Deniss Notridge

“No matter how old you get, some people you never stop looking up too.” That’s what Den, or Grandad as he was to me, meant to his family. He was Dad to 4, Grandfather to 11, as well as being Great Grandad to 9, soon to be 10. Grandad was always supportive and encouraging. For him family came first, he put his kids first at all times even if it meant organising the school runs around working and raising a home on his own. It was in doing this that he met his current wife Morag, or Gran, as she is affectionately known. Grandad was never afraid to speak his mind and although this sometimes rubbed people up the wrong way, you always knew where you stood. Grandad was never a man of material things, he would have given you the shirt off his back if he knew you needed it. For instance, instead of a big family do for his 80th he organised a charity event and raised money for Macmillan Cancer Support instead. Macmillan was always close to his heart because of the support they offered, and continue to offer, those close to him. Grandad was known to his friends and family as a playful, jovial and warm character. He would always have a story to tell to lift your mood, whether it be from his time in the Air Force to his grass track or motorbike racing. I will miss his witty remarks and comments, even the silly ones. For instance, he would always wait for the answering machine to collect the call when you rang so he knew who was calling. And he would always wait until I said “Its only me” and he would answer with “Hello only me”. Followed by “how are you?” To which I would reply “I’m good” and he would comment “says who?” Grandad would always get upset with people lazing around and not making the most of their time. He didn’t care what you did as long as you were doing something. But of course ‘he wouldn’t of done it like that’. Although he didn’t make it to 94 like he always said he wanted to he did make it to 84! And he was healthy and active right up to the moment he left us. Helping those around him right up to his last. So he went out in his own way, doing what he liked, gardening and working on his BSA Bantam motorbike. Surrounded by flowers, fruit and the sound of his fish pond fountain. One of life’s truly momentous characters, fun, caring and jovial. Just don’t ask for directions.