Coventry Cathedral funeral for D-Day veteran Dennis Davison - The Coventry Observer

Coventry Cathedral funeral for D-Day veteran Dennis Davison

Coventry Editorial 11th Oct, 2019   0

THE funeral of one of the city’s last D-Day veterans is to take place at Coventry Cathedral.

Decorated war hero Dennis Davison sadly died aged 96, on October 1. Tributes have been pouring in.

His daughter, Heather Davison, said: “Dad will be remembered for the laughter, fun and friendship he shared with so many of us. He was a down-to-earth and popular figure in the real ale pubs of Earldson and Chapelfields. I am so proud of him for the part he played in protecting our freedoms, along with thousands of other young men of his generation.”

Earlier this year Dennis was delighted to take part in a BBC documentary about the Peace Orchard he set up in Coventry for Gardener’s World, marking the 75th anniversary of D-Day.




In recent years, the Second World War veteran was awarded the Legion D-Honeur by the French government for his contribution to the Normandy Campaign and his work with the French Resistance.

He was also awarded a British Empire Medal by the Queen for his services to the voluntary sector and a Points of Light Award by the Prime Minister’s office for his efforts teaching young people about the 1944 Normandy Campaign.


A former entrepreneur, Dennis ran an empire of 18 shoe shops across the East Midlands. In his retirement Dennis moved to Normandy for a decade where he was an organiser of the ‘peace picnic movement’ to mark the annual anniversary of D-Day on June 6. This involved thousands of people sharing a symbolic meal in schools and on the beaches of Normandy.

Dennis became the founder of Coventry-based peace education charity, Normandy Day UK, in his late 80s.

His charity was ‘adopted’ by Cardinal Newman Catholic School, the UK’s first designated ‘Peace School’.

Head Teacher Marina Kelly said, “When in front of an audience of young people, he had an uncanny ability to connect. His stories left an indelible impression on the young people, who were left in no doubt about the about the horrors of war and the importance of being peace-makers. His parting is symbolic of the last generation to experience war so close to UK soil.”

Laced with mischievous humour, Dennis was a larger-than-life character who visited several Coventry schools, and became the embodiment of ‘living history’, regaling young audiences with wartime stories.

Normandy Day UK Project Manager Andy Duncan said: “Dennis loved speaking to young people in Coventry schools. But he often talked about leaving a legacy.

“His wish was finally granted when the opportunity arose to create the Coventry Community Peace Orchard at Coundon Hall Park.

“The apple orchard is designed to mirror the apple orchards of Normandy, where much of the combat took place, inland from the beaches in 1944. I would urge everyone to visit the orchard.”

There is also a guided walk around Coventry Community Peace Orchard in Dennis’s memory on Saturday October 26 at 2pm. (Meet at the Peace Orchard, off Tamworth Road. Anyone wishing to attend can park in the Coundon Hall Park car park, opposite the Royal Court Hotel.)

Dennis’s story in his own words is featured on the website, The Peace Orchard, https://www.peaceorchard.co.uk/, and includes a schools’ Peace & Reconciliation resource.

For enquiries about the Peace Orchard Friends group, email [email protected].

* All are welcome to attend Dennis’s funeral at Coventry Cathedral at 1pm on Tuesday October 29.

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