Dennis was a resident of Grey Lynn since 1969 when he bought a villa in Cockburn Street.
Dennis started working life as a bank teller and was later sent around NZ as a relief teller. He then moved on to be a paymaster for a major construction company. In the mid seventies he went to work at ‘Ron the Pom’s’ fruit shop on the corner of Vermont and Ponsonby Road, and learnt the fruit and vegetable trade.
Later in the early 1980’s when Ron closed the business, Dennis became a supplier to all of the new restaurants popping up on Ponsonby Road and surrounds, Wheelers, Oblios, The Bronze Goat, Raffles, Rick’s Cafe American and many others became quite famous. Whilst Dennis was their supplier he also ate and drank at all of them frequently and famously as he would always arrive with a crowd of revellers and stay till late, he was the ultimate party machine.
Dennis decided with his friend Julian Dobbie the owner of Raffles, to open a fruit shop in Three Lamps and called it ‘Fruitique’. The shop was way ahead of it's time in decor and in the way the highest quality produce was displayed, right down to his daughters serving customers in the shop on their roller skates. Having the shop enabled restaurants to have produce on tap at any hour - and tap it they did. Dennis would get called out at all hours and that led to burnout and the shop eventually closing. The Stockmarket crash in the 80’s didn’t help matters in the fancy fruit trade either. The shop that has stood there since is The Turkish Cafe.
Dennis also had a passion for cars, and with his friend Lesan bought a car at Turners Auction that was reputed to have been owned by the Aga Khan and Rita Hayworth and was one of only six made, a 1934 Humber Sports Saloon. The car was a show stopper up and down Ponsonby road throughout the early and late eighties.
Dennis was born on the 1st of January, so every year he would get dressed up in Tophat and Tails and with an entourage of similarly dressed friends would take the Humber to the races where he would set up camp next to the parade ring, so he could see the horses being led out. He reckoned that if they winked at him they were a winner, and on one occasion a horse that was running had the apt name of ‘Stylish Dude’ and won Dennis the tidy sum of $2,600.
In 2001, Dennis had a bad fall stepping over a newly installed chicane in Lincoln Street where his foot got stuck the gap, smashing his ankle badly. This injury troubled him right up to his passing and of course slowed his activities down almost completely.
On 6 May Dennis passed away surrounded by his daughters Siobahn and Ani and his grandchildren Quentin, Dylan and Leiana.
Rest In Peace Dear Dennis.
Your friend, Andy Palace
The 1934 Humber Sports Saloon
Photography: Micheal McClintock - former Ponsonby News Photographer.
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