Terry, 90, celebrates amazing life with friends at Flaxton Gardens

Terry Butcher, born October 31, 1931, centre, with his daughter Sasha and son-in-law Benno and about 50 guests who celebrated at Flaxton Gardens on Sunday.

He’s fixed historic clocks, mixed with royalty and restored antiques for famous politicians. Now globe-trotting engineer, Terry Butcher, calls Flaxton home. On Sunday he celebrated his 90th birthday with his family and about 50 guests and looked back on an amazing life.

Born in Perth to an Irish mother and Australian father Terry recalls a privileged upbringing as his father managed the Perth newspaper.  

They moved to Sydney in 1934 and this was the first time he was able to cross the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge.  That crossing turned in to a life-long interest and Terry has a huge collection of bridge memorabilia to this day. 

Terry went to England in 1954 and worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a film projectionist where he became friends with Australian actor Errol Flynn. 

Around this time Terry was asked to show Prince Philip the new colour projection camera and the Prince was extremely interested in it and they both enjoyed the meeting. In 1961 Terry and his wife Jackie and son Rolf moved back to Australia, and Terry was working for Shell Australia. One of his jobs was to tour NSW showing a black and white movie, produced by Shell, called “The Back of Beyond”. He was asked to show the then-Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies a private viewing at his home. 

 Terry also worked on Australia's oldest clock at  Hyde Park Barracks in Macquarie street in Sydney. He became the first man to stop the clock since it was erected there in 1819. 

He bought the a home in Redfern — which housed a stable and a ball room and allowed him to work on restoring antique furniture. 

His customers would visit him at his home. They included Prime Minsters Paul Keating and Bob Hawke,  Governor General Bill Hayden and NSW Premier Neville Wran to name a few. 

Terry made his final move to Flaxton in September last year for the warmer climate and to be near his daughter Sasha and son-in-law Benno Fenger. Terry’s birthday party was held at Flaxton Gardens on Sunday (October 24).