Terry Yetton was trained as a Fine Artist (painting and printmaking) at St Alban’s and Portsmouth Art Schools, and gained his teacher training certificate from Hornsey School of Art (University of London). He had a unique, and unusually varied career; a lifetime in pictures both moving and still. Although his roots were in Fine Art, his first success was as a Photographer contributing to 2 International exhibitions. His early career as a freelance light show artist and an art teacher in the East End of London brought a freshness to his traditional training. In 1969 he joined the BBC as a graphic designer and eventually became a producer / director. After moving to Anglia TV as Head of Promotion, he started his own company as a consultant Creative Director in 1995.
Alongside his successful television career, he did a considerable amount of teaching, lecturing and training as well as continuing with his own painting and photography.
He was a founding member of Promax UK, and was the driving force behind the Promax UK Student Awards. The awards will now be re-named in Terry’s honour.
Television career
1996-2003: Creative Director for The History Channel and The Biography Channel
1995-1987: Head of Promotion at Anglia Television
1969-1987: Graphic Designer/Producer/Director, BBC TV
Awards
Promax Awards:
-3 Golds
-4 Silver
-3 Bronze
For further details of Terry's Life Time Achievement Award 2005
Tributes
These are just some of the many tributes:
Our thoughts go out to Terry’s family at such a sad time.
Tony Lakin
No one has done more to further promo education among young people than Terry.
Simon Amster
Terry was a really great guy with a great knowledge of the history of our business which he freely passed on to newcomers, and this news is terribly sad.
Bruce Dunlop
Terry was an accomplished artist, designer and promotions producer. He took pleasure in mentoring and training, giving his time and expertise selflessly. Nowhere is this more apparent than his university and college work and his championing of the Student Bursary Scheme in the early days of Promax UK. Without his drive and enthusiasm there are many current practitioners who would not be in the business today.
Adam Hume
Really sorry to hear this news.
If I recall correctly, I asked Terry to run the promax student awards when we first came up with the idea. It wasn't the most glamorous of tasks, but Terry's enthusiasm and dedication made sure it came good. He turned it into something stronger than we ever imagined - a fitting testimony to a modest and genuinely likeable man who wanted to pass on all he knew about a craft he loved. He was always an absolute pleasure to be with.Glynn Brailsford
The world is a poorer place. We were only speaking the other month when I felt his pride about his daughter in Australia beginning to follow her dream to write, and now I see how this reflects his deep appreciation of not just creativity but people and their creative hopes and aspirations.
Adam Woods
This is sad to hear - I saw him a few months ago and he was saying he felt so much better after having his operation. Terry was the person who invited me to join the Promax board and also gave me one of my first projects when he was at Anglia. He will be sadly missed.
Martin Poole
Very sad, he was a lovely man and very clever. I remember him when he was starting out in graphic design in the BBC many years ago!!
Pam Masters
Terrible news. Terry contributed a huge amount to the promo world. And even more in recent years to emerging talent through his rock n roll dedication to the Student Awards. He has done so much for Promax. I for one will really miss the hippy artist from Norfolk.
Marc Ortmans
I'll never forget working with Terry on those Student Awards and judging sessions. His passion, unstinting dedication and belief in what he was doing was amazing. He helped bring the hopes and aspirations of those kids into some focus and gave them confidence to see they had a chance! I'll never forget the winners collecting their awards at Promax and i'll never forget the quiet pride on Terry's face at what he had created each year for many years. He'll be sorely missed. Irreplaceable.
Kay Hutchison
Terry's untimely exit is so unfair. And such a huge loss in so many ways. Blessed with bucketloads of creativity, talent, commercial acumen and integrity, he was a great colleague, a marvellous family man and a wonderful friend. This self-confessed "old fart" will be sorely missed by the many people who had the privilege and the pleasure to meet him and to learn from him, not least Sue and the family to whom we all extend our deepest sympathies.
Nick Roberts
I worked with Terry a lot with/for Promax and in our own Freelance training sessions. So sad that 'this old hippy' in his own words, won't be around to inspire another new generation.
Jim Stokoe
His passion and enthusiasm has always been inspirational, and he shared his knowledge and expertise so generously to nurture new talent. We will all miss him very much.
