‘Inspiration to many’ pub landlord Terry dies, 61

tcollins@thekmgroup.co.uk The former landlord of a popular pub has died after a lengthy battle with kidney problems and cancer.

Terry Lee Clark, 61, died peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday last week at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

Mr Clark took over the Windmill pub in Hythe Road in Ashford, then called The Fox, in 2000.

The previous year he had moved to Ashford from Liverpool to care for his elderly mother, earning him the nickname Scouse Terry with his new friends down South. Mr Clark had already been diag- nosed with kidney failure and undergone a kidney transplant when he met his future wife Susan Clark in the town.

Tragedy then struck again when he was diagnosed with lymphoma and underwent chemotherapy, affecting his transplanted kidney and returning him to needing regular dialysis.

His son Ted, 34, a talented musician in the town, said: “Dad was an inspiration to many. Even though he spent a lot of time in poor health, he would never let it get him down and always remained positive.

“He spent a great deal of time at the dialysis unit at the William Harvey Hospital, where the staff got to know his mischievousness and charm. His passion for car- pentry and his gratitude towards the caring staff meant he spent a year making the nurses a wooden table, whenever he was well enough and could go down to his workshop in the garden.

“Everyone who had the good fortune of meeting him was drawn in by his life stories, wis- dom and charming character. He had suffered so much but was insistent that his condition would not define him, he would never come across as being a sick man, just a man passionate about his family and life.”

Mr Clark is survived by his wife Susan, his two children Ted and Leesa, and his granddaughter Nicole. His funeral will be held at Charing crematorium at 1.20pm on Monday, February 10. His coffin will be driven through Ashford on a special trike hearse, as Mr Clark dreamed of touring Scotland on a trike with Susan.

The family has asked for donations to the Kidney Foundation rather than flowers.

For information call Sullivan and Son 01304 201322.

The tricycle hearse