Kenneth Whitehead (9 Mar 1928 - 23 Aug 2018)

In loving memory of Kenneth Whitehead who sadly passed away on 23rd August 2018

Eulogy
Kenneth ‘Ken’ Whitehead was born on 9th March 1928, in Nottingham to Arthur & Clara as one of 15 children, coming in at Number 11. He was born at Walker Street, Sneinton, Nottingham. Not all the children survived and some died of consumption as was sadly normal in those days. Although there was very little money and hard times, his surviving siblings Agnes, George, Clara, Violet, Tom, Richard, Irene and Doris all contributed to a happy close household.

The family moved to Bestwood, the parents instilling a strong sense of hygiene and work ethic. The parents made sure they all had a good education and Ken like some of his other brothers and sisters passed his 11+ and attended the Ellis Guilford School. He was particularly good at mathematics. When he left school, his School Teacher found him a job at an Accountants to train as an Accountant. However, he was not bringing home as much money as his brothers and he had to leave. She, the School teacher even went round to his house to ask why he had left and it was all explained to her.

Ken thought a lot of his mother who was the ‘life and soul’ of the party and he would take her once a year to Goose Fair where even in old age, she would ride the horses on the carousel. His father would buy him a coconut (one of his food likes) for taking her.

Ken volunteered for the Army in 1945 and although at present, his army career is sketchy, he did serve in France. We believe he served for 3 years. He then went to work at Simms and Cookes, as a Wood Machinist before eventually changing his occupation to Coalminer where for the majority of the time, he worked at Newstead Colliery and became a Deputy where he fired the shots and checked for gases. It was hard work and he and his brother in law, Derek often worked in conditions with water up to their waist. Ken retired from the mines in 1983.

From an early age, Ken realised he had an affinity with sport. Living initially near the Trent when he was younger, he could swim from the age of 5 years and often spoke of swimming in and across the Trent. He also enjoyed riding what he called his ‘push bike’ to various places. He liked watching and playing cricket and going to Trent Bridge for the day where he would call in to old neighbours, Ruth and Brian Shaw who moved to West Bridgford, and park his car outside their house. However, his main passion was football! His brother Tom brought home 2 free tickets when he was 10 years to see Notts County and he supported them through thick and thin, good and bad weather and even had a season ticket for many years.

In the Order of Service there are 3 footballers together, Richard, Alan (their nephew) and Ken entitled in the local newspaper article as ‘The Whiteheads 3’ . Their brother Tom preferred a role as a Referee. Tom was firm but fair but the brothers were shown no favouritism and often landed them in trouble with their brother. His friend Barry Withers recalls a story when Tom sent Barry off and then the team were awarded a penalty. As Barry took the penalties, Ken beckoned Barry on but unfortunately, Tom sent him off again, and wouldn’t let him on as he wouldn’t give him his name. But Hey they won anyway.

But we digress
Ken met Hilda at a family party and they started dating. He liked the Opera especially Gilbert & Sullivan. You would often find him bursting into song or whistling. As regards romance, Hilda used to say to her children and friends, ‘The girls at work used to say ‘Oh he has bought me flowers and chocolates’, you’re father brought me foxes glacier mints because he liked them himself. Ken would then blow her a kiss and start laughing. In fact that is what Hilda said about Ken, he made her laugh, was easy going and was fun to be with.

Both liked people and through their family liaisons and integration, more friendships were forged that would last a lifetime. Hilda’s cousin Cliff and his wife, Florence, Bill and Lillian Burborough and their children, Ellen, Bill, Anne, Janet and Lynne. Olive and Norman, Bill and Rita Weston, Joan & Dennis Orme, Barry Withers, George & Doreen Peters and Audrey and John Barkes.

Ken & Hilda married in 1954. This was a happy marriage that lasted 64 years. They honeymooned in the Peak District. They went to live on Surgey’s Lane, Arnold, with Hilda’s dad, Albert and her younger brother, Derek. Their first child Elizabeth was born in 1959 and then when they moved to Lodge Farm Lane, their son, Greg was born in 1962. Moving brought more associations, forging lasting friendships again with neighbours, Bill and Jean Whare, Margaret & Ted, Ruth & Brian, Josie, Eva and their families.

