Dennis Richard Seal (Passed away 24 Jun 2017)

Dennis Richard Seal - October 1929 to June 2017

A Welshman of many parts – son to Ida and Richard, brother to Marion, pre-teen bomb disposal enthusiast, boxer-in-the-army, ball-room dancer, engineer, welder and later production manager at British Benzol, childhood sweetheart and husband to Sylvia Jean, son-in-law to Molly and Trevor, uncle to Claire and Mark, father to Robert (Sam) and Jonathan, grandfather to Madeline, Suzannah, Joe and Sylvie, amateur magician, neighbour, cousin, nephew, friend, golfer, singer in the Caerphilly Male Voice Choir, assistant gardener, sand sculptor, and of course, always, an artist with pencils and paints.

Dennis left a letter to be discovered after he died.

Here is what he wrote:

Hello Everyone,

if someone is reading this, I’ve died. Don’t be sad. I’ve lived a good and happy life. more so when I met Jean. We were fourteen at the time.
I was always in some organization or other. I was in Cub Scouts, I joined the Boy’s Brigade and the Sea Cadets where I learned to play the bugle, all of course during the war years.
When I reached fourteen years of age I started work at Welsh Metals who were making wing tips for aircraft. My job eventually was working on a multi drill which didn’t last long, then I got a job as a fitter’s mate at British Benzol Coking Plant, which doubled my weekly wage, and eventually an apprenticeship.
Jean and I started courting at this time then Jean went to college and I went into the Army to do two years of national service. I reached the dizzy heights of bombardier. When I left the army I got a job as a machine tool fitter in Taffs Well, then got a job back at the plant as a fitter, fabricator and over the years progressed to safety officer, foreman, assistant engineer and in my last years as Mechanical Engineer overall.

In 1953 Jean and I got married and lived at Jean’s Mum’s house. Later on Robert was born, we bought our first home – South Pandy. Later Jonathan was born. Two sons we were extremely proud of. I spent fifteen years helping Mount Carmel Boys Brigade company, took up watercolours and oil painting, started to play golf at Bryn Meadows Golf Club, played indoor bowls, enjoyed them all. I must thank my niece Claire for all the help she’s given over the years and Steve and Marie and Sian for always being such good neighbours.

Jean and I enjoyed dancing and started to go in for medals. We got to bronze and discovered what a racket that was and gave it up. We had our ups and down through our seventy years together. We had a good life together. Now I’m in Caerphilly Male voice Choir and thank all the choristers for their friendship.

Don’t be sad for me – enjoy your life, as I have.

Love to all,

Dennis.