FORMER Mayor of Westbury, Terry Clements, who dedicated his life to serving the town, will be sadly missed by many groups and organisations in Westbury. Terry, who was Mayor of Westbury from 1994-1995 and 1995-1996, died on 12th May at Royal United Hospital, Bath.
Terry, alongside his wife Jenny, was a familiar face on numerous committees and groups. In his quiet unassuming way, he was dedicated to the town of Westbury where he lived for most of his life.
Jenny Clements said, “He was involved in so many things, for all age groups, probably more than a lot of people knew about.”
He was a founder of Westbury’s twinning organisation and the instigator of the Westbury marquee at the West Wilts Show. Both of these roles allowed him to promote the town he was so proud of.
For over 10 years, until 18 months ago, Terry was a governor of Westbury Junior School. He enjoyed helping the children with IT, and also helped in the special learning centre.
He was the current chairman of the town’s Royal British Legion branch.
Alongside Jenny, he fought to save Westbury Hospital from closure, serving on the League of Friends committee.
For around 20 years, Terry has been a stalwart of the Lions Club of Westbury. He organised the Lions’ inter-school concert for primary schools each year which was held at Matravers School and involved primary-age children from all the local schools. David Firth from the Lions Club of Westbury said, “Terry will be sadly missed.”
Terry was involved in Westbury’s Grassacres centre and worked for Westbury Welfare for the Elderly, which he chaired for a number of years. With a life-long commitment to the Westbury United Reformed Church, Terry was an Elder of the church. He and Jenny helped with the Pilots organisation, the mixed youth group of the church. Each year they helped take children on a week-long residential stay. Terry was involved with the Pilots organisation for over 20 years and was Chair of its national panel in London.
For approximately 25 years, Terry was a helper for the Talking Books for the Blind organisation.
He was also a member of PROBUS, the club for retired and semi-retired professional and business people,
Jenny said, “Terry was really dedicated to the town. He was a real ‘Man of Westbury’.
First living in Warminster, Terry met Jenny at the Congregational Youth Club, which later became the United Reformed Church in Westbury. The couple married 48 years ago and made their home together in Westbury. Terry was a technical officer for British Telecom at the Trowbridge telephone exchange, later working at the Bradford on Avon exchange until his retirement.
On behalf of Westbury Town Council, Mayor of Westbury, cllr Christine Mitchell said, “He will be a great loss to the community and will be sadly missed.”
Jenny Clements would like to thank everyone for their cards and messages of support of which she has received 200. “I had no idea of the number of people’s lives he touched,” she said.
The funeral service is being held at the United Reformed Church on Wednesday 26th May.
