The serpentine wall at Minster’s Holiday Inn has been cleared of ivy as a mark of respect to Ramsgate resident Terry Sinclair who was one of the team that built it.
Sadly, Terry passed away on August 17, aged 79, and knowing his pride in creating the ‘wibbly wobbly wall’ family friend Maxine Morgan appealed to Holiday Inn staff to clear the ivy.
After hearing the tale of Terry the venue’s maintenance man set to work to reveal the wall in all its glory.
Terry was born in Ramsgate and was a bricklayer throughout his working life. The wall was the piece he was most proud of but the dad-of-two had been responsible for many specialised jobs including intense flintstone restructure work at King George VI Park.
Daughter Dion said: “The wall is known to many, especially those of Thanet. Some call it the ‘wavy wall ‘ or its real title is a serpentine/crinkle crankle wall. To our family it was always known as dad’s wibbly wobbly wall.
“My Dad built this wall years ago and it is only one of his many fine and ‘different’ type of bricklaying works which also included flintstone restructure work at King George park.
“He always boasted about the wall being one of his favourites.
“Many a time we passed this and noticed it was getting more and more covered in ivy.
“We would pass as my mum Rita would take my dad daily to his chemotherapy at Canterbury. Unfortunately after a very long fight against so many illnesses our dad passed away.
“A very good friend of our family, Maxine Morgan, along with many others, was saddened by our dad’s loss. I then got a message from her saying about how in honour of Terry, she was going to try and get this impressive wall cleared of the Ivy and on view again to all who passed it.
“We want to say a special thank you to Maxine and the Holiday Inn staff.”
Town council employee Maxine said she turned to hotel staff after realising the job was too big to carry out on her own.
She added: “I went into the hotel for a chat. I explained it was a very unusual request, but after telling a story about Terry they phoned their maintenance manager, a lovely Italian man.
“I explained again and he assured me that he would get it done for Terry I couldn’t believe it when I drove past last Friday to see the wall looking the best I’ve seen it in years. I can’t explain how many tears I’ve shared over this wibbly wobbly wall and our lovely Terry.”
The wall is at what was originally the Prospect Inn which was Grade II listed in 1990.
Terry was a well-known character in the town. He was goalkeeper for Rams FC and Northwood and Whitehall teams in the 1970s and was also a keen fisherman who had fished competitively representing England.
Dion said: “Lots of people had been apprentices to dad and people still say to me today what a legend he was, which is lovely. He was very well known and was a loving man. Dad was very caring and had time for everybody.”
Terry was a devoted husband, married to Rita for 53 years, dad to Dion and Keeley, grandad of three and great-grandad of three with another great-grandchild on the way.
His funeral will take place on Friday 1st September at Thanet Crematorium at 1pm.
It will be followed by a wake at the Hotel De Ville, Grange Road, Ramsgate. Everyone is welcome.
Dress code is traditional. Family flowers only.
Donations to the Pilgrims Hospice will be gratefully received. There will be a collection box at the crematorium and at the wake.
