Rutland D-Day veteran celebrates 100th birthday
A D-Day veteran has celebrated his 100th birthday.
It could be Rutland’s charm which is the secret to a long and happy life, as Dennis Wright has spent a whole century in the county.
Born in Caldecott on December 1, 1922 Dennis has many fond memories growing up with his parents and three sisters.
He said: “I remember playing in the street in Caldecott and there was no traffic.
“We would skip and play whip and top and would probably only see a few cars the whole evening. At that time the butcher and baker delivered by horse and cart.”
Dennis served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during the second wave of D-Day landings in Normandy and during his time in the army travelled to France, Belgium, Holland and Germany.
He received a number of war medals including the Legion of Honour.
“It was a bit rough at times but I wouldn’t have missed it,” said Dennis, who served for five-and-a-half years.
One of Dennis’ favourite memories is when he was on leave from the army and he arrived back to Kettering station narrowly missing the last train so attempted to hitch-hike back.
He recalled: “It was the end of 1942 and there wasn’t a single car in sight to hitch-hike on.”
When Dennis left the Army he bought the village shop and post office in Caldecott which quickly became the heart of the community.
“When I got the shop things were still rationed,” he said
“It was a village centre where people used to come together to meet and chat.
“I loved running it.”
Dennis admitted seeing ‘the end of it coming’ as people moved to supermarket shopping, so got a job in wholesale.
Throughout his life he had a passion for tennis and quickly became captain of his club in Great Easton, which is where he met his wife Dorothy, who was captain of the women’s team.
He proposed to Dorothy on the tennis courts, which Dennis said didn’t surprise her, and the pair were married for 68 years.
“We had a very happy marriage,” said Dennis.
Dennis and Dorothy went on to have two children, Julia and Richard, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
“We all got on very well. Family life means a lot and is so important.”
Dorothy had been planning Dennis’ 100th birthday but sadly died six weeks ago from a stroke, aged 87.
As Dennis headed into retirement life didn’t slow down, he was active in the village and was church warden.
He moved to the outskirts of Uppingham in recent years, often using the Hopper bus service to go into town for a coffee.
When asked why he has stayed in Rutland his whole life, Dennis said: “I have always found the people to be so nice and it is a very social and welcoming place.”
Dennis is expecting to receive a card from King Charles which he is ‘very much looking forward to’.