bright stars of the Magic Kingdom

ICE SKATING has given Terry Lawton a good life.

Not only has it taken him around the world but he also met his wife as part of the Disney On Ice team.

Originally from Cheshire, Terry first began skating when he was 10 after watching his brother play ice hockey.

He had more than 100 podium finishes during his competitive skating career, prior to joining the cast 21 years ago.

“When I left school I served an apprenticeship as a carpenter, but I was also skating professionally,” Terry explained.

“I did seasonal work at Alton Towers from March to November and then a cabaret show around Europe and other places, including six weeks in Syria.

“This was years before the problems. We were in Damascus and it was a great place to visit and learn.

“When I heard Disney On Ice was coming to Manchester, myself and two colleagues from Alton Towers auditioned and we all got jobs.”

Terry’s coming to Glasgow this week as part of Disney On Ice’s 100 Years Of Magic show.

Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy introduce a production featuring more than 50 Disney stars from across the decades, 30 well-known songs, 14 stories, lavish sets and stunning costumes.

Terry met his Canadian wife, Elyse, after she joined the tour six years ago.

“We started skating together and fell in love,” he smiled. “We get to play Eric and Ariel from The Little Mermaid in the show, which is fun.

“I proposed to her at the top of the Eiffel Tower two years ago and we were married on Vancouver Island last July.”

Terry loves his job even though he’s away from home for months at a time.

“Last year’s tour was long – 11 months on the road. This one isn’t quite as long, it’s only eight months.

“After we finish this section we’re off for a couple of months before going to Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

“That’s an on-off tour because we have 18 containers to ship and it takes two or three weeks to get everything to each country.

“If it’s a three-week break, I’ll take the chance to come home, but if it’s less we tend to just stay where we are.”

On the opposite page, we take a look at nine other cast and crew involved in 100 Years Of Magic.

Disney On Ice, Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Wed-Sun.