Dennis Dunlop

Dennis Stewart Dunlop was born on 25 April 1932. In 1936, at the tender age of four, he began his education at Aubrey House, a privately-owned Primary establishment, remaining there until its closure in 1938. Despite being two years too young, he was accepted as a pupil at Bangor Grammar School by Maurice Wilkins, the then Headmaster, marking the start of an association with the school which lasted over 60 years.

Dennis attended Bangor Grammar School until 1950; he was Head Boy (1948-1950) and captain of both the Medallion XV (see picture) and the 1st XV. In his Senior Certificate, he was placed first in Northern Ireland in both Advanced Maths and Art and was accepted to study Civil Engineering at Queen’s University Belfast.

After graduating in 1953 with a BSc (Hons), he joined Ferguson and McIlveen Civil Engineers & Architects where he spent the remainder of his professional life, retiring as Senior Partner in 1994. His legacy lives on today in the numerous projects he led with the enthusiasm for which he was so very well known: the Caves at Marble Arch, the Ulster American Folk Park, Carnfunnock Country Park and the Lagan Weir, to name but a few.

During his busy professional life, Dennis was appointed to the Board of Governors of Bangor Grammar School, serving for 17 years (four as chairman). He was a fierce champion of education and of Bangor Grammar School in particular. He led the development of the College Avenue site, including a new sports hall, a state-of-the-art technology building and planning for a science block, which was completed after his retirement from the Board in 1997. He was rightly proud of the role he played in the transformation of the school during this period.

Dennis battled a debilitating neurological illness for many years and died, peacefully, on 18 December 2016 at his home in Crawfordsburn. He is survived by his wife, Rosemary, his children, Stewart, Judith and Ruth, and his sisters, Kay and Helen. He will be remembered for his professional expertise, his integrity, his loyalty to his family and friends, his sense of fun and his love for all things good in life.