Six decades of dedicated service

Behind the gag were six decades of dedicated voluntary service to a cause that Ken held dear.

Right to the very end when in a particularly poignant moment and already confined to a wheelchair he attended the last of many charity concerts he had organised, Ken kept faith with the ideals of a movement dedicated to the welfare of air force veterans and their dependants.

His was an all-embracing commitment. Faithfully backed at all times by his wife, Elsie, Ken served RAFA in so many ways '“ branch secretary, chairman, president, Wings Appeal organiser'¦

In doing so he brought enjoyment to Bexhillians via a succession of concerts by the RAF Central Band and the RAFA President's Band.

But there was far more.

The sight of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in stately and symbolic progress along the coast for one of RAFA's many successful Wings Galas is an imperishable memory.

Ken also secured the world's finest aerobatic team '“ the RAF Red Arrows '“ the Pitts Special, Spitfires, Mustangs and the like in quest of Wings Appeal fund-raising,

That little Bexhill should have been among the national top rankings for its Wings Appeal fund-raising for year after year was a tribute to Ken's devotion to the cause, his organisational skills and his persuasive powers of leadership.

Journalists are fortunate in being given an insight into the way such success is achieved. Generations of Bexhill Observer staff came to admire Ken. He was never "pushy" but always quietly persistent in seeking coverage and support.

He had worked for the Observer's former owners, FJ Parsons Ltd., as a printer and knew the best way to achieve publicity results was to give the editorial department "oven-ready" news copy.

He was far more than just another community "contact." He was a true friend and one who will be sorely missed. His devotion to RAFA serves as an example to all.

For someone fond of joking that he only joined because RAFA had a cricket team, his was an outstanding innings.