Ah, that's sad news to start the week with.
Terry was one of the greats. For a short period at the turn of the decade into the 1980s, he was the best player in the world. He won the world title in 1979 and followed up with a runners-up spot in the 1979 UK and with the Masters and Irish Masters titles in 1980. For about three years, he was Steve Davis's biggest rival - contesting five consecutive finals with him - winning two and coming from 8-1 down to level at 10-10 in the 1980 world championship quarter-final that he eventually lost 13-10 (giving birth to the Crucible Curse).
A truly great player. For consistency, he was hard to beat. He made something like eight world championship quater-finals or better in a row and was a semi-finalist deep into the 1990s.
But besides his exploits on the table, he was a great character. A postman, bus conductor, insurance salesman, and miner ever before he took up a cue professionally. People could relate to such a genuine man. His hair was legendary, and even his style of play - methodical to the point of hilarity - gave him an angle in an era excited by the likes of Alex Higgins and Jimmy White. He might have been slow - but, boy, he was effective with it. He won the career head-to-head with Higgins 16-12, for example.
That was the thing with the 80s players. They were like 80s WWF wrestlers in that they all had their "gimmick". And nobody was a better, more methodical and effective slowcoach than Terry. Always played the right shot. And then, of course, he became a great coach - with no need for the slow.
RIP. He certainly played his part in the golden era.