Ken was a committed family man. It was always a happy household with an ‘open house’ welcoming friends and neighbours alike. Ken was always up making the tea and he and Cliff would always be in the kitchen washing up pots and making tea at Christmas time or home functions. There would often be a yard full of children playing or taking someone out with the family on many car trips to parks, into Derbyshire or day trips to the seaside. He never complained either when Elizabeth and Greg used to use the banister instead of the stairs. Well why use the stairs when you have access to the banister. All Ken asked of his children was that they remembered their manners and were polite. The family enjoyed holidays usually a week in a Guest House and a week on the East Coast in a caravan.

Ken always got involved and took an interest in the family particularly Elizabeth and Greg’s activities and hobbies. The Scout movement became a big part of their lives in the ‘70’s. There was a sense of comradery and family orientation. They had fun taking part in ‘Lads versus Dad’s’ football, the dads dressing up in fancy dress. They also dressed up in ‘Nighties’ for a swimming gala for fun and charity. The sense of unity continued with paper tying at the local farm for funds.

Ken liked his brass bands and Greg started to play the trumpet for the Scout Band. This led to many family outings to varying locations around the Country for competitions. Again, friendships were forged, Budgie, Eric & Ros, Eric and Norma and the social life that came with this.

Still within the scout environment, Ken kept his passion for football and ran the cub football team.

However, one scouting skill that eluded Ken was one of the compass skills. He had a habit of getting lost unless he was familiar with the territory. When visiting their friends, Howard & Doris, he always got lost resulting in Hilda saying on arrival, ‘We’ve been to places you have never even heard of’ to the applause of much laughter. One particular holiday in Wales, a few guests were taken for a walk by Ken and the family only to be lost in deep grass and bushes, returning 3 hours later to the Guest House with a smile on his face.

When Ken retired, he and Hilda busied themselves with sequence dancing, holidays, walking, going to the gym and spending time with friends. Greg married Mandy in 1986, and Hilda and Ken were more than happy when Carly and Grant came along in the ‘90’s. They enjoyed getting involved with the school run, taking them out to Parks and the seaside, as well as enjoying birthday celebrations and academic achievements.

The last 5 / 6 years of Ken’s life was debilitating after suffering a serious stroke. He lost his speech but not his sense of humour or his mobility. Margaret Baker would spend many a time with him doing jigsaws, making models and painting. She would have him help her in the kitchen washing up, cutting up vegetables. He would often wave to people from the window.

It can be said that Ken was a selfless person. He gave blood for many years, took part in research as he always said, ‘If it helps someone else’. He helped out voluntary for a time in the ‘70’s, driving a St John’s ambulance van transporting elderly people to venues. He enjoyed helping others and always had time for others.

Well, Barry Withers always thought he was invincible. Barry recalls a time when he had an ankle injury and couldn’t play (yes football again), he stood in the pouring rain with his push bike and his trademark open neck shirt and whilst the other were snivelling, he never even caught a cold. He even bounced back from a serious road accident when he was knocked off his moped by a lorry in horrendous snowy conditions and spent 5 weeks in Mansfield General and having to have a splenectomy. Ken always strove to get himself back to maximum fitness or some form of normality.

Ken liked a laugh and was always trying to cheer people up when they felt down. He said to his brother Richard once at a funeral, ‘Well there is one thing Richard, at least we are behind the coffin and not in it’. He had a wicked sense of humour, was quick witted, always smiling and joking, even laughing at himself. He enjoyed his comedians, Tommy Cooper, Laurel & Hardy, Morecombe & Wise. In the last few years, he enjoyed watching Dad’s Army and could catch a glimpse of him laughing.

Well, what sums up Ken, from the cards and texts:

Kind, caring, a gentleman, lovely man, always making you welcome, sociable, amusing, wise, quiet, unassuming, generous, easy going, hard working, selfless, family man.