On Saturday, 24th January, Congleton people congregated at St Peter’s Church to celebrate the life of one of the town’s best known and most popular figures.
The service of thanksgiving was an opportunity for the many townspeople and organisations that know Denis Murphy to celebrate his achievements in a remarkable life dedicated to community service (writes John Gauld).
Mr Murphy, now sadly suffering from MND and confined to his mobility scooter, has performed many civic tasks and been a member of many organisations in the town, including being a councillor and town mayor three times. His philosophy of “doing what you can” is an example that has served the town well for more than 40 years.
The thanksgiving service was conducted by the Rev Ian Enticott, supported by Fr Bill Kilkenny and the Rev Steven McKevitt.
Longstanding friend, fellow councillor for several years and member of the Rotary Club of Congleton for more than 20 years, Douglas Parker MBE delivered an address and praised Mr Murphy for his work in Congleton. Mr Parker said that he had raised many thousands of pounds for local organisations and listed many of them. He also said that during his mayoralty he had introduced the role of mayor’s cadet to the town.
Coun Suzie Firkin, chair of Congleton constituency’s Liberal Democrats, spoke of Mr Murphy’s service to Congleton, saying he was a “perfect mayor with kindness and respect for everyone in the community, together with his legendary generosity”.
Isabelle Lockett spoke on behalf of the John Halford Trust, describing him as the “perfect recruit” as a trustee.
Retired Fr Kilkenny praised Mr Murphy for his longstanding work at St Mary’s Catholic Centre. He listed him among the people who “give” rather than those who merely “take”. He said he was proud to have served as chaplain on the three occasions that Mr Murphy was mayor. Mr McKevitt said that Congleton Community Credit Union had been a big part of Mr Murphy’s work, supporting local people.
Mr Murphy spoke from his mobility scooter, saying that Congleton was a wonderful town to live in, and that it was up to the residents to join in and keep it so by contributing to the various organisations that helped to make the town what it was. He thanked everyone for their support.
Fr Kilkenny and Mr Enticott presented Mr Murphy with a “This Is Your Life” book.
All about Denis
Mr Murphy regards himself as “lucky”. His career, from leaving school with what he said was an undistinguished academic record, led him to become a Merchant Navy cadet, employed by his ship owner namesake in Ireland. His voyages took him to Arkhangelsk in Russia and to South Africa. While the ship was laid up in dock for a refit in South Africa, he joined a whaling fleet, but didn’t take to the experience and returned to the UK.
In London, an uncle and medic took him to the army careers office in Holborn, where he signed up. From basic training in Catterick, he went to the Military Police training school in Chichester, but without a large enough cohort to run the programme he was shipped to Muscat, where “a bit of a war” was taking place, and he was attached to a field ambulance. After a few months he returned and rejoined the Military Police training school.
He light heartedly described what happened after training as pure “Murphy’s law”, with him being sent “here, there and everywhere”. He went to Northern Ireland at the heart of the Troubles. He was in Belfast then Londonderry, followed by a brief respite at the Edinburgh Tattoo, before returning to Belfast and joining the London District Provost Company.
His initial 12 years were followed by signing up for a second 12 years in the army, which saw him in Berlin for much of that time.
He moved to Congleton in 1985 and commuted to Manchester, working for a security firm. At home in Congleton, he joined a few organisations. He met his lifetime partner, Joan Myatt, at St Mary’s Parish Church.
Margaret Williamson MBE, then a driving force in the Congleton Partnership and other community organisations, a Lib Dem councillor and deputy lord lieutenant, encouraged him to be a town councillor. He served for three sessions and was elected town mayor on three occasions — 2008/9, 2014/5 and 2021/2. He also spent four years as a Cheshire East councillor. He was elected an honorary burgess of the town in 2015.
Fellow councillor Suzy Firkin said at the time of his last mayoralty: “Coun Murphy is a much loved and respected member of the Congleton community. Generous, open and approachable, he works tirelessly to make Congleton a great place to live, through all of his voluntary work and his work as a councillor.”
Following his philosophy of engagement, he took roles in Congleton In Bloom, Congleton Talking Newspaper, became a trustee of the John Halford Trust and also the League of Friends, supporting Congleton War Memorial Hospital. He has also served on the Citizens Advice Bureau and the Town Trust, among others.
For some years and until recently, he lived centrally, above the Cygnet Club on Swan Bank. From there, he was a popular figure, seen daily in the town centre.
He joined the Rotary Club of Congleton in 2006, where he served as club president in 2013 and was awarded Rotary’s highest honour, the Paul Harris Fellowship, in the name of the club’s international founder.
Mr Murphy said: “The lovely thing about Rotary is everywhere you go in the world, there’s a local Rotary club where they welcome you with open arms.”
His diagnosis of motor neurone disease has been met philosophically. Until recently, he was seen on his mobility scooter travelling around town.
He joked about the disease: “People of a certain social standing get MND — famous footballers, rugby players and astrophysicists!”
Last year, Mr Murphy finally made an honest woman (his words) of his partner Joan after their longstanding relationship of some 38 years. He said that they’d had a grand time together, holidaying throughout the world. He described it as “a true partnership”.
His soft Irish lilt and gentle wit, engagement with the community and his legendary generosity have endeared him to all who know him.
The event on Saturday was organised by Rebecca Wheeler, Mrs Murphy’s daughter.
(Photo: John Gauld).
