As a friend and work colleague, you couldn't ask for more. Flica and I worked with Denis at Crosfields for about 10 years in the 1980's and have fond memories of our time together. Denis had a very sharp mind and work problems were often solved with the aid of gins and bitter lemons outside work! A highlight of the year was stocktaking at the Peterborough factory, controlled by Denis, and involved a weekend of hard work for the four of us from the London HQ (Denis, Damien, Charlie and me) to ensure that everything was correctly recorded. Plenty of food and drink needed in The Bull to relax afterwards. A keen footballer , although in advancing years (for a footballer) Denis was a stalwart of the Manor Celtic football club and Sunday mornings were often spent on the Hackney Marshes. After drinks in the Drum & Monkey, Denis would often invite me back for lunch/dinner- Kay was very welcoming and must have been used to uninvited guests turning up unexpectedly. Without Denis's influence, Flica and I might not have got married . He would have been at home as a matchmaker at Lisdoonvarna!