Dean’s funeral was huge. Dean once lived in Croydon when he left the Army but resided in Bow east London till his death.
Dean was called up to do National service when he was 18 and went off to Suez for 18 months as part of the Royal Signals Regiment. When he was demobbed he worked for his father’s firm but did not enjoy it. Against his father’s wishes he re-joined the army and did his Special Forces selection. He joined 22 SAS. During his career he served in Malaya, Borneo, Malaya Peninsula, Libya, East Germany, where he carried out sneaky beaky work with the Russians behind the Iron Curtain and then Hong Kong. He completed his career at the rank of WO2. Dean then joined SSAFA as a case worker for 15 years. Dean was awarded amongst his other campaign medals the British Empire Medal by the Lord Lieutenant of greater London.
At Dean’s funeral there were 11 standard bearers, 8 Royal British Legion Riders who also beard the coffin, pearly Kings and Queens, a serving grenadier Guard Chaplain taking the service and many other veterans paying their respects. People had to stand in the chapel and some had to observe from outside for this great man’s last day.
