Our Cymru Volunteer Co-Ordinator, Tracey Bartlett, writes about honouring Terry Higgins’ legacy in his hometown in Pembrokeshire
Terry was a proud Welshman. Born on 10 June 1945 in Priory Mount Hospital, Pembrokeshire, Terry grew up in Haverfordwest with his mother Marjorie and attended the local all-boys grammar school from 1956 to 1960. He eventually left Wales, having served in the Navy, to live in London. In 1982 he was the first named person in the UK to die of an AIDS-related illness. Today, Terry’s legacy lives on through the formation of the Terrence Higgins Trust by Terry’s friends in the wake of his death.
Over the last couple of months, in my role at Terrence Higgins Trust I have been working with individuals across Haverfordwest to ensure that Terry’s legacy is celebrated in the place that his life began. To mark what would have been his 80th birthday [10th June], portraits of Terry have been exhibited across the town in which he lived much of his life. It has been a truly wonderful and inspiring experience to work with so many others to amplify Terry’s legacy and the work of Terrence Higgins Trust in Wales and beyond.
As a result of these exhibitions, I am elated that there has been calls for a permanent memorial to Terry to be established in Haverfordwest, so that for generations to come the locals of his hometown, and those visiting from near and far, can learn about the man who, in life and death, helped change so many lives for the better.
As we commemorate what would have been Terry’s 80th birthday, I am delighted to lend the voice of Terrence Higgins Trust to the calls for a permanent memorial in Haverfordwest and look forward to working with local partners to see this delivered.
You can learn more about our Do it for Terry campaign here.
Further information on the exhibitions in Haverfordwest can be found here.
