Football legend Terry Butcher pays tribute to the Queen as one million people plant trees in Her Majesty’s name
FOOTBALL legend Terry Butcher joined one MILLION people from around Britain to pay tribute to the late Queen by planting a tree.
Ex-England skipper Terry, 64, also laid his tragic son’s army boots and beret by the apple sapling, planted as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative.
One million trees have been planted for the scheme launched by the Queen herself for her Platinum Jubilee year – but which has been extended after her death last September.
Terry’s son Chris served as a captain in the British Army and served in Afghanistan with the Royal Artillery but died aged 35-years-old in 2017 after suffering post traumatic stress disorder.
Former Ipswich Town and Rangers defender Terry played in three World Cups and earned 75 caps including seven as skipper.
The hardman lives on in footy folklore after refusing to be subbed off when a clash of heads left his England shirt covered in blood during a vital Italia 90 qualifier away at Sweden.
Planting the tree near his home in Ipswich, Terry said: “I am proud to plant a tree to honour Queen Elizabeth and in loving memory of my son Chris, who served faithfully for over a decade at home and on operations abroad.
“He loved the Army, his Queen and his country, and he will never be forgotten by those of us who were lucky enough to have known him.
“This tree will stand tall in his memory as a symbol for personal reflection on his life. With my family, I look forward to seeing it grow into a strong and proud living memorial to him.”
The tree was planted as a tribute to both the Queen, who died aged 96 last September, and his son Chris.
An inquest heard Chris, who served as a captain in the British Army and served in Afghanistan with the Royal Artillery, was a “victim of war”.
On his return he turned to drugs as he battled post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the inquest was told.
He died at the family home in Bawdsey, Suffolk, in October 2017 from an abnormal enlargement of the heart, of uncertain cause, combined with the effect of drugs against a background of PTSD.
Terry told the inquest his son’s life “spiralled downwards as the demons took control of his mind” and he “became a victim of war” after tours of Iraq and Afghanistan.
He previously said he was “devastated” by the death of his son.
Other stars who have planted trees in memory of the Queen are David Beckham, Sandi Toksvig, Hugh Bonneville and James Cracknell.
The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) was launched by the Queen at Balmoral in September 2021.
It was due to run throughout her Platinum Jubilee year but has been extended until the end of this month.