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| Bro. Ken Dunn 4 July 1921 to 23 November 2021 |
Ken was born near Bradford,Yorkshire and always remained a proud and true Northerner. A bright lad, he attended Heaton School and became Captain at the age of 17. At the age of 18, early in World War II, he went on to study at the Royal Dental Hospital in Leicester Square.
18 months before his final examinations, Ken was struck down with tuberculosis and spent 9 months in a Yorkshire Dale sanatorium. Ken was then sent to Leeds General Infirmary which he always said was the luckiest thing in his life, because he was nursed by Phyllis Heather Myles whom he went on to marry in 1946.
Ken completed his course at the Leeds Dental School, living at home and commuting to London for his final examination. Qualified but unfit for military service, he was advised to avoid the strenuous life of a dental practice and aim for an academic dental career.
Ken's first job was as House Surgeon at the Leeds Dental Hospital. This provided good experience but feeling the need to practise dentistry, he joined a Leeds practice. Ken then went on to buy another practice in 'bracing Skegness' where he became one of the first British users of intravenous anaesthesia in dentistry.
In seven years, Ken and Phil had four children, two boys and twin girls. When the twins were born the family decided to move to London buying a large house in Surbiton with ample room for living and a practice. In time, he engaged other dentists and started a dental laboratory. Ken became a Consultant at Kingston Hospital, where he remained for 12 years.
Ken bought a dormobile and tent for family holidays in Europe Spain being their favourite destination. Wishing to spend more time in Spain, he left the hospital and bought a house on the Spanish coast. Here Ken and Phyl had many happy times with their good friends, Peggy and Roy Pollard.
As in every family, life was not all wine and roses. There was great sadness when elder son Stephen suddenly died from a heart attack at the age of 41. In 2017 Ken lost Phyl and in less than two years, his son Robert.
Ken was active in dental politics and became chairman of the Kingston and District Dental Association, attending international conferences. On a trip to Rio with Phyl, they had the misfortune to be mugged but Ken fought the mugger off who got nothing! They were also robbed in Las Vegas.
In Surbiton Ken joined the Round Table and in 1983, on retirement, became a member of the Guildford Catenian Circle. As a distinguished attender for nearly 40 years he was always grateful for the friendships and enjoyment that this brought. Ken is, in fact, the only Centenarian Guildford Circle has ever had in its 64 years existence.
Ken was a keen bridge player and was at one time a member of the British Universities International Bridge Team. He played well into his old age, frequently with friends Paul and Maureen Johnson, and he was always willing and patient enough to teach complete beginners. Ken often said what incredible luck it was to have such a wonderful wife, family and friends with a prolonged retirement in which to enjoy them.
Throughout his life Ken loved London. He also loved cricket and was a great jazz fan. Not traditional jazz, he was much too cool for that! His idols were Mark Murphy and Billie Holiday and Ken played the sax himself.
As a cricket lover, he was pleased to have reached his century which he celebrated with great enjoyment only a few months ago. My personal memories of Ken revolve around his home on a cliff edge in Godalming, where he found much joy in feeding the squirrels that visited his balcony. He was such a remarkable man: cheerful, sharp, decisive, straightforward and a fast talker. A real Northerner always calling a spade a spade!
Even in his 90’s Ken was very nimble and walked so quickly I always had difficulty keeping up with him. A no-nonsense Ken who with Phyl, delighted for many years in visiting the Jack Phillips pub in Godalming on the weekly 'half price days' and treating their friends to lunch.
Ken was a remarkable man whom many will mourn and greatly miss. His life and amazing longevity are now a source of comfort and quiet celebration for the family he leaves behind: daughters Sue and Antonia, Antonia’s sons David and Euan, Robert’s widow, Lena and her children, Alex and Katie and Alex’s boys Odin and Orick.
Ken: husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, friend, may you rest in peace.
Michael
Shortland January 5, 2022
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