A sad but very fond farewell to Terry
Driver Terry's funeral was held at Oxford Crematorium on Monday 4th September. We were pleased to be able to take a bus with 11 folk from Goring and South Stoke to the funeral - and on checking the records when we got back we found the bus was the same one that Terry drove on his last day with us.
Memories of Terry, as revealed at his funeral service
"Go ahead make my day" a legendary Clint Eastwood quote Terry would be proud of, as Clint was his hero.
We will go ahead and make a day of special memories of a loving Husband, Dad, Gar (Fletchers name for his Grampy), Brother, Uncle, Nephew and Friend.
We can have a little smile knowing that if we heard Terry's voice once more today we would be greeted affectionately by those im
"What the F are you all doing here?"
Terry was born in Chalgrove to Sid and Jean Bailey, a brother for Mag,Val and Michael, into the family home which was a nissen hut on Hampden Estate, at Chalgrove airfield,
until permanent housing was built on Brookside.
Days were filled with rough and tumble and mischief, where kids were allowed to roam free and play, whilst parents socialised. Terry being described as a mischievous,
loveable tear away by neighbours. He had nothing to fear as there was always a big sister looking out for him should he get into any scrapes.
Many a day was spent in fields with the wildlife, bringing home animals for pets, a squirrel that bit his Mums finger, a baby owl that was sent straight back to its nest,
and a Jackdaw that followed along like a friend. His first real pet was a dog called Prince.
The family grew with siblings Andrew, Winston and Sara making a family of 7 children.
Jean was always happy feeding the family plus any additional friends that stopped by. When she chopped the raw potatoes for chips, Terry ate them, and earned his nickname
Spud.
Fond of shooting, Terry took the role of William Tell, telling Andrew to stand still and put an apple on his head. I guess it was a good shot or a lucky miss because Andrew
is here today to tell the tale.
There were always games and tricks to play with brothers or consequences paid if you annoyed them. All with no real harm done as family was important.
Presents for younger sister Sara were Smurfs from petrol stations where Terry was employed as a tyre fitter.
Being a milkman, was the next employment, with Terry seeking the help of sister Valerie as a runner, shouting his orders to run from the float. Customers were lucky if
their milk arrived before lunch time as Terry wasnt an early riser.
Scooters and cars featured highly as hobbies and possessions in the teens.
Spud in a white escort arrived in Great Milton, cutting through the tranquill village scene with a blast of air horns playing the tune colonel bogey, announcing his arrival,
much to the amusement of Wendy and Julie, Susan's sisters.
He was welcomed into the Biel family with marriage to Susan in 1978 and they began married life in Lewknor.
Terry grew into a devoted family man with the births of Emma and Lisa, he was one proud Daddy, with the family later moving back to Brookside in
Chalgrove.
In early married life money was short and any job was undertaken to provide for the family.
Shovelling cow dung into bags with his brother-in- law David, driving tractors, picking potatoes, working at Leyland and then to a driving job at Matthews garage on
Breakdown recovery.
Terry loved driving his lorry, helping stranded motorists, even offering a stranger a bed for the night.
He relished helping the police, offering his skills with the big hiab with its truck mounted crane. A good night's work always finished with a kebab
stop.
Many years of garage life with laughs and friends a plenty.
Moving on from the closure of the garage he found his feet again driving a community bus around Wallingford and Goring. Offering his services with a caring, thoughtful
nature, with a smile and a touch of humour, helping everyone from school age to pension age. So many lovely messages and presents were received from his grateful passengers.
Conversation with friends or strangers alway resulted in a joke and a laugh, sometimes words that only Terry could get away with.
Life was so good, happy holidays and seasonal trips with the girls, when they all eagerly planned Christmas surprises together.
And so to becoming Gar, Grampy to Emma's son Fletcher.
Gar gained a shadow, always being followed by little feet.
Days were spent walking his childhood paths in Chalgrove, trips out, garden days, flying kites and time spent playing playstation or just laying on the trampoline looking at
the sky and chatting.
Recalling a funny playstation story of when Gar played Minecraft with Fletcher. Many an hour was spent concentrating and learning new skills, resulting in building the
best virtual house ever. Terry was so proud of his achievement but totally oblivious that Fletcher, using the other controller and a more advanced gamer, was able to infiltrate the house into the
basement and blow it up with TNT. Hard graft destroyed.
After Terrys initial shock and frustration, the shrieks of laughter from Fletcher made it all worth while.
The family grew with the inclusion of Lisa's partner Darren.Terry was happy in his company and had found someone who shared his love of films, which was vast and
wide. Always something to talk about over a take away and a cider.
Helping Lisa and Darren with their house and making sure Emma and Fletcher had a comfortable home together was top priority.
The last family holiday was to Jeff's in Portugal, a place Terry loved with plenty of sun, relaxation, good burgers washed down with a local beer and a chance to use his
photographic skills. Final happy memories were made.
Rupert Bear the pup was Terrys retirement gift, he brought hope and companionship and lots of licks.
Retirement was slow and one day Terry wanted to go and visit his brother Michael as he had often done in the past.
We walked into Michaels house and they sat by each other. They eyed each other up and down with a grin on their faces, brothers together, and the only spoken words were
"alright boy?"
When the family were thinking through your day Terry, Emma would have had you entering on a white swan to the tune by T rex, ride a white swan, one of your favorites, lisa
wanted your floral tribute to be the letter W with an anchor or a horses head arrangement, saying Dad would appreciate that. You did the girls proud, they have your humour and sense of life and
fun, with good work and family values.
Fletcher wanted you to have bad boys as the music, because when you got together you were.
The vows as husband and wife were unbroken, to have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death
us do part.
We all know there is so much more that you gave each and everyone of us and we hold those dear and give thanks.
The King of hearts, the Joker's wild.
We don't say goodbye
We don't say goodbye
With all our love for you
And what else we may do
We don't say goodbye.
Photos of Terry on the bus are hard to come by but we found this one and think it sums up Terry beautifully!
Driver's eye views!
Terry captured some of the beautiful trees and stunning sunsets you can see from the 134 Goring to Wallingford route - if you're lucky! Come and see if you can beat these!
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