Terry Holmes (9 Feb 1938 - 30 May 2022)

In loving memory of Terry Holmes who sadly passed away on 30th May 2022

We've just entered below a brief description of Dad's life.

Terence Ernest Holmes, always preferred Terry
Born 09/02/1938 at Lambeth Lying In Hospital to Rose and Ernest Holmes
Terry was the eldest of 6 children: Terry, Violet, Pat, twins Brenda and Jean and Peter
Terry enjoyed fishing as an earlier hobby and had a lifelong interest in coin collecting
Terry went to Henry Fawcett School in Kennington
He was evacuated during the war to Colwyn Bay in Wales with Pat and Violet, they stayed with a family on a small holding and were very happy there
Terry enrolled in the Army and went to Germany and there learned how to drive! He drove lorries which transported bailey bridges which he thoroughly enjoyed!
When he returned, he carried on his job at the Post Office and later joined the Midland Bank
In 1965, he went on holiday to Devon with Peter and friends and met Angela whom he became engaged to in 1967. They later married in 1969 and honeymooned in Austria.
They bought their own house in Slade Green which they were both very proud of and Terry did all the decorating ready for mum to join him!
Sally was born in 1977 followed by Alison in 1981, Terry truly loved being a father to his two daughters and then later became a Grandad to Edie, now 11 and Martha now aged 7.
Terry took early retirement around 1998 and had a few part time jobs to keep himself active.
Sadly Terry was diagnosed with COPD which he bravely fought for over 10 years and sadly but peacefully passed away at home on 30th May.

. Dad wouldn't have believed the amount of people that have come to pay their respects. We asked him if he wanted an 80th birthday do a few years ago , but he said he doesn't know enough people to fill a hall, I hope he's with us now to appreciate that he did.
When i look back at my childhood with Mum and Dad, it was amazing, days out, holidays abroad, going swimming, going to the marshes and making bonfires, helping me with my paper round, and i have such happy memories which i will cherish forever. We couldn't have wished for a better Dad, Grandad and husband.
-He would sit with me for hours when i was a child in my Wendy house, even in the sweltering summer and be my "customer " in the little play post office i had.
-He was so patient with me , following him around the garden with my toy mower when he was trying to mow the lawn.
-We used to go to London with Mum and meet him from work when he finished early and go out somewhere after like the zoo, or Covent garden which he really looked forward to.
-He loved going up to the Cenotaph every year to march past and we would watch out for him on the T.V
-He was always so supportive with every decision we made. Including when i was training to be a horse-riding instructor in Ashford when i was 16, resulting in him driving up and down the M20 8 times a week, he would bring me home on a Sunday evening for my day off Monday then take me back on Monday evening, then the same on Thursday and Friday. We would have some great chats and laughs on our drives which we would both really look forward to. He also taught me to drive in the car park of the yard i stayed at.
-He loved stamp , note, and coin collecting and i would check every piece of change, he would be so pleased when i came home with a new or foreign coin he didn't have.
-He would take me to my weekly horse-riding lessons and loved every minute of it.
-He loved spending time with my horse Misty before he became unwell but was always wary of horses but without fail, would go to the stables every Saturday to help me and never left until the field was clear of manure!
-We told each other every day that we loved each other and meant it every time.

I miss my Dad terribly and still can't quite believe he has passed away. He was such a kind, generous, funny, quick witted, supportive, brave, courageous, loyal and honest man and he always put us before himself and always provided and i miss this so much. I miss his sense of humour, corny jokes and the silly things he did. We were like 2 peas in a pod and he has taught me how to be a good person, just as he was. I was so proud of him, not only proud of the kind person he was but proud of how he suffered with dignity with his COPD. He never complained about it and always very thankful for how we helped him. I could spend the rest of my life telling you all what a lovely Dad he was and the memories i have but it wouldn't be long enough. We have to try and carry on life without him .
if any of you are lucky enough to still have your Dad here, please hug him a bit tighter tonight and tell him how much you love him,
We love and miss you Dad and hope with all my heart you are at peace now. Until we meet again