Dennis James Revell 1934 - 2021.
From the Parish News – April 2021.
It was with sadness that news was circulated that Dennis died on January 30th aged 87 years. Although he never lived in Denton, Dennis’s association with the village goes back many years, which you may accept as inevitable when he married into the Hanner family!Dennis was brought up by his grandparents in Thwaite where as a small boy he witnessed much wartime activity around Seething airfield. He moved to Redenhall when he worked for the Gawdy Hall Estate as a tractor and lorry driver for many years. He later changed from farm work when he joined the staff at Howard’s factory in Harleston, where he continued until he retired.
In 1962 Dennis married Vivienne Hanner and they moved to their bungalow in Low Road, Wortwell. Although living in Wortwell, much of their social life continued in Denton village being members of the tennis and bowls clubs. Also Dennis, a keen NCFC supporter became part of the Denton weekly “City-fans”.
Vivienne and her sisters, Daphne and Jennifer had all been involved in organising the Denton Chapel Sunday School which attracted many of the young children in the village. Many people will still remember the summer outings and the Christmas nativity plays which were part of the annual events for many years. Meanwhile the Revell family expanded as their three daughters, Tina, Lynne and Kim came on the scene and there were some very happy years together. However, tragedy struck the family when, in 1990, Vivienne died after a very short illness following 28 years of family life.
Dennis managed to overcome his grief to some extent when he met his second wife Shirley. They were married in 1994 and settled together in the Wortwell home. However after twenty-one years Shirley developed cancer in 2015, and Dennis again had to witness the loss of his partner. Dennis attended Denton Church regularly until the covid virus lockdown curtailed the services.
Unfortunately, he had a bad fall more recently, and dementia began to overcome him latterly, with the result that he lived his final months in a care home in Oulton Broad. Our sympathy and condolences go to Tina, Lynne, and Kim with their families and his six grandchildren as we remember a true and sincere friend.