Terry Ford - an Appreciation
Terry Ford, Editor of Thames Ditton Today for the past twelve years, has died following a sudden illness while on a cruise. His age was always a closely-guarded secret, and he considered himself to be at least twenty years younger than indicated on his birth certificate. He would have been 81 on 31st August, and was looking forward with his wife Yvonne to celebrating their golden wedding anniversary in September.
Terry was educated at Kingston Grammar School and then at Kingston Technical College. He was always keen on aviation, and after being invalided out of the Royal Air Force in his late teens, he embarked on a career in aircraft design. He worked for many years for many aircraft manufacturers, culminating in British Aerospace at Weybridge. He took early retirement when the design office there closed but continued his involvement in the industry, writing freelance for various journals in the technical aerospace sector until his death.
Terry and Yvonne moved with their family to Weston Green in 1963, and with his professional writing skills it was only a matter of time before he was recruited, in retirement, to help with Thames Ditton Today and became its editor. He regularly contributed articles, and his 'Round and About' series indicated a wide and active scope of activity and curiosity. As well as travel, his interests included gardening, ballroom dancing, and philately.
Terry leaves Yvonne, two sons, a daughter and seven grandchildren and will be sorely missed by them and by all of us.