---
title: "Terry Durney"
url: "https://balshaws.org.uk/about-the-school/pride-of-balshaw-s/terry-durney"
school: "Balshaw’s Church of England High School"
---

# Terry Durney

Thank you to Terry Durney for sharing the following information:

> *I've lived in Leyland from the age of 2, (67 years), & started at Balshaws in 1967 after passing my 11+ at Farington Junior school. I left in 1972 with 5 O-levels. My work life for many years was fairly mundane - building trade, motor trade & Royal Mail.*
>
> *It was when I started at the Post Office & had a bit more spare time that I decided I wanted to do something a bit different as well. One of the last customers I sold a car to was the news editor of BBC Radio Lancashire. I contacted Mike & asked if it would be possible to help out at the station at weekends. Mike introduced me to Jeremy Dry who presented the Saturday morning show. I started off just greeting guests, brewing up & answering the phones. This evolved into doing live reports & then onto co-presenting the show. When Jeremy left to work in London I was offered my own weekend request show & became Britain's only broadcasting postman!*
>
> *I was at the station until 1991 when a new manager took over who wanted to completely change the station, stopping playing all the music the listeners requested on my show. I was offered a talk show I didn't want to do & was so annoyed at that manager that, in November 1991, I became the first radio presenter in the UK to resign live on air! ( there is a piece about this on Wikipedia under "on air resignations" ).*
>
> *I thought this would be the end of my radio career but was offered a job at Red Rose Gold & also worked on Guild FM & helped to set up both Chorley FM & Radio Leyland.*
>
> *In my mid 50's I took early retirement to look after my Dad as his full time carer. Dad always told me that when he'd gone that I should really go & try something I'd always wanted to do. So, after Dad died, I decided that I wanted to try film & TV acting! My experience in getting into radio helped, & I started doing background artist (extras) work. It was great - I worked on Coronation Street, DCI Banks, Hollyoaks, Citizen Khan & even 2 episodes of Peaky Blinders. I loved this so much I decided to take it to the next level & started training to be an established actor.*
>
> *I worked hard & eventually gained my Spotlight registration. I'm now repesented by Zenith Artist Management ([www.zenithartistmanagement.co.uk](https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zenithartistmanagement.co.uk%2F&data=05%7C02%7Ca.coles%40balshaws.org.uk%7Cbe38a0db70d94d8f795f08dd0d48df95%7C2e7cab71ebd34debbcfa3e607c988efd%7C0%7C0%7C638681328845694368%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=zLj2fk2u1oLPDcNEGX082CjLF8YCL4krXE5AoukBFpc%3D&reserved=0) ), one of the north's top agencies & am being put forward for numerous TV, film & commercial roles.*
>
> *I'm a great believer in "it's never too late to try something new", so I hope that if any of the current pupils read this that they'll bear that in mind.*
>
> *Terry Durney*

Here are some photographs that Terry has shared.

![](https://balshaws.org.uk/images/images/Old-Balshavians/Terry_Durney_-spotlight_David_John_Headshots_Manchester.jpg)

**The photograph above was taken by David John Headshots (Manchester)**

![](https://balshaws.org.uk/images/images/Old-Balshavians/Terry_Durney_-_Barrister_on_Hollyoaks.jpg)

**Terry is pictured above playing a Barrister in *Hollyoaks.***

![](https://balshaws.org.uk/images/images/Old-Balshavians/Terry_Durney_-_Farmer_on_To_Walk_Invisible.JPG)

**Terry is pictured above playing a Farmer in '*To Walk Invisible*' - a Sally Wainright period drama.**

![](https://balshaws.org.uk/images/images/Old-Balshavians/Terry_Durney_-_village_rector_on_Jericho.jpg)

**Terry is pictured above playing a village rector in the ITV series '*Jericho*'.**

    **Balshaw’s Church of England High School**
 Church Road
 Leyland PR25 3AH

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