Denis Fisk (OB 1941-1950)

A family man and francophile who lived life to the full and “refused to be ordinary”

A former shipbroker, Francophile, outdoor enthusiast and President of The Society of Old Brentwoods, Denis Fisk died on December 5th 2025. The funeral took place at Bentley Chapel, Brentwood on December 30th. Mourners included friends and relations from Leigh-on-Sea, Birchington, Newark, Walton-on-Thames, Bournemouth and the south of France. Friends and family watched the live stream in Dorset, Australia, the United States, South Africa, and other countries.

Denis was born in Ilford on 30th March 1933. With his father Charles, his mother Hilda and elder sister Doris, he enjoyed a safe and secure childhood. When he was two, the family moved to South Drive, Warley.

He attended Brentwood School. A child of spirit, in Hartswood, the local woods between home and Brentwood School, he made fireworks from bracken and was always adventuring and climbing trees. One memorable winter's day, when the pond at Shenfield Common was covered with ice, he cycled across it to cheers from fellow pupils. On his third foray, the ice gave way; the pond was shallow but cold and muddy, but he climbed out with a new tale to tell. During the Second World War, Brentwood housed American GIs. Always the entrepreneur, Denis would buy newspapers and swap them for sweets and chewing gum with the soldiers.

From shipbroker to air gunner

He left school at 16 to begin a long and successful career as a shipbroker, steadily gaining experience on the Baltic Exchange. At 18, he was called up for National Service with the RAF. Based in Lincolnshire, he trained as an air gunner. He loved squash and, always the
conversationalist, talked his way into using the courts in the officers' mess. After two years, Denis returned to shipping. He worked for Anglo Yugoslav, Anglo Adriatic Shipping and Killick Martin.

At 27, he married Marilou. They had three children: Michel, Valerie and Christine, but separated after 12 years. Denis met Mavis at Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve parties. Their friendship and love blossomed, and they married in 1978, remaining devoted to each other for 47 years.

The family grew with the arrival of son Ian. Sadly, Christine passed away 28 years ago. Over time, Denis and Mavis became grandparents to eight and, eventually, great-grandparents to six.

An outdoor family life encompassed tennis, squash at the Old Brentwoods, cycling adventures around the UK, Holland, Denmark and France, and outdoor swimming, canoeing and long walks exploring the countryside, and through a mutual friend at Brentwood School, they found, and fell in love with Belarga, a small village in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France.

La belle France

Accordingly, they bought an old stone structure and converted it into another family home, and the start of 30 years of glorious holidays. Typically, they would drive through the night, arriving in time to eat in the village café. They collected bikes, canoes, kayaks and trawled flea markets. Their son Ian (also an Old Brentwood) recalls family cycle rides, “discovering secret places and ancient fossils, picking fruit from hedgerows, occasionally scrumping grapes, spotting rare birds, admiring views, exploring rivers, enjoying long lunches and evening barbecues by the riverside and on their terrace”.

The laid-back lifestyle suited three generations of the family, enjoying good food, wine, and company. In both Warley and in Belarga, Denis loved gatherings for birthdays, Christmas and their social circle continued to grow, as they found new friends with every new adventure. From age 50 onward, each decade was celebrated with a party.

Michel referred to his father’s “unique sense of fashion that defied the laws of traditional colour theory. By the time you finished blinking at the brightness of his attire, you realised he looked exactly like a man having fun and enjoying life”.

Denis was a successful part-time entrepreneur, dealing in watches, sunglasses, golf balls, and many other items, and at one point even helped some of the Languedoc wine producers export directly to the restaurants in Brentwood.

He was a lifelong West Ham supporter and also enjoyed Wimbledon, Formula One and rugby. His biggest passion was playing tennis and squash, participating in local championships for The Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood and Essex. He was “very fair but determined” to win every match. During his term as President of the Old Brentwoods, he was instrumental in raising funds for the Old Brentwoods Club tennis courts and, later, the trees that surround them still to this day.

When Denis retired, he renovated furniture and bikes, selling and donating some and keeping others. When Mavis stopped working, the couple lived in Belarga for six months of the year, welcoming guests with BBQs and laden tables.

Wildlife, gardening and charities

They loved the outdoors and nature - Denis installing bird boxes, pruning trees, cutting lawns, trimming hedges and growing vegetables; mavis looking after the flowers and shrubs. They were passionate about encouraging wildlife in the garden and looking after the local areas in Brentwood. Denis even stepped in to promote saving the Horse chestnut trees on Hartswood Road, which you can still see thriving as you drive around Brentwood.

A friend and neighbour wrote a poem - Dashing Denis - to commemorate his 70th birthday. His grandchildren read a poem about his gardening prowess at the funeral.

The couple actively supported St. Francis Hospice in addition to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, and RNLI. In Denis’ memory, the family are continuing to raise funds for charity.

There were tributes from Mavis, Michel, Valerie and Ian.

Mavis: “We always worked hard and played hard, enjoying and relishing our family time. Denis’s cup was always full and, using his words, sparkled like champagne. Happily, that ethos continues through all of the family”

Michel: “Dad was vibrant and unapologetically himself. He was a masterclass in how to be kind and generous while living life to the full with flair. He lived with a sense of adventure and a refusal to just be ordinary. He leaves us with the courage to try and the confidence to pull off anything.”

Valerie: “When a really good person departs, the French say: ‘we have lost a pearl.’ Like the lighthouse at the end of my road, Dad shone his special sparkling light. He was the big fish of the family.”

Ian: People were always drawn to him and he made them feel welcome. He noticed, he listened and left people a little happier. He knew the value of giving time to family. Those qualities live on in all of us.”