Rags to riches tale of successful entrepreneur Dennis Hampson who never forgot his Newark roots ahead of his funeral following his sudden death at home in Long Bennington

The life of a man who took a small vehicle repair garage to a group of businesses including one of the top ten UK independent vehicle rental companies is to be celebrated at his funeral next week.

Retired Dennis Hampson, 81, was found alongside his long-time partner Diane, at their home in Long Bennington. Both had suffered medical episodes and there were no suspicious circumstances.

Dennis was a great business entrepreneur with a strong work ethic who never forgot his roots, even when the business was turning over tens of millions of pounds.

Born locally in 1942, he was proud to be a Newark man and remained so throughout his working life, instilling that love and passion for his home town in his four children; so much so that none of them have strayed far from the nest.

In 1980 Dennis started the Hampson vehicle empire in Newark, specialising in vehicle repairs, roadside recovery and then into vehicle rental.

It all began when he turned repairing the vehicles of friends and neighbours into a business by installing a vehicle inspection pit in the garage of the family home on Warwick Road, Balderton all whilst driving trucks and delivering sugar during the day.

Son Steven said he had been lucky enough to work with his father all his life since university and his younger brother Darren had also joined the business following in his father’s footsteps as a mechanic since school. His sister Tina had also worked in the business.

“The unique thing about my father was that he never had a bad word to say about anyone and nor did they ever have a bad word to say about him. He always saw the best in people and was always giving people a chance and helping them whenever he could,” said Steven.

“He was born a simple, humble child and he left this earth a simple, humble man. Success and wealth never fazed him even though most have deemed him a legend.”

From those humble beginnings at home and then expanding into a small vehicle repair garage on Sleaford Road Newark, Dennis then moved into 24-hour vehicle recovery, rescuing stranded motorists at any time of the day and in all weathers. He often joked when driving customers himself that the boss didn’t pay enough to get himself a tip.

In 1983 Dennis and Steven added vehicle rental to the growing business portfolio by purchasing a second-hand Ford Cortina and Vauxhall Cavalier from Newark Car Auction. They opened their first major site in Newark and grew the business to ten sites spanning from East Anglia to Yorkshire, employing 180 people in the group and operating thousands of vehicles.

In 2007, the vehicle hire arm of the business was sold to Northgate Hire Plc, which was the largest van hire provider in the UK, but the recovery side of the business was kept as this was Dennis’s real passion, until retirement in 2019.

The companies had boasted national major contracts with police forces, councils, armed forces, Royal Mail and even held a Royal by appointment charter for vehicle hire to the Queen.

Stevne and his dad then began a migration into property ownership and investment, which Steven is still involved with today.

“It’s a real local rag to riches story,” said Steven: “But money never changed him. Dad was an inspirational and kind man always giving back to the community and would help anyone, he was always low key and down to earth preaching to his family that wealth whispers.”

The funeral service takes place at Newark Parish Church on Thursday, September 7, at 11am and represents an opportunity for anyone who knew him to pay their respects. It will be followed by a celebration of this remarkable man’s life at the Cedric Ford Pavilion at Newark Showground.

Dennis is survived by two brothers, Colin and Ken, his sons Steven and Darren, daughters Tina and Denise, and by ten grandchildren.