Getting up on stage for the first time at a local Working Men’s Club and imitating Terry Scott in his twenties, Denys Jenkins could never have imagined that he would still be making audiences laugh 60 years later.
But armed with his trademarked yellow beanie hat, blue eyeshadow and black moustache the now 79-year-old performer - known as Denny Twp - has crept into the hearts of people around Llanelli after entertaining crowds in the annual Llanelli pantomime for more than 40 years.
Generations of audiences have laughed along with Denny during the Friendship Group’s pantos but after a run of ill health the veteran has announced that he has hung up his beanie hat and his performance in Aladdin at the start of this year was his last.
Denys, who started performing in the Elli Theatre and then later in Y Ffwrnes, had previously planned to say a fond farewell to the stage after the next production of Peter Pan but after his health started deteriorating again in recent weeks, he decided it was time to retire.
The decision that was not taken lightly by the performer who recently said that he was in pain during this year’s production.
He said: "I had two seats at the side of both wings, I was in so much pain with my back, I can't do it again. We did 21 shows and physically it’s a huge demand and I'm gutted, if I was physically able I would go on forever."
Watch our video of Denny Twp
However, in recent weeks Denys’ arthritis has worsened and one morning he told his wife of 30 years Lois that he wouldn’t be performing again.
Lois said: “He woke up one morning and could barely walk because of the arthritis in his feet and performing is so demanding, what if that were to happen during a performance? He doesn’t want to let anybody down."
And the fear of letting people down is one that has driven Denys to keep on performing for the past four decades, even after being diagnosed with prostate cancer and undergoing radiotherapy treatment.
But when most people phone to ask for tickets for the ‘Denny Twp Panto’ without even knowing which production is being performed, it’s easy to see why the performer feels under pressure.
"People phone for tickets and they just ask for the Denny Twp Panto and I'm worried that when I leave I will be letting people down,” he adds.
In a statement from Denys' theatre company the Friendship Theatre Group have said: "It is with a great deal of pride and admiration that we offer our gratitude to Denny and his wife, Lois Jenkins, for all they have done for the company. They have both worked incredibly hard to ensure the success of the Group and we will be forever grateful for their dedication.
"Please join us in wishing Denny Twp a huge farewell and best wishes in retirement! Who knows, you might hear that unmistakable laugh in the audience in the years to come."
But one person who isn’t so heartbroken to see Denny’s curtain call is Lois.
“I’m delighted, I thought the day would never come and he would never finish,” she jokes.
“No, of course it is sad but I have been very worried about him. He has been in a lot of pain and the time is right to finish off on a high after Aladdin."
After being awarded with a ‘British Empire Medal,’ raising more than a million pounds for local charities and making audiences laugh for more than 40 years, Denys says that his career highlight has been working on stage with his son and grandchildren, so maybe the beanie will be passed on a generation and Denny Twp’s legacy will continue.
