Page 12 - 2019_January Bush Telegraph_WEB SITE_Neat

Chingford when he was nine Anderson shelter in the back received a direct hit and was
Obituaries months old and he lived in garden. However Dennis practised completely destroyed.
his do-it-yourself skills - painting,
Chingford for the rest of his life.
After time at Friern Barnet
He first attended New Road School wall papering and even knocking Grammar school, John left to start
Dennis Moss and then to Nevin Drive School down a chimney breast. This was work at the age of 14 where he
made the tea but also learned the
until he was evacuated to what is
the only house that Dennis and
now Milton Keynes after a land Jean lived in spending many hours basics of engineering which
mine badly damaged their family enjoying both home and the formed the basis of his future
home. garden. career. At 18 he was called-up for
He was a stalwart member of the The greenhouse was an important his National Service in the RAF and
Boys Brigade and played the bugle part of his life and even more after basic training he was trained
in the band. He was also a important for his friends at Bush to be a RADAR operator. One of
member of the Church Choir and Hill as during the summer we were his postings took him to Norfolk
was part of the Boys Brigade group treated to a regular supply of fruit, which is where he developed a
who performed at many concerts cucumbers and tomatoes. love of sailing which became one
in the Church Hall - the highlight of Dennis was fortunate in having a of his greatest recreations in later
these concerts being a long and happy retirement and he years.
performance of the can-can. and Jean enjoyed many holidays After his military service, John
Unfortunately no photographic abroad and latterly completing joined his cousin and uncle to set
record can be traced of this major many cruises including one I up Tunewell that was the basis of
event in Dennis’ theatrical career. personally envy which was making his very successful career in
After leaving school Dennis a full transit of the Panama Canal. engineering. He continued his
commenced a printing He maintained a very active life studies at Enfield Technical College
FIRST met Dennis at Bush Hill apprenticeship as a machine being a friend of Epping Forest, he and achieved his HNC and HND
IPark Golf Club when he joined in minder and he also studied at the joined London Walks and was a and such was his technical ability
1993 and over the following years London College of Printing. Dennis member of the local Historical that he became the pre-eminent
played many rounds of golf with completed two years National Society. designer in his field. He also served
him. I particularly remember when Service in the Royal Engineers, But probably his most important on National and European
he had a bad back and his partner where he was also engaged in the decision was to join Bush Hill Park technical committees - a great
used to tee up the ball for him, printing process, mainly the Golf Club in February 1993 and achievement for a boy who had
prior to him driving the ball printing of maps. He remained in many of his friends are here today. left school at 14!
straight down the fairway, and the printing industry until he He worked tirelessly as Team In his early twenties, John met and
then his partner had to pick up the retired in 1993. Manager of the Veterans for many married a lovely young Welsh
tee to save him bending down. In He met Jean at the Church Youth years organising matches and, primary school teacher. They had
recent years, after Dennis stopped Club when he was obviously with the help of many phone calls, many very happy years together
playing golf it was meeting on seeking a younger woman, he getting players to the right place at and shared lots of adventures -
Tuesdays and Thursdays for coffee being 16 and Jean just 14. They the right time. particularly in fast-moving sailing
and something to eat, and on married in 1951 and lived with Sadly his health over recent years boats. In fact, John became such
occasions he would enjoy a small Jean’s parents until 1961 when deteriorated, although he still an expert sailor that he was made
whiskey. they moved into their own house, managed to play a few holes from Chairman of the British Finn
Dennis was born in Hackney on 1st albeit with bare boards, empty time-to-time. Through all the Association and ran the Weymouth
March 1929. The family moved to rooms and the remains of an old scans, tests and endless waits at Olympic week for four years and
hospital he never complained or was elected to the Council of the
lost his sense of humour. During RYA.
this time Jean had the never- Sailing was not the only sport that
ending support of family and John excelled in. In the winter he
friends for which she remains truly played rugby, in the summer
grateful. PETER SMITH tennis, learned to ski and took up
motor sport having the distinction
John Turner of being driven around Brands
Hatch by champion Graham Hill.
But for all of his love of sport,
John remained dedicated to his job
and the business continued to
expand as offshoots were
established in America, although
as the years went on he gradually
took a back seat to allow his sons
to take charge, but he kept up
regular visits to the company, such
was his interest in business.
As for his golf: John took lessons at
night school, played at Trent Park
then crowned his golfing career by
joining Bush Hill Park representing
the Bush Nationals as well as the
Veterans (now known as the
Rangers) and again he made many
OHN was born in 1929 to Robert friends who mourn his loss.
Jand Ida. He and his younger Described as honest, reliable and
brother Tom had a very happy dutiful, John was faithful to his
childhood, but their father died family and friends and was
when John was only nine-years- respected as being fair, reasonable
old. A year later, the second World and a good employer. But he is
War broke out. In spite of the perhaps best remembered for his
many hardships his generation had sense of fun. IAN TURNER
to face, John developed hobbies
such as aircraft recognition and
building a collection of shrapnel. As we go to press we hear of
As well as a period of evacuation, the sad passing of
John went to stay with an aunt in Dick Barnes and Alf Oliver
Southgate where during a night- both long-serving members.
time air-raid the house next door