Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father, Terry has always reared animals and grown fruit and vegetables for sale. Cattle, sheep, rabbits, pullets, potatoes, cauliflowers, brussel sprouts, strawberries - his output dictated by growing conditions and customer demand.
Working on many local farms - Brooking, Broadreach, Sharpham Barton, Tideford, Yetson, Langham - he started milking cows by hand when he was 12 and still at school. Later he bought three fields between Tuckenhay and Cornworthy to plant vegetables and set up as a market gardener like his grandfather - often working 15 or 16 hours a day.
All still images in the video © Ski Harrison, Tuckenhay, 2025
At 25 he met an Italian girl, Marisa, at a dance in Stoke Gabriel, and when they married shortly afterwards she became a much loved figure in the local community.
For many years a small number of fishermen were allowed to catch salmon on the Dart estuary using a rowing boat and a seine net, which was tethered to the shore by a pole and then dropped slowly into the water from the stern of the boat as it was rowed across the river.
Terry’s father Norman had one of the licences to fish in this way, together with his friend Cyril Finn. Terry had little time to join them until the 1970s, but took over from his father in due course and was joined by Don Chalcroft and Ron Tucker.
As the number of salmon in all South Devon rivers has dramatically declined, the Dart Harbour Authority withdrew all seine netting licences in 2019. The Collings boat was one of the last to go.
All still images in the video © Ski Harrison, Tuckenhay, 2025
Understandably, Terry doesn't make much mention of dates during the conversation, so we've attempted to pull together a loose chronology (some of the periods overlap) for some of the activities and periods he mentions, for anyone who is sufficiently interested to know more:
Born in Cornworthy
Began working at Tideford Farm (owned by William Tozer, an architect from London), looking after between 80 and 120 cows for 8 years.
From 1970 Terry undertook relief milking at a number of local farms including Yetson, sometimes starting at 3am. In 1970 he bought about 50 acres of fields between Tuckenhay and Cornworthy and later rented more from Peter Wheeler at Tuckenhay Mill. At first he kept sheep, but later ploughed them up to start market gardening.
Market Gardening - producing Brussels sprouts, potatoes, cabbages and cauliflowers. The drought year of 1976 produced a bumper crop of potatoes and one Christmas the crop of sprouts weighed 16cwt, all supplied to local shops (Heaths, Chalices, etc).
This period saw a gradual change-over to growing strawberries - vegetable growing ceased in 1978. However, his wife Mariysa fell ill and without her help to deliver the fruit to customers, he had to give this up.
When his friend Cyril Finn retired they both started to go salmon fishing on the River Dart (no 8 Tuckenhay boat), often with other friends, Don Chalcroft or Ron Tucker. Three is the ideal number - one to row, one "shoot the net" and one as shore-man.
During this period just prior to retirement Terry's hedge-laying skills were recognised by the Chairman of South Hams Council and he was employed for two winters to hedge-lay on behalf of the Council. He was paid about £3.50 a metre. He also made an appearance on Radio 4's Farming Today programme.
After the market gardening finished Terry returned to rearing sheep, cows and "suckling calves" which were sold at about 9 - 10 months as "stores".
Interviewing, research and editing conducted by John Hitchins, Ski Harrison and Andy Greener