George William Dench 1905-2001: Tributes
SummaryFrom his funeral
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| George Dench's death on August 22nd 2001 brought to an end an 87
year record of continuous membership of the choir at the Parish
Church of St. Mary and St. Nicholas at Leatherhead. It began when
he joined the choir at the age of nine in January 1914. His mother
told him he was 'too young to join, and if he did he must stick at
it!' Until failing health prevented him earlier this year, he
attended twice on Sundays, at choir practice on Thursdays, and at
weddings and funerals. On 15th June 2001 during a Choir dinner at the Old Crown, Great Bookham, Director of Music Chris Slater made a presentation to George to mark his 87 years service in the Choir, which is believed to be a record for unbroken membership of a single church choir. [According to the Leatherhead Advertiser on 6th September 2001, a spokesman for the Guinness Book of Records confirmed that the current longest serving chorister was Mr Tom Phillips of Bristol who sang for 86 years in the same choir: George's achievement, subject to the usual verification, may soon be an 'official' record breaker.]. George had seen off many Vicars and Choirmasters during this time. In 1999 he wrote a hymn entitled All That Matters, with music by his nephew Philip S Goacher, which was sung at his funeral. How unusual these days, and yet how appropriate - and how very true, very George, is the message in his hymn. George lived and worked in Leatherhead all his life. He nearly came to a premature end when he fell into the River Mole by the bridge at the bottom of Gimcrack Hill. He was saved from drowning by a passing postman, who subsequently received a gallantry medal. He worked first for the Leatherhead Building Company, then the builders' merchant A.G. Nunn. He was later manager of Godwin and Shiel, a treasure trove of an ironmonger's shop in the Kingston Road where Hough's are now. As a volunteer fire-fighter during the Second World War he went regularly to London to help in the Blitz. At his funeral on August 30th at the Parish Church he knew so well, the Vicar, Rev. David Eaton, paid tribute to George's tenacity. Apart from the choir he was a lifelong member of Toc H, the charity originally set up 80 years ago to provide basic comforts to the young men going to and from the battle lines of the Western Front. He was proud of his acquaintance with its founder, Rev. Tubby Clayton. George was an active fundraiser all his life, including fund-raising for the building of the Leatherhead Cottage Hospital, where he helped to take Sunday Services until his death. He raised large sums of money for Toc H, until the local branch closed in the 1980s. He was also a founder member of LEPRA, and until this year raised many hundreds of pounds each year through a house box collection, to fight against leprosy. He was also a keen supporter of Leatherhead Bowling Club, the Football Club, and the Scout Movement. David Eaton praised George's flexibility and openness to change. "One might have expected that someone who had lived so long in the same place would want everything to continue as it always had, but George was always very forward looking and adaptable. He had a very positive attitude." Una, whom he married in 1928, died in 1983. Their daughter Mary, who now lives in New Zealand, was unable to get to England for the funeral but the family has arranged for her to receive a video of her father's funeral and commemorative album of his life. Alison Wright, with some contributions by Frank Haslam
I want to say a few words about my dear friend George, who I met through TOC H over 30 years ago. In this day and age, it is remarkable to think that George lived and worked in Leatherhead from the time he was born in 1905 until he passed away last week. He saw through all of the twentieth century, apart from 5 years - 2 World Wars and of course enormous change. George was born into a humble family who had little in terms of wealth and material things, but what his parents clearly had in plenty, was a deep love for their children and strong values, which were instilled in their children from an early age. George had a mishap when he was aged 4 and somehow managed to fall into the River Mole, at the bridge at the bottom of Gimcrack Hill. Not being able to swim, he almost drowned. Fortunately a Postman was passing and seeing his plight went in fully clothed and fished George out. The postman subsequently received a gallantry medal. The Parish Church of St. Mary and St. Nicholas was dear and important to him for the whole, and I mean the whole, of his life, but I know David Eaton will say something about that later. George has often told me about the fun he had in his early years. He was a member of the Church Lads