WARRINGTON Wolves have paid tribute to former scrum-half and bodybuilding champion Terence Parkinson, who sadly died aged 87 last Saturday, 18th April 2026.
He was born in Wigan on 22nd September 1938. Terry played for Wigan St Mary’s schoolboys alongside half-back partner Jackie Edwards. He was said to be the double of the Wigan scrum-half Tommy Bradshaw, modelling his play on the lines of the old master. He also played rugby league at Wigan St Patricks.
Terry signed for Warrington in April 1955 and made his “A” team debut with Edwards against Salford in August 1955. It was thought that the two 16-year-olds were the youngest halfback partnership in the history of the Lancashire Combination.
Terry’s impressive displays in the “A” team demonstrated that the teenager would challenge the 21-year-old Alf Arnold for Gerry Helme’s No.7 shirt.
Terry made his first team debut on 2nd March 1957 at scrum half alongside Martin Regan, the former England Rugby Union international player, in a 16-14 victory at Whitehaven. His debut came a month after Gerry Helme made his final appearance for the Wire.
Terry made six appearances in the 1956/57 season. Warrington finished the season in tenth place, dropping from the top of the table the previous season. Many of the stars of the glory days of the late Forties and Fifties had retired including Harry Bath, Bob Ryan and Helme.
The following season Terry started the season as the scrum-half alongside his friend Edwards as the two teenagers set about establishing themselves in the first team. He played ten matches and scored two tries, both came in a 50-19 win over Liverpool City in a Lancashire Cup tie at Wilderspool.
However, Alf Arnold began to establish himself as the first choice scrum-half until a serious eye injury ended his career in September 1958.
The emergence of Bobby Greenough in the half-backs for Warrington restricted Terry to just one appearance in 1958/59.
In 1960 Terry made a request to leave Warrington and was transfer listed, initially for £3,000. In March 1960 he was recalled replacing his pal Jackie Edwards who was suffering with rheumatism. He played well and retained his place in the team.
Terry made his final appearance for Warrington on 26th March 1960. He played scrum-half alongside a recovered Edwards in a 12-6 loss to Featherstone Rovers at Wilderspool.
Terry remained at Warrington until March 1962 when he was released. His Heritage Number is 580, he played 23 times for Warrington and scored four tries.
Terry, who was 5ft 4in and 11st 5lb took up bodybuilding and competed in Mr Britain. He was the overall champion in 1965 and qualified for Mr Universe, where he finished third. Two years later Arnold Schwarzenegger won the title and started on his path to worldwide fame as a Hollywood action star.
Terry was a regular at the Mr Universe events during the sixties and seventies and finished third in his class four years in a row and the judges said “This man transformed himself from a heavy, bulky individual, into a shapely well-built bodybuilder”.
Terry and Jackie Edwards always remained best friends until Jackie passed away last May. Another lifetime friend was schoolboy pal Frank Halliwell, who won two Championships with Swinton and also played for Wigan.
Terry worked at Heinz in Wigan and he loved sports cars and never owned a normal car.
Warrington Wolves send their condolences to his daughter, Lorraine, his family and friends.
