Major Vivian Denyer was Henry Wilks's army major, and the man who once saved Henry's life. Vivian tracked Henry down and came to see him at The Woolpack in October 1978, after 30 years. Vivian helped out in The Woolpack while senior partner Amos Brearly was ill with chicken pox. When Amos phoned Henry from a telephone box he wanted to know who the man collecting glasses was. Henry introduced Amos to Vivian, saying he was an old army friend. Henry had considered moving to Rome with his daughter Marian following the death of his aunt. Vivian then told the Sugden family that he would be buying Henry's share in Emmerdale Farm, but Henry revealed they only spoke, never agreed. Vivian went missing and the Sugdens soon found him, confronting him and demanding the truth. Vivian broke down when both Joe Sugden and Henry Wilks gave him a tongue lashing, however Donald Hinton and Joe became concerned for Vivian and wondered if he's emotionally unstable. Vivian admitted he had been lonely and Henry got him a job in Bradford with some of Vivian's old friends.