Brigade, and the Boy Scouts, which he joined at age 10 just a few years after the movement was founded in 1909. George did not have a great academic education, but clearly learnt a good deal before he left school at 14 and found work at the Leatherhead Building Company - then the Builders Merchants Nunns, and later the Hardware shop, Godwin & Shiel. where he was later to become the manager, until he retired. He met Una whom he married in 1928, here in this Church. They had their Wedding Breakfast at the then recently constructed Leatherhead Institute. Sadly Una passed away in 1983. Based on those early values and his deep faith, George was one of those people who always thought of others. He was involved in so much that it would take too long to catalogue everything today, but to name a few: The Scouts where he remained involved well into his middle years. Leatherhead Operatic Society where his wonderful singing voice helped him to play large parts in a number of productions. He was a founder member of Leatherhead TOC H and remained a member holding a number of offices until the branch closed in the 80’s LEPRA as it is now known, was borne out of a TOC H project in the early 30’s. George was instrumental in founding the Leatherhead Branch and ran the House Box collection until just a few months ago. Considerable relief was obtained by scores of sufferers of this terrible disease, resulting from the considerable sums raised. He was heavily involved in the fund-raising for the building of the Leatherhead Cottage Hospital. He helped organise the Police and Traders Carnival in 1938. It is no surprise that he was still helping to take Sunday Services at the Hospital until he died. His distinctive writing, was appreciated by many recipients of the letters he wrote for residents of the Royal School for the Blind, where for years and years, he tirelessly attended every week. In the summer he would regularly help the lads at the RSB play bowls and cricket. George thoroughly enjoyed playing bowls and was a keen member of the Leatherhead Bowls Club for I don’t know how many years, winning several competitions and Trophies. George got real pleasure from going up to the club in the afternoons until the end. He was also a keen supporter and a Vice President of Leatherhead Football Club, latterly bemoaning the fact that they were no longer the force they used to be! George was too young to be in the first War and although too old for the second, was a volunteer fireman. He would often work all day and then spend all night in London helping with the aftermath of bombing raids, particularly during the Blitz. He reflected on the terrible scenes and the resulting hardship that he saw. Mary had emigrated to New Zealand in the late 50's, George and Una missed her dearly. She was single when she left but met and married Burton in 1965, sadly George and Una could not attend. However after George retired, they were able to afford to visit her, and in 1978 spent 3 cherished months with Mary and her family. I remember well when they returned, the weather was appalling and their plane was diverted to Glasgow, and they had to get a coach back to London, They returned to Copthorne Road exhausted, to find the pipes frozen. Typical of George - his main concern was that his elderly neighbour was alright. George’s own health began to turn after Una died and in 1986 he agreed that living in a house alone, with no central heating was getting too much. He was fortunate in being able to move to Homefield where his dear sister Evelyn was already living. He remained there until the end, determined that he wanted to continue to look after himself rather than move into a residential home. George that wish came true. Despite his increasing years and not being in the best of health, George had lists of friends, often widows, who he would regularly phone to let them know he cared and they had not been forgotten. How typical of George, always thinking of other people and their troubles rather than himself. Whilst at Homefield he would often reflect about his wonderful life and the things that were really important. He proudly penned 3 poems one of which, of course, was All That Matters. Anyone who met George in the last 18 months cannot have failed to have been given a copy! George's nephew Philip, set it to music, and we shall sing it in a few minutes. The words of this are, I think, the finest tribute to George, because they say what George was truly about. George you were a lovely, gentle man with a heart warmer than anyone. You were one of those rare people who put so much more into life than you ever took from it. Largely through other people and doing things for them, you enjoyed life greatly. Everyone here, with many who are not, will miss you dearly. George, thank you for being you.
