Since then thousands have benefited from his hard work setting up a carnival, a Santa's grotto, a community newspaper and videoing local community events.
Dennis, 70, made it his mission retirement would not be the end but a beginning of something amazing.
Dennis – who gets our We Can Do It T-Shirt – said: 'When I was coming to my retirement my wife said to me "What are you going to do with all of that time?" She knows I like to keep busy and I thought I could put the skills I had to use helping the community.
'I went to the community centre and they said they were looking for volunteers. I started off helping them and it just went from there.'
Since then the ex-engineer just hasn't stopped. He's been involved in every community event and re-launched the carnival, running it for three years and handing over the reins two years ago so he could focus on other community commitments.
He said: 'You get a lot of people saying "I am retired I am bored" – but I don't have time to be bored!'
'It is a great feeling after months of work when you see everyone is gaining from your hard work and you think "I helped to create that." That is what it is all about.'
He added: 'It is the impact you can have on other people's life – my vision for the community of Leigh Park is to improve the quality of life for all 29,000 people that live here.'
As the editor of Park Life magazine, which comes out four times a year, he is always on the look out for a resident with a story to tell.
Dennis, of Ernest Grove, Leigh Park, added: 'It is nice when people see their stories in the paper and realise they are interesting to others.'
Cllr Faith Ponsonby (lib dem) for Battins Ward, said: 'He puts his heart and soul into it. He gives so much to the community and has put a whole lot into keep it going. He will listen to everybody and give them all a chance to have their say. Every community could do with a Dennis.'