OBITUARIES and tributes can come in many forms. I would like to write my tribute to Tye Green resident Terry Pusey, who has passed away, aged 66, after a short illness.

Every few months, I would pop in to the Garden of India on a Saturday night to pick up a takeaway.

Anyone who knows Mo’s Garden of India in Bush Fair will appreciate that you end up spending about an hour standing in the corner of the bar area, chewing the fat, with, how can we say, men of a certain age.

On many many occasions, there would be Terry in the corner. Or Terry “Hot” as he was known. His tolerance of the hot curry was legendary. It was so famous there was even a competition, where all comers would be defeated by Terry.

Terry was also pleased to see you (not always a given in journalism). And we would just chat. Often about Leyton Orient. The usual: management, owners, knocking on the door of promotion or otherwise etc.

On quite a few occasions, we would discuss Las Vegas. Terry had been there on a number of occasions. You got the distinct feeling that he liked a bit of a gamble.

Then there was music. Terry had a company that bought and sold CDs and vinyl. He was the type of man you could say, I had a 12′ single Junior Giscombe “Mama Used To Say”, 1982 but I lost it and I can’t find it anywhere. Next time, I was in, he would say: “Oh, that 12′ single you were looking for…….”

But in my brief conversations with Terry, which took place for over a decade, I just got the feeling, that he was just a lovely fella. A caring fella.

Politically, I think he was of the left. He was pleased when Jeremy Corbyn was leader of the Labour Party. Whatever the merits of that, it said a lot about Terry.

I have interviewed several Prime Ministers in my time but it was conversations with people like Terry where I learned the most.

In conclusion, Terry was simply a nice fella. And the world can’t really afford to lose nice fellas. However, we are all the better for having met Terry Pusey and although I may stick to my Chicken Tikka Masala thank you, I think, if we can do one thing as part of Terry’s legacy, then we can be more like Terry.

I will miss you Terry but thank you for those chats in the corner of the Garden of India.

Michael Casey

Editor

Your Harlow

There is a wake for Terry at the Garden of India on Thursday evening. Full details below.

https://www.facebook.com/thegardenofindia