On the other hand, he also had the ability to stick, and once he had made a commitment it was life long – which in George’s case was no short-term undertaking. We see this in the way he lead the Ward Service at Leatherhead Hospital, and his fund raising and involvement with LEPRA and TOC H. Goodness knows how much money he raised over the years but it must run into thousands. And, of course, his big commitment and involvement was with our Church Choir, which he joined in 1914 as an eight or nine year old. When he told his mother he wanted to join the choir, she said "Well, if you join, then you must stay with it". He certainly did that! It was only this year that he found himself unable to robe and take part fully. 87 years is probably a record as the longest serving choir member of any in the country, and it would certainly be worth testing the water to find out. Latterly, of course, his contribution was not what it had been when he was younger and in full voice, but he still knew what he was about. And the music today is of George’s choosing. Pieces he knew and loved and had sung many times himself. He was in Church and taking part fully the Sunday before he died. People liked George and bowed to his advice and knowledge. I heard a nice story in this context only recently. As Mark mentioned, George worked in a hardware shop on Kingston Road. A family who lived opposite, when Radios first came in, acquired a fine set and decided to put up a new shelf in the living room to accommodate it safely. Dad went over the road to get a set of brackets from said hardware shop to do so. George sold him the brackets and said they needed to be a good strong pair to support the radio set – Radios were bigger in those days – but when Dad got back home, unaware who had sold them to Dad in the first place, Mum said "I’m not having those great big brackets up in my living room. They are ugly and proper unsightly. Go back and get George to give you a decent pair". Off Dad goes and explains the situation to George. George says "Well you can’t be too careful when it comes to brackets. You don’t want the shelf collapsing and tipping off the Radio. Stick with what you’ve got." Back Dad goes with the same brackets and shows them to Mum. "Oh! They’re fine" says Mum. "I told you George would know what to do". He was always a good man on brackets, George. And of course what was at the cornerstone of George’s life and service was his Christian faith. It was this that inspired his faithfulness here. Despite physical constraints, he was determined to keep going and to keep coming to Church. When many would have given up, he didn’t. And his faith inspired his gratitude. "I’ve had a wonderful life", was a phrase I often heard him use, and he meant it. He lived very modestly, he was a constant support and companion to Evelyn, he was much loved and admired, he was a source of inspiration and hope to others. He could go on a bit – but when I’m 90 I look forward to doing the same . . . and so can you. We have been extremely blessed by knowing this man and the fine qualities he displayed, and the sincere faith which he held. It is hard to capture in our day that heartfelt enthusiasm and conviction we find in St Paul for life after death. But with George I think that resurrection hope comes clearly into view. Here is the perishable that puts on the imperishable; the weakness that is raised in power, here is the death that is swallowed up in victory. We know what life is really about, through death, because it makes us think what really matters now. When someone dies whom we love and admire, they are a model to us of what life can be. In George we honour his faithfulness and service, his big heartedness and willingness to embrace the new without complaint, his sense of duty, his generosity and concern for others, his Christian faith and behaviour that ran through all he did. May we always treasure his memory, and may his life always be one of inspiration, as we continue to live our own lives of faith. George lived through virtually all the enormous change and turmoil of the twentieth century. We truly shall not see his like again. George Dench - by Ann Thomson - October 2001 Parish MagazineGeorge died on 22 August at the age of 95, having lived in Leatherhead all his life. The third of a family of five children, he inherited his love of plants and horticultural knowledge from his father who had been a gardener at one of the big houses in the area. He joined the Parish Church Choir in January 1914 at the age of eight and continued to sing in the choir regularly until about two months before his death when he had completed 87 years and 5 months in the choir. This is believed to be a record for service in a single church choir. For many years, George was the crucifer as well as a leading member of the bass section. He had a fine voice and, while not a sight singer, had built up a large repertoire over the years; once he had learned a piece he was rock solid. George was noted for his reliability and he would only be missing from the choir on the Sunday morning when the Parish Church was responsible for leading the service at Leatherhead Hospital. George took part in many other aspects of church and local life. He was "on the door" at most parish social events (along with Stan Parkes) and was a leading member of TOC H. He organised collections for LEPRA, took a keen interest in the fortunes of Leatherhead Football Club and was an active member of the Bowls Club. Over the last year or so George had become noticeably more frail and fellow choir members had many anxious moments when going up or down the steps. Finally he agreed that it would be safer for him to remain down below. On 15 June his fellow choir members entertained him to dinner and made a presentation marking his long and faithful service to the choir. I had sung with George for some 40 years and greatly valued his reliability and experience. There were occasions when he would tut-tut over the younger choristers, saying that it wouldn't have been allowed in his day. George sang alongside beefy basses like the two Jims (Williams and Middlemas) and outstanding tenors like Ted Carpenter and Bill Jarvis - we shall not see their like again. Although many of us had hoped that there would be the odd occasion when George would be able to sing with the choir again, sadly it was not to be. The choir stalls were packed for his funeral when we sang the hymn George had writtten himself, and one of his favourite anthems, Sibelius' Be still my soul. Our commiserations go to his sister Evelyn and to his daughter Mary and her family.
As a young boy, Mr Dench insisted on joining the choir even
though his mother thought he should wait until he was a bit
older. She apparently said if he did join he must stick at
it - words which evidently stuck with him throughout his
long life. |
