Terry Clayton (18 Aug 1937 - 30 Dec 2016)

Terence John Clayton, our dad, aged 79, died Friday 30th December 2016 at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham following a few weeks of illness. He was diagnosed on Boxing Day with aggressive bone marrow cancer.

In 1959, Dad completed a seven-year apprenticeship at the Nottingham Evening Post as a stereotyper and then served in the Army for his National Service – he loved regaling tales of mischief that they got up to - from taking springs out of mattresses and replacing them with cotton, to moving their Corporal’s entire bedroom to the parade square.

Terry was a wonderful dancer. He spotted our mum, Margaret, at the then ‘Sherwood Rooms’ in Nottingham. She fell for his fancy moves and charming, gentle, genuine character - although it was a close call that they continued to see each other after a misunderstanding about where they would meet for their first date! (Don’t forget, this was before mobile phones existed!) They were due to meet outside Hart’s Chemist in Derby. Dad parked his car opposite the bus station and asked a local chap for directions – he sent him to Hart’s Chemist in the city centre. After arriving there and when Margaret didn’t turn up at the arranged time, Dad suddenly wondered if there was more than one Hart’s Chemists in Derby (Dad was from Bramcote, Nottingham and didn’t know the area). He asked another passer-by who confirmed that there was indeed another Harts Chemist near the Bus Station! So he raced back over to the other Chemist and Margaret, obviously quite keen, had waited for quite a while in case he was late with a valid reason….! After dating for nine months, he awkwardly offered a proposal - “Do you think you could live with my Mum and Dad’s old dining room furniture as they’re getting a new one?” After clarification that this was indeed a marriage proposal, our mum delightedly accepted. They were married nine months later in March 1968 at St Alkman’s Church, Duffield and enjoyed a short honeymoon in the Derbyshire Peak District.

In October 1969, Terry and Margaret were involved in a horrific car accident. Terry wasn’t expected to live the night, but clearly he was a fighter and made it through. It took two years to recover and return to work. On returning, the digital era had begun in the printing press and Terry was made redundant from the Nottingham Evening Post. He then went on to work at Myford’s Engineering in Beeston for several years, but was made redundant as Myford’s lost contracts due to the newly released cheaper Taiwanese-manufactured lathe. The severe damage to his leg affected the jobs that he could do, but he was delighted to accept the role of Caretaker at Frederick Harrison Infant School and absolutely loved it; frequently going above and beyond the expected duties. Due to his bad leg, he was forced to retire, aged 59.

In the meantime, they had two children - Jonathan in 1973 and Dawn-Elizabeth in 1977. Jonathan married Linda in 1997 and have one daughter, Bethany now age three. Linda is pregnant and their second baby is due in March. Dad was delighted with the news. Their daughter, Dawn married Christopher Howe in 2010 and also have a three-year-old daughter, Emily.

Margaret and Terry threw themselves into retirement life. Terry always said “Let’s enjoy travel and holidays while we can” and so they did. They were often away 200 days a year on holidays in their caravan. They also enjoyed several cruises in the Norwegian fjords, Baltic and Mediterranean over the years. We have often joked about having to book them in months in advance for a visit!

Last year, they loved taking Emily and Bethany on caravan holidays (independently!) and we were all thinking this was the start of something.

Dad will be sadly missed. Knowledgeable, practically minded, opinionated and considerate. A quiet, kind, family man who loved to tell a story, albeit, well known for it never being a short one. He loved history, his garden, nature and of course caravanning.

A funeral service will be held at 2pm Thursday 26th January at Bramcote Crematorium.

After being diagnosed with Bone Marrow Cancer, Dad said “These scientists, they still haven’t figured out how to beat cancer” we therefore feel Cancer Research UK a fitting charity for donations.

Jonathan and Dawn
xx