Den was always there whoever needed him

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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FORMER Henley postman Dennis Gibbs died peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of Monday after a long fight against cancer.

He spent the last few days of his life at the Sue Ryder Care hospice in Nettlebed in peaceful surroundings.

Born in his grandparents’ house in Rotherfield Greys in 1922, Dennis spent his childhood in and around Henley. His mother, Ethel, was a kind and gregarious lady who instigated his love of music and the arts.

His father, Henry, was a strict but fair man who taught Den most of what he knew about mechanics and engineering. The two men worked at Sidney Green’s haulage yard at Highlands Farm.

The sort of advice that Henry gave Den would have been along the lines of “ere boy, find a spare part to mend this engine with and if you can’t find one, make one.”

Henley Life and Homes

Henry’s schooling helped to mould Den into an extremely practical and methodical individual. His problem-solving skills extended to his passion for crosswords, particularly in his latter years.

When the Second World War broke out, 17-year-old Den continued to work at Green’s, helping in the war effort, before joining the Royal Navy, serving on mine-sweepers around the coasts of Britain and Norway.

He admitted in later years that he couldn’t have joined the army since he would find it impossible to shoot another man.

Den had known June Kew as a child and became re-acquainted with her during the war when her parents ran the Maltster’s Arms pub at Rotherfield Greys. Anyone who knew him is well aware of Den’s appreciation of Brakspear ales, again following in his father’s footsteps.

June and Den married in 1949 and went on to produce two sons and two daughters, all of whom loved him very much.

When the war ended, Den resumed work at Green’s yard for several years before becoming a travelling salesman for a short while. He then started a career as a postman in Henley, making many new friends during his 17 years with the GPO.

The job suited him well, even though some of the working shifts were unsociable. The words: “Sssh, your dad’s in bed” would often be heard in the family home in Shepherd’s Green as his children played, usually after a night shift.

Although he was sometimes in the background as a parent, Den always spotted when anyone, especially his children, needed help. He was always there at these times and enjoyed teaching his children, whether it be motorcycle mechanics or how to make a kite.

Advice often came in a subtle form, at times even cryptic. Den was both humorous and intellectual and passed these traits onto his offspring.

He was a generous man and after taking retirement in 1982, saying “Let’s give someone younger the chance of a job,” he did what he could to make his friends’ and neighbours’ lives easier.June and Den later moved to Sonning Common where he helped family members in all sorts of ways, not least by assisting with the care of his father-in-law for some time before his death.

After the children had flown the nest, Den spent much of his time reading books and solving crossword puzzles. He had an appetite for learning throughout his life.

Thankfully, that life didn’t end before he and June celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary on April 23 this year.

Den leaves behind June, children Peter, Valerie, Christine and Graham, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

All who knew Den will be welcome at the funeral. For details, call the family on 01189 723580 or 07929 633384. No flowers but donations to Sue Ryder Care or Cancer Research UK.

[Broxi51]

RIP mate