Dunmow: Tribute to boxer and record company boss Terence

Terence - who moved to Dunmow in 2007 - had a long and exciting career, beginning as a boxer before mingling with stars as a record producer in the 70s and 80s, then later becoming a film producer.

Born on August 19, 1934 to Michael and Marie Murphy, Terence was the third of six children, with siblings John, Michael, Marie, Hannah and James.

The family lived in London and managed to survive the bombs of World War II, although some of his aunts and cousins were killed.

Terence Murphy as a young boxer (Image: Courtesy of the Murphy family)

With the support of their parents, the children got involved in all kinds of sport, with Terence and his brothers excelling in boxing.

After Terence had some British boxing titles under his belt, he became the first ever sportsman to appear on ITV on the channel's opening night in the 1950s.

That same decade, Terence attended many dances with his future wife Rita Wright, and had to 'fight off many admirers' before they eventually married.

The couple had five children: Terence Jr, Glen, Lloyd and twins Darren and Vanessa.

Once he retired from boxing, Terence embarked on many different careers. These included running his own wholesale business, shops and pubs.

As landlord of The Bridge House in Canning Town, Terence turned the pub into a 'Mecca of music' for bands in the late 70s.

He gave a start to many big artists of the era, and was endorsed by the likes of Keith Richards and Mick Jagger.

In addition to letting bands play at the venue, Terence decided to record them and set up his own record label - Bridge House Records - making the pub the first to have its own record company.

Terence Murphy was known as 'The Canning Town Terror' as a boxer (Image: Courtesy of the Murphy family)

A few years later Terence combined the pub with a record pressing plant, so he could keep the whole process in-house.

On top of his music career, Terence saw how difficult it was for young actors to get parts in films, so decided to help struggling actors among his friends and family by producing a full-length feature film, Tank Malling, in 1989.

In 2009 he produced his second film, The Bridge House Film, which won a world best film award in New York.

Throughout his retirement Terence continued to win trophies for golf, and later celebrated his 70th anniversary with his wife Rita, saying he "couldn't have done any of this without her".

A tribute to Terence, posted by Lou Moon, said: "I'm very deeply saddened by the passing of this legend of a man.

"What he brought to the youth of the East End, and beyond, was truly priceless.

"He brought us many genres of music and the belief that we could live our lives through it.

"And we did, many of us forming bands, following bands and becoming different associates of the music scene.

"Sending love and condolences to the Murphy family. Today is truly the day the music died."