Terry was born in Potter’s Bar, England and lived his early years with his parents and older sisters Sheila and Molly. As a Charterhouse boy he was Head Choirboy, which ignited his life-long love of singing and music. His education led him to medical school at St. Thomas’ in London where he met fellow medical student, Wendy. It was love at first sight and an almost 63-year marriage followed, filled with family, work, travel and adventures. Life was never the same for Terry, after Wendy died in April of 2015.
Terry and Wendy had 4 children (Heather, Cath, Mike and Tessa) and practiced medicine in England until Terry reached head of the practice and an itch for more challenge. Not fans of drawn out decisions, in 1966 they packed up the kids and the dog, and took a cruise ship through the Panama Canal to settle in Surrey, BC, on Panorama Ridge.
Along with fellow British Doctors, Terry established a busy medical practice where he did everything from delivering babies, to running the Emergency department at Surrey Memorial Hospital. In addition to his busy medical practice, Terry tended a thriving vegetable garden and spent many a weekend digging flower gardens for Wendy, and repairing fences broken by unruly ponies. There were many gatherings and parties with the neighbours, who became steadfast and life-long friends.
Terry was very proud of his 4 children, 11 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. He loved regular visits and dinners with them and took great interest in their lives. He suffered a great loss of his granddaughter Sarah, March 2005, at the age of 20, but was so pleased to meet his newest great-granddaughter, Annabel Wendy, born just a week before he died.
Terry was the consummate gentleman with a big personality and bigger voice that filled the room with interesting conversation and often-irreverent jokes. His interest in people and chivalrous personality drew people to him. He had a way to make everyone feel special in his presence. For this, he was very much loved, and will be profoundly missed.
Our family are so grateful to the staff and residents, at The Terraces on 7th, who were such an important part of his later years. We are sure ‘Happy Hour’ will not be the same without him.
With gratitude we say goodbye to a lovely man who never failed to shout, “Greetings!” and the offer of a drink, to anyone who walked in his door.