Dec 13, 20223 min read

Family pays tribute to Sefton sculptor Terry McDonald who carved many landmarks across Liverpool

The Talented #Crosby sculptor, Terry McDonald, who carved many landmarks across Liverpool including the Mother & Child statue outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital has sadly passed away aged 92 years.

Terry died on Sunday, December 4, of pneumonia following a hip replacement operation at Aintree University Hospital. He leaves behind his loving wife, Wendy, his son, Chris, daughter Kate and grandchildren, Emily, Riley and Sidney.

Terry McDonald, 92, was the talented hand behind many of the city's buildings, such as Lewis's and the old Littlewoods building which is now Primark. He also worked on churches, helping to maintain the Gothic revival-style masonry of the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.

Father of two, Terry, found himself captivated by sculpting at the age of four, when he was given a piece of plasticine to play with by his older brother Randall. His lifelong passion led him to take on a ten-year apprenticeship at the Bluecoat Studios of Tyson Smith, who crafted 26 war memorials throughout his artistic career, including the Liverpool Cenotaph.

After leaving the studios, Terry worked in Lewis’s art department where his first job was the construction of a 16ft Father Christmas mannequin for a festive window display. Other examples of his work can be found scattered across the city including the vast outside columns of Liverpool Cathedral, and within the Cathedral the bust of WWI hero Noel Chavasse, the Coat of Arms for the Lord Lieutenant of Liverpool Henry Cotton, and the tomb inscription of Archbishop Richard Downey in the crypt of the Metropolitan Cathedral.

Terry pictured here with a miniature of his

Mother and Child statue.

Image courtesy of ‘Photography by Anderson’.

Terrys most popular creation was the Mother and Child. The 12ft clay depiction of a woman draped in cloth, crouched almost primitively as she tenderly cradles her baby, has stood at the entrance of Liverpool Women's Hospital since 1999, watching over countless proud parents as they leave the hospital's maternity wing with their own newborn babies. Chris, Terrys son said: “this was the statue he was most proud of. He was also quite proud of being able to work on the Cathedral, because it's one of the largest Cathedrals in the world."

At the age of 84, Terry created a 7ft tall clay model of Admiral Sir Max Horton, Britain's hero of the Battle of the Atlantic. He carried on working until shortly before his death, with plans still laid out for future projects, including a bust of his new granddaughter, 10-week-old Sidney, to accompany sculptures he made of his other grandchildren, Emily and Riley.

Chris said: "He was a very loving father, very kind, very dedicated to his work. He always knew what he wanted to do and always focused on the next job. That's what kept him going in the last few weeks, because he was still aiming to get back to his shed and finish his unfinished business. There's not many people who have the privilege of doing what they want to do every day of their life, and he managed to do that.”

Terrys daughter Kate said: “My Dad was born in Liverpool, his parents were publicans. They were the landlords for many years of the Coach and Horses pub in Low Hill, Kensington. He was one of 3 siblings Pat (his sister) and Randall. My dad was the youngest.”

“My dad was evacuated during the war to the Isle of Mann. He went to Saint Francis Xavier Catholic school. He frequented the Jacorander pub and the original Cavern in his younger years, didn't settle down with my mum until he was in his late 30’s.”

“He was an amazingly strong man. Loving, kind but extremely stubborn, which is how he made it to 92 years old, I think. Shear will power, he wouldn't give up! His full name is actually Terence William Wallace McDonald, great name!! Always known as Terry.”

“He had a great love of animals. To me, he was just my dad and he was an extremely loving father but, I am so amazingly proud of everything that he managed to achieve. He was never arrogant, always very humble, often had self doubt, always wanting to learn more. He loved to pass on his knowledge.”

“Dad loved classical music and he played it while he was working. He said it gave him inspiration.”