I said the 'Paul's Scarlet' often has this here, not all hawthorns. Cutting the branches off will have no effect on the leaf spot. You have to spray for it, or take the susceptible tree out to be rid of this problem.

Thanks Bboy. I did some more research on the fungus and it is likely the problem. I hate to take out the tree, but that may be the solution. I grow roses and try to grow varieties that are disease resistant. I don't need a disease prone tree, even though I love that it is a bird magnet. It looks really ugly right now. I haven't seen it in the spring and early summer, perhaps it will earn a reprieve, but it is not well shaped, very thorny and overgrown with crossed branches and twigs that grow into a nicer looking locust beside it and obviously no fall colour.

Numbers of lopped specimens on streets and elsewhere down here almost amazing, considering how bad they look. Although unique the flowering is a bit harsh in tinting, so even that feature is of debatable value in the landscape.