TERRY MASTERSON (06 01 1935 - 18 05 2023)

It is with very great sadness that I have to announce the death of a man who has been a very close friend of Tina and I since soon after we met him in 1968. Terry Masterson was not only a great companion, he was also a man that we very much admired. Terry had a remarkable and distinctive voice and he sang in a way that was unique and showed a great understanding of the tradition. When he accompanied his singing on the guitar, his backings were spare and unobtrusive.
His contribution to the development of the folk scene in Sussex was enormous. In the early 1960s, along with Jack Whyte he started three of the earliest folk clubs in Sussex in Brighton, Worthing and Lewes and there has been a folk club in Lewes ever since, all showing the strong commitment to traditional song that Terry espoused.
He was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and soon it became clear that this was terminal. The way that he and Carole faced this together was utterly admirable. Terry managed to maintain a positive attitude and Carole was entirely supportive. They both wanted him to remain at home and despite the huge pressure this involved, this was what happened. When his peaceful passing occurred on Thursday afternoon, Carole and his sister Ann were with him.
We were with him a few hours before this and in his lucid moments he was full of praise for all the people that were supporting him – the nurses and carers that were coming in and, of course, Carole and Louisa.