Celebrating 100 years
Celebrating your 100th birthday might be a joy that all of us don't expect to experience and of course celebrating it and still being a force to be reckoned with would be the icing on the cake so to speak!
One Mr Charlie Dean is indeed a force to be reckoned with and celebrating his 100th birthday on 28th July, Charlie was in fine form as he made his way through a round of events organised by his family and friends which included many ex ESB colleagues.
Chief Executive, Padraig McManus, was one of the first to visit Charlie and enjoyed a chat and cup of tea with him in his home in Dublin. There we were joined by Charlie's son, Neil, who is also retired and we were both amazed and delighted to hear Charlie regale us with stories going back to the early years of the last century. Lest you think Charlie was slowing down you might like to know that he lives on his own (sadly Charlie lost his beloved wife shortly after retiring in 1972) and still looks after himself.
What you might be amazed to discover is that he continues to do his own gardening and cooking and drives to the shopping centre to do his weekly shopping! Charlie is at this stage on his 49th car and is 'toying' with the idea of going for his 50th. His reason... "there's something great about saying you are on your 50th car!"
An Architect by profession, Charlie was brought up in Dublin and has clear memories of life in the city during the 1916 Rising – he can remember his dad crossing O'Connell Street to feed a budgie which was in their business premises much to the concern of the family. He joined ESB in 1942 and headed up the Premises Section of Civil Works where he was responsible for the design of staff houses in the 50's and 60's as well as the various transformer stations.
Charlie still meets up with a number of his old colleagues a couple of times a year when they enjoy a lunch out and a chat about old times. He has been described by those who worked with him as a thorough gentleman who was very warm and a fountain of knowledge. Charlie's family held a get-together for him on the morning of July 28th where a number of ex ESB colleagues joined the family and friends to celebrate and later that evening he enjoyed a family dinner in Dun Laoghaire. This was followed by a garden party organised by his neighbours later in the week.
It was a pleasure and an honour to meet Charlie Dean in person and to hear him speak so fondly of his years and friends in ESB. That hasn't changed but as we drove away and he stood waving us off from his front garden we couldn't help but wonder at the changes Charlie had seen over his 100 years. Happy birthday and long may your good health continue Charlie.
