Dennis Ernest Peckham (21 Aug 1920 - 17 Jan 2016)

In loving memory of Dennis Peckham who sadly passed away on 17th January 2016.

Dennis Ernest Peckham, second child of Ernest & Agnes Peckham and husband to his late wife Joan, was born in 180 Lyndhurst Road, Wood Green, North London on 21/8/1920.

Dennis had a younger sister Norah but unfortunately he never got to know her as she died at the very early age of 2 in 1913 - 7 years before he was born. Dennis's mother was a professional cook and his father was a Metropolitan Police Constable for 30 years. As Dennis suffered from asthma from an early age, his father turned down promotion throughout his whole career to look after Dennis as sadly, Dennis's mother passed away when he was only 8 years old. Dennis was devoted to his father and when he became ill Dennis visited him every day in hospital after a full day's work as a Junior Draughtsman in the drawing office of the National Coal Board. Unfortunately his father passed away when he was only 61 leaving Dennis to live on alone in the family's flat in Wood Green.

During WW11 Dennis was called up for National Service on 20/2/1941 aged 21. After the war was over he was demobbed in 8/1946. Dennis's previous employers were prepared to offer him his old job back but at his original salary before the war! Understandably, Dennis didn't think much of that so he decided to take another job within the Ministry of Works. This is where he met his future wife Joan in the Ministry of Health when he was sent there on an errand, and the rest, as they say, is history.

After Dennis & Joan married in 1948, Joan moved into Dennis's flat in Wood Green. Now married and wanting to start a family, Dennis decided he needed a job with more prospects and started to pursue a career with Eagle Star Insurance as a Junior Accounts Clerk and started studying for accountancy exams. However, now having two young children - Andrew & Gill, the studying became too much for Dennis on top of a full day's work so he decided to bring the studying to an end but it didn't stop him from continuing to have a career within the accounts department for over 35 years! His accountants trained mind also helped him to keep a tight rein on the family's finances and taught Andrew & Gill to do the same! In 1955, Dennis & Joan bought their first new home in Orpington, Kent where they spent many happy years as a family. Eagle Star Insurance then became part of a large operation to decentralise many big companies from the City of London, and they relocated to Cheltenham in 1966. Dennis and his family then settled here in Leckhampton where they remained for over 50 years until last year. Dennis and his family built up good relationships and friendships with their neighbours, David & Brenda Paine, Alan & Shirley Wood, John & Eve Smith and Colin & Diane Scott who all helped and looked out for Dennis and Joan in recent years as they became older.

Not much is known about Dennis's school days as he rarely talked about them but he was obviously good at drawing and mathematics as when he was in his early twenties, amongst various drawings he did, he designed his own cathedral plan and a coat of arms, (which everyone will be able to see at his wake after the service). Dennis was very interested in architecture, (public schools, churches and cathedrals in particular), ships and the wonderful world of steam trains and was a member of various shipping and steam train associations. He had a terrific collection of public school photos and postcards he had built up over many years amounting to about 800 in all, plus vast postcard collections of ships and steam engines collected over many years. Both Dennis & Joan were also members of the National Trust and Dennis would arrange their holidays to coincide with visits to National Trust properties around the country.

Unfortunately, later in her life, Joan was diagnosed with the de-habilitating disease Osteoporosis which, after many years lead to her having a 4 week stay in hospital last year. It transpired that she would be unable to return to the family home here in Leckhampton so Andrew & Gill started to search for a local care home for Joan to move into and found Sandfields Care Home. Dennis & Joan wanted to stay together and due to Dennis's advancing years and frailty it was not possible for him to live on his own so he took the brave decision to sell his much loved house that they had lived in for 45 years, to move into the home with Joan in a room next to hers.

Sadly, Joan passed away on 1st January this year and after 67 years of marriage, Dennis appeared to have no intention of being apart from her for too long. Although Dennis wasn't a resident in Sandfields Care Home that long, the staff said he would be missed as he was a very kind gentleman.