Dennis Edwards

Dennis' story

Born on 8th June 1930 in Melbourne Derbyshire to Walter and Doris Edwards, Dennis was the eldest child followed 3 years later by Maureen. Dennis’s whole life he lived between Pool Farm and Tutholme (previously Keldholme) Working with his father while growing up and once left school, he joined Young Farmers where he met Shirley. He would pick her up and take her to Young Farmers meetings. Whilst growing up Dennis had a milk round before school. He would load the glass bottles up into bags and carry them on the handlebars of his bike. Delivering to High Street and around the Market Place on his first visit, and then around Church Street and Church Square on his second visit. In those days there was no farm driveway in Woodhouses, he would use the track around the old quarry in the intake, and out by the pool weir. Dennis was quite the horseman and before he could legally drive would often ride his pony over to Willington, to his cousin Shirley’s, bed down there the night, and they would both ride to whichever show or gymkana they were going to. Dennis attended Bemrose School in Derby and each morning, after the milk deliveries, would cycle down to John Wall’s garage to leave his bike and catch the bus into Derby. On one particular day it was raining hard and his brakes failed; as he came down High Street, he tried to brake, which failed, and he ended up running into the now Birds shop with his leg cut and a damaged bike. At this point he decided he wasn’t going to school and went home for the day. Following the 1st world war his father came to tenant Pool Farm where the young Dennis would willingly drive the tractors and help around the farm. Unfortunately his father died at an early age and his mother Doris and he, took on the tenancy of the farm. He always said he was surprised that the Estate allowed him to do this at an early age, he was only On 11 November 1956 Shirley and Dennis were married at Melbourne Church and made their home at Woodhouses. The following year Pat was born and then 2 years later Nigel joined the family.

Remembered by Jayne Edwards