploration of surveillance in his student film foreshadowed contemporary concerns.
Tony’s professional career was remarkably diverse, encompassing documentaries for major broadcasters like Channel 4, educational films, and impactful work with the UN in developing nations. His ability to combine professional production with a genuine desire to empower communities through media, both in the UK and internationally, is a testament to his exceptional character. His time teaching in higher education and with community groups further highlights his commitment to sharing his knowledge and passion.
Beyond his professional achievements, Tony’s personal life, marked by his marriage and the birth of his son George, underscores a life rich in love and connection. His enduring activism and his dedication to documenting and amplifying the stories of others leave behind a powerful legacy. He was a man who believed in the power of media to make a difference and lived his life accordingly.
