Call for tribute to Terrence Higgins in Haverfordwest

Western Telegraph

10-06-2025

Tuesday June 10 marks 80 years since Terrence Higgins was born in Haverfordwest, and he spent almost half of his short life in the town.
His name is now synonymous with the fight against HIV and AIDS, with his partner and a friend setting up the Terrence Higgins Trust following his death at the age of 37 in July 1982, to campaign to counter prejudice against those who have the disease.
As Haverfordwest Town Museum stages a new display to mark what would have been the 80th birthday of Terrence Higgins, its curator, Dr Simon Hancock said: 'I would love to see a blue plaque in his memory put up in the town.
Terrence Higgins as a young man. (Image: Terrence Higgins Trust)
"He was an important campaigner and social activist who deserves to be better remembered in his home town.
"The national charity which bears his name has helped countless thousands of people since its inception. '
Dr Simon Hancock and Tracey Bartlett, volunteer co-ordinator Cymru for the Terrence Higgins Trust are pictured with the two portraits. (Image: Haverfordwest Town Museum)
A representative of the Terrence Higgins Trust has visited the museum to present two pieces of artwork relating to his life of Terrence Higgins, who spent five years in the Royal Navy and later worked for Hansard and as a bartender in Soho, and was known to family and friends as Terry.
Dr Hancock said the museum was 'very honoured' to receive the two pieces of artwork.
One is a donation from the Terrence Higgins Trust to the museum - a portrait of Terry during his school days in Haverfordwest by contemporary Welsh artist Nathan Wyburn.
This is a signed limited edition print.
Artist Nathan Wyburn created the original portrait in 2022. (Image: PA)
The original was created to mark the charity's 40th anniversary in 2022 and the image was built up with red and green stamps in the shape of the charity's heart logo.
The other is a coloured pencil portrait, The Three Ages of Terry (2023) by Curtis Holder. This shows Terrence at three life stages, a navy teen, young man and towards the end of his life.
The portrait has been on display at the National Portrait Gallery and is loaned to Haverfordwest Museum s until January 2026.
The items were presented by Tracey Bartlett, volunteer co-ordinator Cymru for the Terrence Higgins Trust.