Regulars at a Chislehurst pub have paid tribute to one of the area’s best loved characters by organising a memorial walk in his memory.
Dennis Wills, 88, died last May hours after watching Bromley FC play at Wembley in the FA Trophy final.
People, beer, betting and football were Dennis’s main loves, and most folk in Chislehurst knew him.
His old mates at his favourite boozer, the Imperial Arms Pub, known locally as The Impy, are holding the memorial walk on March 16.
Simon Little, now 63, met Dennis for the first time in 1970 at The Impy.
Drinking a pint of Courage, 15-year-old Simon met Dennis, then 40, who was starring in the pub’s famed darts team.
"He went out every day and everyone knew him," Simon told News Shopper.
"Dennis was a well known local personality."
The pair ended up becoming long-time friends with Simon giving a eulogy at Dennis’s funeral.
Speaking about his pal, Simon added: "Although diminutive in stature and having lived a tough life, he was a larger than life personality who always had a cheery smile and cheeky remark for everyone."
He was known for being particularly small, and someone who always ordered the same thing, a half pint of bitter.
Dennis used to go around the different pubs in Chislehurst every day to tell anecdotes about days gone by.
A framed photo of Dennis now sits behind the bar of The Imperial Arms.
Landlord Alan Weeks told News Shopper he has been in charge for seven years and that Dennis visited daily.
"He would come down the hill about quarter to three with his little baseball hat and trousers that were a little bit short," Alan laughed.
"He would push the door quite hard, look around and see who was in and then sit in his usual place for his half pint."
Alan added: "He was a legend. He was someone everyone knew, and he would go to about four or five pubs every day."
Dennis was believed to have celebrated his 21st birthday at The Impy, with a glass display cabinet getting smashed during the party antics.
Eventually he became passionate about cooking and looked after apprentices for 20 years at the Coed Bel hostel in Lubbock Road.
The memorial walk is this Saturday, the day before Dennis’s birthday, and will start at the Gordon Arms pub.
Regulars who knew Dennis will have their picture taken outside all the pubs they visit before enjoying a drink in memory of their old friend.
List of pubs on the memorial walk:
Gordon Arms
Queens Head
Sydney Arms
Bulls Head
The Crown
Tigers Head
Ramblers
The Bickley
The Imperial Arms
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