Biography

was born on 6^th January 1912 to Harry and Evalynne Denham, at Illingsworth, Halifax, in Yorkshire. There were two other sons, Gerald and Eric. Although their parents were Congregationalists, the three boys attended St. Hilda's Church, Gibraltar Road, Halifax, and were confirmed into the Church of England.

Laurence was educated at the local infants' school then at Heath Grammar School, Halifax, founded in 1597. When he left school, aged 18, he joined the then Halifax-based knitting wool manufacturers, Patons & Baldwins, as a trainee; he went through all the different departments, such as wool sorting, dyeing, spinning, sales etc. At the age of 21, he was sent out to the firm's branch in Shanghai, China. He maintained his church interest, attending Holy Trinity Cathedral in Shanghai, and he ran one of the local Scout troops. During World War II he was interned by the Japanese. On his release he returned to England, from where he was subsequently sent to the Patons & Baldwins mill in Launceston, Tasmania, where in 1952 he became general manager.

In Launceston Laurence became a parishioner of St. John's Church. He joined the choir, singing tenor, and in 1963 was appointed a churchwarden, holding the office until his death. He was also a lay-reader for many years.

Laurence's main interests lay in music, bush walking, Toc H, and the guidance and training of young people. In Scouting, he was associated with the formation of several troops in and around the city, and both St. Giles and the Roland Boys' Homes benefitted from his interest in their special needs. As well, he took an active part in setting up the Kelso campsite and the Montgomery Park area. He was a member of Rotary in Launceston for many years.

Laurence's interest in the arts led to the formation of the Patons' Players and the Patons' Highland and Country Dancing Clubs. He also performed with the Launceston Repertory Society and was a staunch supporter of the A.B.C. concert season, and of the National Trust.

He was generous and sincere. Being particularly interested in music, he warmly supported the then organist at St. John's Church in bringing the choir into the ambit of the Royal School of Church Music, and gave generously to renovate the very fine organ and to improve it by adding a thirty-two foot bombarde. He also gave a beautiful piano for the choir's use, dedicating it to his mother's memory, and donated a processional cross of unusual interest, its design being a copy of an iron processional cross in Ethiopia, dating back to the fourth century A.D. His will bequeathed to St. John's Church not only his holiday home, 'Quamby Cottage' at Orford on the East Coast, but also a large sum of money sufficient to enable the parish to build the Parish Centre and the Garden of Remembrance.

Laurence Denham did not marry. He died after a long illness on 5^th August 1971. The inscriptions on the memorials read:
Processional Cross:
A.M.D.G.
IN MEMORY OF 
LAURENCE DENHAM
d 5.8.'71
Brass Plate on Organ:
A.M.D.G.
IN MEMORY OF
LAURENCE DENHAM
LAY READER, CHURCHWARDEN,
CHOIR MEMBER
DIED 5-8-'71
HIS BEQUEST MADE POSSIBLE THE ADDITION OF THE BOMBARDE STOP TO THIS ORGAN
Plate on Resler Piano:
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
EVALYNNE DENHAM
WHO DIED ON FEBRUARY 15TH, 1968
THIS PIANO WAS PRESENTED TO ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
BY HER SON LAURENCE
AS A TOKEN OF GRATITUDE FOR HER LONG AND INSPIRING LIFE

Source