Terry G. Johnson of Fonthill Road has sadly passed away at 89 after a long battle with pneumonia. Originally an R.A.F engineer, he became a plumber by trade and went on to own a tropical fish shop on Cold Harbour Rd, where he met his partner of the next 43 years, Louise.
Moving in to Southmead at the tender age of two, Terry was a lifelong resident and a constant presence in his community, forever lending out bike pumps and fixing anything people brought him. He was always happy to offer help where he could and to stop for a coffee and a chat. An avid reader of the Mead, Terry would point out people he knew in many an article. He often recited tales of war time Bristol, the Southmead Boys Club and his time in the R.A.F.
A skilled story teller, one yarn he was quite fond of retelling is that of an extraordinary school day in his youth. A seven year old Terry went to go to the outbuilding in what is now Fonthill Primary School and, upon leaving, looked up to see the Polish Air unit flying over headed to the centre to defend against an air-raid. Sirens blaring, no-one seemed to have remembered that little Terry had gone to the loo!
A loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather – he is survived by Louise, his 5 children (Debbie, Terry, Kay, Alicia and Freya), 6 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren, who will all sorely miss hearing his stories.
Family, friends and others whose life Terry touched gathered at Canford Crematorium in Westbury On Trym on February 9th to reminisce, support each other and, as Terry always liked to do, just chat.
We’d like to thank Terry for being a dedicated reader of The Mead, and Terry’s family for telling his story.