A family has paid tribute to a much-loved Aberdare dad who helped give local youngsters “a purpose” through skateboarding. Anthony Dennis died unexpectedly on Friday, July 17, leaving behind his 13-year-old son Oliver.
Speaking on behalf of the family, his nephew Ethan Williams said Anthony was a passionate skateboarder and BMX rider who spent years helping to create opportunities for young people to enjoy.
Ethan, 32, told WalesOnline: “Anthony was a very outgoing person. He loved his BMXing and skating even at 53 years of age. He still continued to push the limits.”
Two skateparks brought to Aberdare
Anthony played a key role in bringing two skateparks to Aberdare. The first opened around 2006 before closing when a new school was built, and around 2013 he successfully campaigned for a new one to replace it.
Ethan believes Anthony’s determination to create somewhere for young people to enjoy skating and BMXing was partly rooted in his own childhood, when there were few opportunities to pursue the hobbies he loved.
“I think it was because when he was growing up there wasn’t much to do in regards to his hobbies,” he said. “For skating and BMXing they would use the library steps or travel to different places to find spots where they could enjoy themselves.
“When the opportunity came around 2004 when the council were discussing what they could bring to the area he got involved straight away because he had a passion for it and he wanted others to have that passion.”
Community and mentorship
The skateparks went on to attract people from across the UK, while Anthony formed lifelong friendships through the community he helped build around them.
“He brought two skateparks to Aberdare which helped keep kids off the street, by giving them a purpose,” Ethan said. “He made lifelong friends through that. He travelled the whole of the UK and people came from over the UK to use the skate parks in Aberdare, all through his hard work.”
Anthony was particularly passionate about encouraging youngsters to push themselves, and one phrase he regularly used became something those around him remembered.
Ethan said: “A saying Anthony always would tell the kids - or anyone really - was: ‘Try and you might, don’t and you won’t.’ Then they would try a jump and be amazed by it. He would say it in regards to all aspects of life.”
Sudden death and funeral
Alongside his work with the skateboarding and BMX community, Anthony had worked for Welsh Water for more than 20 years and was due to start a new job in August. He was seemingly fit and had no known illnesses before his sudden death. “When I found out I just felt numb,” Ethan said.
Around 300 people attended Anthony’s funeral, which Ethan described as more of a celebration of his life. Anthony’s mother, Rhona, summed him up in her eulogy as: “He was 53 going on 19.”
The eulogy also reflected on the impact Anthony had on young people, describing the community he helped create and the role he played in supporting and mentoring younger skateboarders.
Ethan read: “There’s no denying that Anthony changed a lot of young people’s lives. Skateboarding gave them a purpose, a hobby and a supportive and inclusive community where they felt they belonged.
“Skateboarders of all ages were brought together by a shared love of the sport. The older and more experienced skateboarders were looked up to and Anthony was always on hand to push and mentor the youngsters. He had been there and done it. He’d got the t-shirt and the injuries… Had it not been for these skateparks these youngsters may have been out getting into God knows what trouble.”
Family memories and fundraising
For Ethan, however, Anthony was not simply the man known by so many through skateboarding and BMXing. He was his uncle and someone who had been a constant presence throughout his childhood. He said: “Growing up I would spend a lot of time around him. I wasn’t into BMXing or skating but I would always be around him.
“He would always build little ramps, things like that. He would always buy toy skateboards, things like that, and teach me new tricks. He would always take me to new places in the summer.”
And while skateboarding and BMXing had been Anthony’s first love for much of his life, Ethan said that changed when his son Oliver was born.
“Up until Oliver was born Anthony’s first love was skateboarding and BMXing, but as soon as Oliver was born that changed. Anthony did anything and everything in his power to make Oliver’s life the best it could be.
“Oliver was his best friend. They did everything together. If Anthony was out and about Oliver would constantly be on the phone asking where he was. They loved playing football and playing with Lego, doing silly things as a father and son.”
Oliver, 13, is now living with Ethan’s parents, while Ethan and his wife are doing what they can to support him following his dad’s death.
“Oliver has been incredible,” he said. “For a boy of 13 to be as he has been, he’s been incredible. He’s been a shining light in the darkest of days.”
The family has set up a JustGiving page to help give Oliver financial security and opportunities as he grows up. It has raised more than £2,500, while a separate Crowdfunder set up by Wales Old School BMX - of which Anthony was one of the founders - has raised more than £350.
The family said the money raised for Oliver would be used for his education, hobbies, important milestones, everyday needs and other opportunities his dad would have wanted him to have.
Reading from the JustGiving page, Ethan said: “As a family, we are committed to giving Oliver all the love, care and support he deserves. We will do everything we can to help him through the years ahead and make sure he has every opportunity to build the future his dad would have wanted for him.
“This page has been created to give those who wish to help the opportunity to support Oliver’s future. Every penny raised will be used solely for Oliver, helping to provide the opportunities, security and support that Anthony would have wanted for his son. Whether that’s education, hobbies, important milestones, everyday needs or simply giving him a helping hand as he grows up, this fund will always be there for Oliver.
“No amount of money will ever replace Anthony or take away the pain of losing him, but we hope this fundraiser will show Oliver just how many people cared about his dad and how many people are standing beside him as he navigates life without him.”
Ethan said the loss had been particularly difficult for the family because Anthony had occupied a very different place in their lives to the one he had in the wider skateboarding and BMX community.
“In regards to the family, it’s going to be very, very strange and difficult. Ant was completely different to us than in regards to his skateboarding friends and community. To us he was the pain in the backside [affectionately], the brother for my mother and uncle Ian, the dad to Oliver.
“We saw him differently to everyone else. It’s going to be hard. This situation has brought us closer as a family but in the coming years it will definitely bring us even closer.”
Ultimately, Ethan said Anthony would be remembered for the way he put other people before himself. “He was a larger than life character and he just wanted what was best for everyone else. He never put himself first.”
