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| Dennis William Berry [CFT #2800] Born: 1922 Died: 2005 |
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| b Dulwich RAF pilot,acclaimed architect and racing car driver, the life of former Kingston School of Architecture head Dennis Berry reads like a script from a Hollywood film writes Susan Greenwood. But while his professional achievements seem like the stuff dreams are made of, he also spent a lot of time helping others and inspiring others to reach for their own goals. Born in Dulwich in 1922, the youngest of four children, Dennis signed up for the RAF as early as he could after war broke out. His enthusiasm and talent were rewarded when when he was placed in the top two in his flight training class. Eager to get into the air and fight, the RAF instead selected him to become a flight training instructor. Concealing his disappointment, in the end the experience proved invaluable as he began to develop the teaching and guidance skills which he continued to enjoy until the end of his life. Demobbed in 1946 and based in Leicester he commenced the training which would see him, in his guise of architect, working first with Sir Hugh Casson, who was at the time preparing the South Bank's Festival of Britain, and then as his own boss. His work was experimental and elegant and he created in 1960 the first steel-frame house in the UK, earning him international recognition. Dennis poured his creative energy into the Kingston School of Architecture and he became head in 1964. He amassed a young and vibrant team of staff who worked tirelessly to rebuild the school into a noted destination for architectural education. His packed architectural career was just one example of the excitement he chased in life. Perhaps the most obvious example of this was his exploits at Silverstone and Brands Hatch where he raced 750 Formula cars during the 1950s and 1960s. When Kingston School of Art, where Dennis was a part-time tutor, merged with Kingston College of Technology, he fought hard to maintain the autonomy of the art and design school, remaining a crucial part of the academic team until his retirement, in 1987, from his position as Dean of the Faculty of Professional Studies. With the concept of resting on his laurels particularly alien to Dennis, he also found time to get a psychology degree from the Open University in 1977. The family settled in Esher in 1970 and then New Malden. But two heart attacks in the space of six years from 1987 forced him to slow down. Although he gave up his teaching work, he remained a hugely visible character and was very involved in Patient Forums, organising the Kingston one into a coherent group with long-term projects on the go. It was a perfect job for a man who often helped those less fortunate than himself. Cricket-mad Dennis was able to see England get in a promising position to win the Ashes before he died aged 83. It was a final dream come true for a man who spent a lifetime helping others realise theirs. Obituary copyright Surrey Comet, 14th September 2005. |
1: 1965 Jonathan Alexander Lefevre Berryc | |||||||
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