Tadley to say fond farewell to community stalwart

Tribute paid to bravery of battle with illness

Tadley residents will gather next week to bid a fond farewell to a popular and well-respected man of the community, who lived in the Tadley area all his life, whose funeral will take place on Tuesday.

Dennis Nash, aged 67, died peacefully at home, surrounded by family on Sunday, July 5, after fighting against a brain tumour with, according to his daughter Donna Jenkins, “a level of bravery and dignity that was beyond comprehension”.

Born in Stoney Heath, Baughurst, on December 31, 1947, Dennis was well known for straight talking, compassion, honesty and generosity – traits that Mrs Jenkins said were held dear by his family and friends.

“During a recent gathering to celebrate a fundraising skydive for the Brain Tumour Charity undertaken by his grandchildren Sammy and Charlie, he gave a speech stating he knew where he was going and it was the sick children that were more important, and that we should be helping and raising funds for them.”

Mr Nash worked hard throughout his life, initially as a woodcutter for his late father – a Tadley broomsquire (besom broom maker) by royal appointment to the Queen then, from the early 1980s, running his own company, Nash Contract Services, which undertook tree and vegetation management on railway embankments throughout southern England.

His business, of which Network Rail was a customer, employed more than 25 people, many of them local.

Mr Nash also served for many years on the committee of the Ambassador Club, Hangar Road, of which he was chairman for the last 15 years.

Over the years he enjoyed camping holidays, often along with “enough people to take over entire camping fields” said Mrs Jenkins, and organised many holidays at Butlins with friends, family and colleagues.

In later years he enjoyed holidays to Cyprus and cruises, where he met old friends and made many new ones.

He leaves his wife of 46 years Barbara, children Donna, Philip and Joanne, sons-in-law Martin, and Stephen and daughter-in-law Naomi, grandchildren, Samantha, Chris, Ashley, Nick, Megan, Charlie, Leah, William, Owen, Ryan, brothers Robert and Raymond and sister Christine.

Mr Nash’s funeral is at 1pm on Tuesday, at St Paul’s Church, The Green, Tadley.

The burial will be at St Peter’s Church, Tadley, and returning to the Ambassador Club to celebrate his life. All welcome. Floral tributes, or donations to The Brain Tumour Charity, or St Michael's Hospice, North Hampshire, Hospice at Home. Enquiries to Ash Brook Funeral Directors, Tadley, telephone (0118) 9821111.