Mandy Combes
Nearly all of my dealings with Terry were connected with his love of developing student creativity. Judging student work with him, you were aware both of the pride he felt indirectly in their work, and also the protectiveness he felt if we were too harsh with our criticism. Terry knew that young talent must be praised, encouraged and guided, and he did all three unstintingly. He was a champion of the promotions industry knowing its importance, and generously proud of its achievements. He was a most worthy winner of a Lifetime Achievement award. Because he didn’t just devote his life to the creative world, he changed the lives of many others.
Charlie Mawer
What a nice man. Terry was due to host a PUK Cymru event in September - to talk about one of his passionate subjects - promos through the decades.
Aled Wyn Phillips
This is very sad news, Terry was a great guy and will be remembered by all who had a chance to know and work with him. By naming the student awards after him, the spirit of his dedication to promax and the students will carry on.
Chris Mansson
This is sad news. To add to everyone else’s comments; he was diamond and I would support any initiative that celebrates his attitude, passion and lack of self interest within our industry.
Dominic Sykes
Very very sad news. In an industry full of egos and cynics, Terry’s enthusiasm and passion was constant reminder of the fun and privileged positions we hold, and why we should love our work. It was great to know him, work with him during the conference, and his generosity will be missed.
Andi Granger
I was shocked to hear the news of Terry. He was quite simply a thorough-going gentleman in every sense of the word: Courteous, witty, intelligent, talented, creative (one of his landscapes adorns my home in pride of place) and with a well-honed sense of humour; smiling through the blackest of situations. His work for BPME UK and later Promax UK helped bring strong credibility to a fledgling organisation. BPME/Promax UK began life not knowing if it would succeed and relied so much on the unselfish goodwill of people like Terry. I knew Terry during his Anglia days and later when he 'cut loose' to form his consultancy and we always enjoyed the 'crack' at the pub after those interminable meetings in St Martin's Lane. I was still at Yorkshire as we began those first tentative steps in establishing Promax UK as a worthy representative of the UK's promotion and marketing industry. When we think of Terry, we should think of 'excellence' - what a superb job he made of it all; life, love and friendship! God bless Terry, Sue and family.
Chris Meehan
This really is such sad news. I concur fully with everyone's words. Terry was simply one of the kindest and most lovely people I have ever had the good fortune to work with.
Lisa Shand
Sad news indeed. A lovely man.
Dave Sievewright
I first worked with Terry in the late 70's when he was a very talented designer in the BBC Presentation Graphics unit. Although our professional paths diverged in the following decade, I'm so pleased that we remained firm friends ever since. Terry was the epitomy of the kind of person this industry desperately needs more of - combining extreme ability with selflessness, friendliness and good humour.
The world is a much poorer place now he's left us and Christmas will never be the same again without a 'Yeticard'.
Warwick Cross
So sorry to hear the News. Bit of a shock I must say as I saw him late last year whilst lecturing at Ravensbourne. He said that he too enjoyed passing on the knowledge to the younger generation. Please pass on my very best wishes and sympathy to his family.
Albert Barber
Terry was a lovely bloke. Generous in spirit, a real talent and above all great fun. His devotion to our business was second to none. He was my producer when I first joined this industry and I remember how encourging he was then. He never lost his ability to nurture and encourage and dedicated so much of his time to helping generations of new promo producers. His memory will live on.
Simon Winchester
Really sad. If there is some way that we can come together to remember Terry I would really appreciate an invitation. Truly a gentleman.
Roger Holdom
That is indeed truly sad news. He will be very, very sadly missed. Our thoughts are very much with his family.
Jane Muirhead
Really sorry to hear about Terry. He's been around for so many years - back to when I was at Thames, so it's a tough one. Always cheery, always with a nice word to say - a real gent actually.
Rosie Hill-Davies
Very sad news indeed.
Cathy Jackson
Very, very sad - Terry was a real, decent bloke and I only have positive memories of him. I am very, very sorry for his family.
George McGhee
Though I can’t say I knew Terry deeply, I’d like to add to all our thoughts that the man I met was sincere kind hearted and passionate. He was generous with his time and humble with his expertise, and will be badly missed. Thinking of his family at this very sad time.
Nol Davis
Young Terry Yetton was quite simply and equally the most creative and fun person to work with that I have ever known. Be it in the sound studios At The History Channel or doing workshops with him at Promax, his infectious enthusiasm and creative energy was peerless.
I, like all of us, will really miss him.
Stephen Greif