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Whether it’s writing for a national newspaper, treading the boards, seeing the world or running their own shops, Beryl and Jack Dunnill have packed a lot into their lives.

The couple, who first met in a dance hall, hail from Yorkshire but due to Jack’s job as a sports journalist working for the Daily Mail, they used to live in Hertfordshire with their three children, Debbie, Jenny and Carol (who died sadly in a tragic boating accident).

Jack worked on Fleet Street from 1964 before moving back north to work in the Mail’s Manchester office in 1967.

Jenny recalls: “Dad used to cover football games so each Saturday we would go to wherever the match was and whilst he worked we would go shopping in the towns, such as Liverpool and Manchester.

“Then, on the Sundays, we would listen as Dad phoned in his match report.”

Jack and Beryl lived in Holmfirth and they also owned clothes shops and an antiques shop, as well as indulging their love of amateur dramatics. Jack used to write a few plays and Beryl also directed as well as acting in them. They helped to found Holmfirth’s Turn Again Theatre whose first performance played at Holmfirth Civic Hall in 1987.

Travel has always been a big part of the couple’s lives and they enjoyed several world cruises which proved the inspiration for fiction novels Jack subsequently wrote. The first, which he wrote at the age of 76, was called ‘Dancing With The Captain’ and was a romantic comedy.

The book is set on a ritzy cruise ship on its maiden voyage. It’s hero Alan Hale, an award-winning news reporter (aptly!), finds everything from beautiful women to sabotage and action onboard.

Beryl and Jack, who have five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren, began receiving home care support from Caremark Kirklees at the end of 2024 and our carers visit the couple a few times each day.

Jenny said: “Mum and Dad have lived in their current home for 19 years and Dad has always said he doesn’t want to go into residential care, so we turned to Caremark.

“They are very happy with the support they receive and the important thing is they can remain in their home which is familiar and holds happy memories for them.”

click here for more details or to contact Caremark Kirklees