Terry Avon

Terry Avon, a fantastic writer for this website and a good friend to many of us, died earlier this week. Here is a tribute from Terry’s friend Tim Holland together with some photos from his funeral and wake. Terry would have wanted his wake to be joyous and full of laughter, conviviality and good cheer – much like his life – and it was.

”Many people only knew Terry Avon through his writing on Khmer440. Yet those of us who knew him in real life could see that his sense of humour was not as evident there as it was in his conversations. However his sharp wit and unique perspective were clearly demonstrated in his writing. Terry also worked as an English teacher and I had the opportunity to work with him. He always had the answers to our grammar questions and was happy to help out and explain the context and use. He was also fascinated by, and very knowledgeable of, the etymology of the English language. Terry enjoyed conversation and the art of debate, often holding court in one of the many local pubs, adding his own distinctive insights and astute viewpoints. At times Terry”s angle on a situation could seem inconsistent from what others saw, the logic of his could never be denied. Terry always followed his own path which led him to Phnom Penh and the untimely conclusion that has left his friends disheartened and disappointed. We weren”t ready to say good bye but Terry has spoken for the last time. Our friend is gone but his memory remains in our hearts and in our minds.”