FOLLOW-UP: Centenarian dies at 104
“I have seen men travel to space and watched the world teeter on the brink of disaster. I can only hope that generations to come have learnt from the past and will live with hope.”
Rynpark resident and Benoni centenarian Bert Denman died on January 8.
Bert became a regular in the Benoni City Times, sharing his momentous March 22 birthdays with the publication, his family and neighbours.
As one of the last surviving members of the Royal Air Force (RAF) 47 Air School in Queenstown, he lived until the age of 104.
Born in Sussex, England, planes and their inner workings always intrigued Bert.
At 17, he enlisted in the RAF and after he turned 19, they shipped him to a training base in Queenstown.
During the then Empire agreement, bases were established in countries not actively participating in WWII, to allow pilots and mechanics to train without the threat of attack by the Nazi Germans.
Following the war, he worked as a ground engineer for several airlines, while pursuing his interest in building model airplanes.
With his wife Ann by his side, the couple built remote-controlled models.
They never built WWII models, with Bert saying he witnessed too much tragedy relating to those aircraft.
During his birthday celebrations last year, Bert gently squeezed his loving wife’s hand, saying he wished to fly across the globe; just once.
Ann declined to comment on her husband of 15 years passing, saying Bert would not have wanted anyone to make a ‘fuss about it.’
Bert is survived by Ann, his three children, 13 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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