August 2000
Dennis Hooker
At his funeral on 26th June the Vicar described
Dennis as the most human of men, a fine Christian gentleman
who was easy to be with, and who enjoyed the ordinary things
of life. He praised his good humour, genuineness, his
kindness and sincerity.
Dennis enjoyed life, and it showed: it was fun to buy plants from him at the weekly W.I. Market, where for years he was the only man behind the stalls ("Decent of them to have me really").
He grew many of the plants himself, and with Robin Smith kept the grass around the church in order.
He spent most of the first six years of his life in China, where his father was a medical missionary. As an officer gunner in the war he fought at El Alamein and in Italy, then realised his ambition to fly in Tiger Moths.
After the war Dennis took up photography in business in South Kensington, specialising in fashion, advertising and design. Whenever I picked his brains he was invariably generous with advice and encouragement, never talked down to me, and was sympathetic and looking on the bright side if things had gone wrong. He put his photographic skills to good use with a stunning picture of the church in the snow, for a Christmas card in aid of church funds.
Life was not all fun and roses: his first wife Lucy died of cancer, and he faced his own final illness with fortitude, nursed by Mary, who described the last six months as a very precious time in their life together. Our profound sympathy to her and Dennis' family.
Alison Wright, Parish Magazine Editor
From Mary Price: I would like to thank everyone in the parish for the exceptional kindness, support and practical help shown to me when Dennis was ill and finally died. Words cannot express my appreciation.
If you wish to add your recollections of Dennis to this
page please contact Frank Haslam, the editor of these pages.
page last updated 26 Oct 11