Tributes pour in after death of ‘local hero’ who delivered food to South Londoners for 26 years

Tributes have poured in after the death of a “local hero” who delivered food to South Londoners for 26 years.

Terence Dilloway, known as Terry, of Whitehorse Lane, Croydon, died suddenly of a blood clot on August 17.

Hundreds of tributes have since been posted on an online memorial page for the 53-year-old who was “much more than just a delivery driver”.

Mr Dilloway became one of the first drivers for Farmaround, a pioneering organic fruit and vegetable delivery scheme, joining the company in 1995.

He was particularly known for his love of animals.

Owner of Farmaround, Isobel Davies, 58, said: “If Terry saw a dead fox on his delivery round it ruined his day.

“He would never let his customers down, always turning up with a smile and time for a chat before bidding a long goodbye with a thumbs up and an ironic ‘stay alert’.

“I have never known anyone like this in my life and I never will again.

“When I told our customers of Terry’s tragic death I received 150 emails from them.

“It was if they’d lost a family member, they were so distraught.

“They really loved him, and indeed he loved them. He will be sorely missed by us all.”

Mr Dilloway was seen as a ray of light for many throughout the coronavirus pandemic as he was often the only person customers saw during the multiple lockdowns.

One customer, Laura, wrote on the memorial page: “We were so shocked to hear Terry had passed.

“We started our deliveries with Farmaround at the start of the pandemic.

“Terry has delivered to us from day one, throughout every lockdown.

“Most of those weeks he was the only human contact we had other than our immediate neighbours.

“We’d often chat about the craziness of the situation and he’d always leave with a positive comment about how grateful he was to have the little things in life.

“My three-year-old thought he was brilliant and would show off her latest artwork every week. He will be sorely missed.”

Another resident, Darren, wrote: “Truly saddened to hear this news.

“Terry has been delivering to us for longer than I can recall, but it’s over the past six years, when we moved house and the deliveries coincided with my work from home day, that I really got to know him.

“A warm and genuine character, he saw us through the most formative of times.

“The kids, who he knew from birth, had come to anticipate his arrival as much as we did, and he was the only person our semi-feral cat would accept a stroke from.

“Indeed, the minute she heard his voice, she’d bound down the stairs to roll around at his feet, lapping up all the fuss like she was a different cat altogether. “One day I’ll take her home,” Terry used to joke. Guess we’re stuck with her now!

“RIP Terry, you’ll be sorely missed, but we’re ever thankful for the joy you brought.”

Born on the Old Kent Road, Mr Dilloway has been described as a “South Londoner to the core”.

His family moved to Peabody Hill when he was four years old and he attended Rosendale Primary School and Kingsdale Secondary School.

His funeral will take place on Monday, September 13, at 2.45pm at West Norwood Crematorium.

You can pay tribute to Terry Dilloway here: https://terencedilloway.muchloved.com