Veterans association founder Dennis Goodwin, aged 91

The founder of the World War One Veterans Association has died at the age of 91.

Dennis Goodwin, who died at his Sussex home, was awarded the MBE in 2008 for his services to veterans. Mr Goodwin, who leaves behind his widow Brenda, set up the veterans association in 1989 and, with his son Stephen, he brought together 400 survivors of the war.

He helped arrange pilgrimages to France and Flanders and other memorial sites as well as to events at Buckingham Palace, the House of Lords and around the country.

A family statement said: “It has to be said that, but for Dennis, many of them would never have been acknowledged. As the veterans diminished in numbers, the super-centenarians came into their own and Dennis, along with Brenda and others, took Henry Allingham (who reached the age of 113 years, he was Britain’s oldest man and last survivor of the First World War), Harry Patch and Bill Stone to all the remembrances and other functions until 2009 when the last one died.

“During that time we met almost every member of the royal family, many celebrities, all of whom were fascinated by the veterans. He wrote a book about Henry setting out his life and Her Majesty the Queen awarded Dennis with the MBE for his services to the veterans.”

Born in a fire station in Lancashire in 1926, Mr Goodwin volunteered for the RAF in 1944 and served in Burma working with Air Sea Rescue before serving in Singapore and Malaysia until 1948. After the war, he joined the local government service in Preston, Lancashire, and made his career in human resources ending up as executive director of HR for Bath City Council and then moving to West Sussex in 1982.

He then became town clerk for Littlehampton. After retirement, he became welfare officer for the RAF Benevolent Fund for 15 years. He was also a trustee for the Guild Care Charity in Worthing and Age Concern.

PA. Lifetime of service: Dennis Goodwin helped out many good causes.