Funeral director celebrates 80th birthday (From Watford Observer)

Surprise party held for Dennis Redrup

3:46pm Thursday 16th February 2012 in News By Amie Mulderrig

A Watford funeral director, who is working towards his black belt in karate, celebrated his 80th birthday surrounded by family and friends.

Dennis Redrup, of Cecil Street, reached the landmark age on Sunday, February 12.

Surprise birthday parties were held on Friday by his employers M K Ginders and sons, and on Sunday by Mr Redrup’s family and friends.

Mr Redrup used to split his time between two careers - working for the railway service as a senior supervisor and in the funeral industry.

In 1954 he met his wife Maud, who he was introduced to at a darts match. The couple married in 1956 and had two children, John and Paul.

At the age of 69, instead of retiring, he took up work at M K Ginder and sons, where he still works as a funeral director. His wife Maud died from cancer 20 years ago.

The active grandfather of six has taken up karate and has achieved a brown belt.

He also does weight lifting, four crosswords a day, is member of the town’s model railway club and photography club. He said of the surprise parties: "So much effort was put in, and it was great to see friends I was at school with, who I’ve worked alongside over the years, plus new friends I’ve met at karate and in the railway club."