Terence Collier (OW 1961)

(7 January 1942 – 4 April 2022)

The Waynflete Office has been informed of the death of OW Terence ‘Tex’ Collier. Our condolences to Terry’s wife Nina, their children Anne-Marie, Patrick and Garry and Terry’s wider family and friends.

We are grateful to Terry’s wife Nina  for these words about his life:

Tex was born in the Jericho area of Oxford in 1942 and had a happy childhood living with his young parents and later his sister Sue. Being in one of the top places in the 11 plus he gained a scholarship to go to Magdalen College School which gave him opportunities he could only dream of both academic and sporting.

He was a very good swimmer, played basketball, and was extremely proud of his long-lasting record for throwing the javelin!! He played Hockey, Cricket and Rugby at a high standard helping the School Rugby team to hold an unbeaten record for the whole season. This record lasted for 60 years. His friends from those sporting days remained friends until his death. One letter from a fellow rugby player said his unorthodox and flamboyant style was frowned upon by the masters in charge but the supporters loved his dashing style!! This was confirmed by two other friends both of whom shared many memories of their friendship and his misdemeanors!

Following his time in the CCF with MCS he succeeded in getting a scholarship to Cranwell RAF College. He loved flying but not the discipline and hierarchy of military life so after a year he resigned.

I did not know Tex during his MCS days but spent many hours watching the Old Waynfletes playing the school at various sporting events. We met the day I left school and married 3 years later on Independence Day. Not the perfect day to get married perhaps but after almost 60 years a long-lasting and loving partnership. He was a Business Consultant for Pharmaceutical Companies from Helsinki to Los Angeles and many countries in between so this also enabled me to join him and see the world!

Our three children Gary, Patrick and Anna had a father who had many interests. They became involved in many of the sports he loved be it participating or watching. He took them on many historic trips ranging from the Normandy beaches to Stonehenge. All three also went on ‘work trips’ one to Singapore, one to Los Angeles, one drew the short straw and only went to Paris.

Tex and the boys went to Le Mans several times. This set a seed in his head, no way could they afford Le Mans so they bought a Citroen 2CV and became Terry Collier Racing and did a 24 hour race in Ireland with Tex, Gary, Patrick and Anna driving. They finished (not last!!) but they wanted to win so Tex began designing engines. A few years later thanks to the new design and the driving of Anna’s husband the championship was won.

Tex began to struggle healthwise about three years ago and since Christmas 2022 deteriorated quite rapidly. He wanted to be at home and with the help of the local Doctors and the wonderful District Nurses he got his wish.

We are grateful to OW Alan Pemberton (1961) for the following words about Terry:

Whenever I was in Tex’s company I felt we were ‘on the same side’. We both shared a similar taste in humour but the thing that truly united us was a love of sports that flourished in our MCS schooling. Tex was a fine athlete and turned his hand to any sport; rugby, football, cricket, tennis, athletics, basketball, and swimming to name only the ones that come
immediately to mind.

Among my cherished school memories were a mad involvement with fireworks when we were in our 2nd year at MCS ages 12/13. During a maths lesson Tex lit a firework and I threw it out of the open window. A loud bang of course followed. I think Tex escaped punishment somehow but I was made to pick up litter during break and lunch times.

Cycling over Magdalen Bridge with Tex on our way home after school my foot got caught in Tex’s bicycle wheel and I came a small cropper escaping bad injury while Tex fell apart laughing as my splayed feet on the pedals style amused him anyway.

In Bala, North Wales on Arduous Training Camp with the combined MCS army and RAF cadets Tex and I took great pride in picking up two local girls on one of our nights out following a small feast of fish and chips.

Well, as I say Tex and I usually found ourselves ‘on the same side’. Proudly I was at his and Nina’s side, at their wedding in West Bridgford and also when they celebrated in Godmanchester, Huntingdon their 50 years of marriage. I’m proud to have called myself a friend of Tex’s and to have been ‘on the same side’.

We also thank OW Will Wyatt (1961) for these words:

Terry and I were born on the same day and were at Phil and Jim primary school together (SS Philip and James) At MCS he became known as Tex Collier, the name he preferred. It fitted for there was a good deal that was swanky – in a good way – and flamboyant about Tex. With his dark hair swept back he was a good-looking hit with girls, at cricket a stylish wicketkeeper for the first XI and at rugby a centre three quarter for our successful first XV (played 13, won 13).

A glimpse of Tex’s persona is captured by a moment in the first XV game against the OWs. Tex was carrying the ball into the opponent’s half when he was flip tackled, his momentum carrying him into a complete forward somersault from which he arrived back on his feet and dropped a goal that won the match.

Outside school Tex had always been a competitive swimmer and when MCS staged its first swimming sports in 1959 he won the freestyle events at several distances. At the end of the day, a team of masters took on the school. By the time Tex was to swim the final leg the school was far ahead but instead of diving straight in on the touch of the previous swimmer, Tex waited challengingly until the last master, Dave Curtis, dived so that Tex’s expertly powerful stroke could show the staff who was boss.