spotlight on.....
A evening with the comfy Chair, by John Smith
"Are you sitting comfortably ...".
I recall as a child sitting in front of the radio to be entertained by tales which have long since been forgotten. When Terry was invited to write a piece about himself, (well his arm was being twisted really!), I volunteered to ease the burden by having a chat. The Committee meeting had closed. The rest of the "gang" had departed so with a fresh cuppa we started the dialogue....
Terry William Robertson was born at an early age (I remember writing that at school about Mozart ..), actually the same year as I was born, 1952. That makes us about the same age ...! He was born in Harlow, making him an Essex boy. With the influence of a Welsh coach at the local athletics club, by the age of 17 he had serious ambitions of becoming an international athlete. Having achieved locally, being the Town Champion and representing the County at middle distance running, he revelled in meeting stars of the day, Ron Clark, Kip Keino and many others. His dreams were shattered when he had a serious injury, pulling a muscle in a cross country race, which took months to heal and he became disheartened. In 1969 he moved north to Sunderland where his mother joined the many relatives who lived in the Hendon area, however in 1975 his mother died leaving him to "fend" for himself.
His first job was in an Architects Office, in the print room as a "Trainee Draughtsman", although as a Trainee it was the menial tasks that every new starter has to endure. In the 70's there was a recruiting drive for Miners and so realising that there was "dosh" to be had, he joined up and volunteered for overtime, driven to build a future for himself. Despite working long shifts, Terry entered the property market, helped by an older friend, and began working on his property when not at the pit. Although the rent income was menial, he realised the potential value of the property market. Not for him the all too common folly of expecting instant success and wealth!
Over the years he has evidently been an unofficial social worker, going more than the extra mile to help those he comes into contact, and appears to do much more for his tenants than many grandiose Social Landlords. The many real life stories about characters he has dealt with could keep anyone out of bed chatting for a month!!
I check the clock and find that an hour has passed and I am reminded that "Time flies like an arrow" (but fruit flies like a banana...!). "
"More tea?" The legacy of working shifts and his driving force to keep active mean that it is not unusual for Terry to start at 4 am - or even stay up all night working. ,br/>
He obviously has great pride in the love of his life, (not his collection of classic fire engines, I hasten to add!) and two sons and a daughter, of which he is rightly proud.
What about these Fire Engines? How did he get interested? A Drama programme on TV startled and fascinated him and that was it. He was hooked! One of his sons has obviously picked up Dad's enthusiasm and joined the Fire and Rescue Service.
From Road Runner ("Beep beep") he had moved to Motorist at the age of 19. I ask about his dream car? "A Jensen Interceptor" he says and I concur that it had been one of my favourites too, ahead of it's time in design and still has a style and quality sadly lacking in many of today's cars. Terry clearly he has kept an eye on the many Interceptors still for sale on Ebay, where he acquired at least one of his Fire Engines, so I wouldn't be surprised if one day, when his ex-cop Volvo estate finally dies and goes to heaven that his wife has yet another rival ....
As a motoring enthusiast, who at the drop of a hat will drive off for the sheer delight of driving, he has seen many bad accidents, even before his 21st birthday he recounted having witnessed a fatal crash between a motor bike and a car, soon afterwards following a Mini which struck a pedestrian on a country road tragically killing him. Terry recounts in vivid detail the action he took to assist and how the Police at first seemed not to believe his 999 call due to his calm and sure responses about the deceased.
Anyone who knows Terry will know that he enjoys a laugh and, trying to scrounge a tip, I ask him for his source of jokes. Like many of us he simply suggests that he has a good memory for things that are important to him and that they have been accumulated over many years.
What of the future? Well he has already recently passed his C+ driving test that allows him to drive a 38 ton rigid lorry, and recently trained and took his test in a 51 foot articulated lorry, which unfortunately broke down during the test so he awaits a new appointment.
He is probably the most fanatical motorist I have met (but not an "Anorak"), but that seems to be consistent in many areas of his life. Where Terry has a dream, he will strive to achieve it, then seek another goal. Remarkably that would never be at the expense of others, more likely he presents a shining example and his generosity and industry is remarkable, but modesty forbids him to acknowledge such qualities.
What's the time, Terry? Twenty past eleven? My wife will wonder where on earth I am!!
Two hours have passed, which without exaggeration could have extended to two weeks, and I would still have been listening and fascinated by Terry's accounts. However there is a deadline for this article and a limit to the number of words to fill it!!