Kinsale Pays Tribute To Charles Henderson
Writes Leo McMahon
‘Life is for living. We are not here for a long time, we’re here for a good time!’. The words of Charles Henderson who was honoured last Friday night at a gala tribute dinner at the Trident Hotel, Kinsale in recognition of dedicated and outstanding community service to his town over many decades.
As MC Chief Supt Con Cadogan and ten speakers outlined, Charles, served with distinction as a former Mayor of Kinsale and twice poll-topping Councillor, town foreman, Harbour Commissioner and fireman but above all, he was and still is an outstanding community man.
Con also spoke about Charles’ voluntary involvement with Kinsale Regatta Festival, Tidy Towns, the Twinning Committee, Credit Union, Saile, Kinsale Gourmet Festival (Door mouse in Mad Hatter Trail), Kinsale Lions, local churches, the boards of management of St John’s NS, the Convent of Mercy and Community Schools, the FCA the Temperance Hall and the Community Awards.
Born on April 8th, 1951 at Winter’s Hill, the son of Walter and Jenny Henderson, Charles moved at the age of four to Ardbrack and attended Summercove and St John’s National Schools and Kinsale Vocational School, the latter represented at the function by former principal Denis Paul Griffin.
In 1968, said Con, Charles began work as Kinsale’s last junior postman delivering telegrams and then started an apprenticeship as a shipwright with Atlantic Yacht Charters (George Kingston’s) before becoming town foreman with Kinsale UDC in 1977 where he worked for 40 years. He married Teresa O’Leary in 1976.
On his own behalf, fellow White House Lotto Lads member Con Cadogan said Charles, who is also a Peace Commissioner, gave so much of his time in guidance, leadership, and helped build the strong community ethos that exists in Kinsale. On many occasions at any hour when Garda emergencies arose, he would willingly respond and gave great assistance and was always in good form.
Mayor of Cork County, Declan Hurley said Charles epitomised ‘what civic pride and love of community are all about’ but he also paid tribute to his wife Teresa who must have been very busy rearing the family during the many hours he was out of the home engaged in voluntary service.
Michael Smith on behalf of SuperValu Kinsale, said Charles as town foreman had been a huge support over the 16 years, especially in 2015 when the store was flooded with Charles was up to his waist trying to deal with it. The same applied to Tidy Towns, of which SuperValu is main sponsor, with so many people benefiting from the huge work by Charles and his fellow voluntary workers. Two years ago, he deservedly won the Tidy Towns National Hero award, a massive achievement.
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