Dennis Huntley: An Extraordinary Life

Dennis Huntley, much loved ex-art tutor, volunteer and College friend sadly passed away last week aged 93.

Dennis taught at Sutton College for many years and in recent years returned as a volunteer to assist in art classes alongside fellow tutors in the art department. He was a regular visitor to the College and students in the art studios will remember his kind nature and wealth of knowledge, talent and experience.

He studied at Wimbledon School of Art and London University and through the years his career became Head of the Sir John Cass School of Art and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Sculptors.

His sculptures can be seen at Guildford Cathedral and more locally there was one in Carshalton Village as he designed the statue of Anne Boleyn that was located at Church Hill. In 1967, his statue of Anne Boleyn was awarded the Sir Otto Beit Medal.

Dennis also designed the Communion table within the nave of St Nicholas Church who the College work with on many projects.

Jeff Richards, Licensed Lay Minister at St Nicholas said:

‘‘It is an outstanding work of craftsmanship. The oak altar is simple in appearance. Although massive in size, its open structure means that it doesn’t detract attention away from the rest of the architecture of the church. The table is constructed of two layers of oak rather than 3.The expectation is that over the decades the oak will shift and flex like a living being. Echoing the medieval tradition of embedding a relic in the body of the altar, the table between its layers of oak contains a very personal message from Dennis Huntley. Perhaps the most startling aspect of the altar is the jagged cruciform natural wound in the wood of the tabletop. Huntley deliberately chose the imperfect wood to echo the wounds inflicted on Christ on the cross.  That visible physical scar reminds those who eat the bread from the table that the imperfect is made perfect by God.”

In addition to sharing his knowledge as a tutor, raising a family and creating many other notable works of art, Dennis was an author and appeared on television too.

He will be greatly missed by the College and all that had the privilege of knowing him.