A very special constable

Tuesday February 23, 2010

Special police constable, carpenter, avid golfer or chef - however he might be remembered, Stephen Hennessy has left an indelible mark on the local community.

Friends, family and colleagues converged on Holy Trinity Church in Brook Green on February 16 to pay tribute to Stephen, who died aged 72 on January 28, after a brief illness.

The funeral included a police salute as the coffin left the church and began its journey to Mortlake Cemetery.

Stephen's widow Theresa told h&f news: "He loved golf and he was a terribly quiet man in the community - but he left such a mark on so many people."

Stephen was born and grew up in Kilkenny, Ireland, and worked briefly as a chef in Dublin before moving to London in 1959.

He continued his culinary career at the J Lyons & Co factory in Hammersmith Road before tying the knot with Theresa in 1963.

Stephen then retrained in carpentry and began working as a carpenter at Wormwood Scrubs Prison, where he looked after maintenance, repairs and the construction of new furniture.

His friendly demeanour also made a huge impression on the inmates and staff, many of whom attended his funeral.

Theresa added: "He would take 'lifers' out for the day, but he never asked them once what they were in for."

Stephen also worked as a special constable at Hammersmith Police Station from 1982 to 1993 and was a keen member of several golf clubs, including Brent Valley and West Middlesex.

He lived with Theresa in Vespan Road, Shepherds Bush, and leaves two children, Carolyn and John, and one grandson Jack, aged 10.