It is with great sadness that the club heard of the death of Terry, a stalwart of RAFGSA gliding from the early 60s until his recent run of bad health forced him in to give up the hobby he so loved.

On leaving school Terry joined the RAF, attending the No 1 School of Technical Training, RAF Halton. However, his introduction to gliding was at RAF Spitalgate, home of the Central Gliding School before it moved to Syerston, where he took his first flight in a T21, and that’s where his interest in gliding started. It was on his gliding journey the Terry met the future Mrs Walsh, Maggie. After 12 years he left the RAF and his work in the civilian world saw him and his family in the USA for a while. Much to his surprise Terry later received a US lump sum pension, which chuffed him no end.

Terry flew with a number of RAFGSA clubs that latterly included Four Counties GC then based at RAF Syerston, Wrekin GC at RAF Cosford and RAF Shawbury GC. He was a Full Cat instructor and gained his BGA standard aerobatics badge in 2012.

Always keen to test himself, his gliding journey saw Terry regularly compete in national, northern regional and inter-services competitions.

Later, Terry was a regular winner of both the “First Hour Off the Winch” and also the “Land Out While in the Circuit” competitions.

As the club instrument member Terry’s electrical training and background saw him play a pivotal role in keeping the fleet on the road,

As an instructor at Wrekin GC Terry loved to get involved and took many of the current club members for their first flight.

However, there are two other areas for which he will be well remembered.

First, in 2011 Terry formed the EEO syndicate that had purchased a Grob G102 Standard Astir II, a former Portsmouth Naval Gliding Club aircraft. EEO was Terry’s pride and joy that he would bring out on to the airfield to fly on every opportunity. The initial syndicate members, Terry and son Andrew were known as the “Dynamic Rigging Team”, both shouting contrary rigging instructions to each other! 🤣

Secondly, whilst a minor impediment, his advancing deafness became a source of great amusement to Terry as he waited to find out if he starred in the annual club calendar. Of course he did – every year!

To keep himself fit in later years Terry joined the Wrekin GC dog walkers club first having purchased, at great expense, a mongrel from Romania or some other far flung Balkan land.

Terry bore his illness with great fortitude, with unwavering resolve to see it through and with cheerful good humour. We will remember Terry for his huge gliding knowledge and his passion and enthusiasm for the sport he loved so dearly. A sad loss to the club and, in the words of the Reverend WV Awdry of “Thomas the Tank Engine” fame, he was a “Really Useful Club Member”.