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Jones Bros owner pays tribute to former plant manager21st Feb 2017
The owner of Jones Bros Civil Engineering has paid tribute to a former plant manager, who has passed away aged 79.
Huw Jones said that Dennis Hession had been integral in helping his family to build its business over more than four decades.
Huw Jones said: “Dennis was the third employee of Jones Bros when he started working for us in 1956.
“The current generations in Jones Bros owe a lot to Dennis, as he laid the foundation stones for the family to take the business from agricultural contracting into plant hire and then civil engineering.”
One of five brothers, Dennis was brought up on various farms throughout the Vale of Clwyd, as his father moved around to find employment.
Having developed a love for the outdoors, he became skilled at ploughing and operating the latest agricultural machinery.
As a young man, his interests included motorbikes, and with friends he would ride to weekly dances locally and in Holywell.
Huw Jones, whose late father, Glyn, started Jones Bros, said:
“Dennis joined us as a herdsman, then became head tractor and combine driver during sowing and harvest times, and foreman of a small team of men, carrying out construction work on farms during the winters.
“In 1970, my father decided the best opportunity to grow the business was in construction plant hire. He wanted someone dependable to manage the business and appointed Dennis.
“Dennis’knowledge of the plant, and his genuine interest and commitment to giving the customer a quality product, proved to be a winning formula.
“These attributes were all fundamental to the development of Jones Bros. Dennis relocated with the business from our farm at Caergroes to Denbigh Road, Ruthin.
“By the time he retired in 1999, the workforce had grown tenfold.”
Dennis leaves his wife, Mair, with whom he celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary on February 3, son and daughter-in-law Garry and Karen; daughter Sian; grandson Daniel and partner Faye, grandson Ryan and great-grandson Leo.
Garry and Daniel are both also former employees of Jones Bros.
Following retirement, Dennis continued his passions of fabricating and DIY and achieved lifelong ambitions, including becoming a skilled plumber and electrician.
He also regularly took to the footpaths of the Vale of Clwyd, walking with his daughter Sian and her Catalan sheepdog, Benson, that Dennis fondly called ‘the pup.’.
The funeral will be at St Peter’s Church, Ruthin on Tuesday 21st Feb at 11am, followed by a private committal at St Asaph Crematorium.
Caption: Dennis is pictured left with Huw Jones.