TRIBUTE TO KEN GRAHAM 1938 – 2011 

Southam is a sad place this week having seen the passing of one of its favourite characters.

Ken was always involved in local voluntary activities in Southam and indeed was at a local meeting on Tuesday (February 22nd) when he suffered a massive heart attack.

Ken was a founder member of ‘Southam in Bloom’ and chairperson for a number of years culminating in achieving Southam’s highest award in the ‘Britain in Bloom’ competition in 1994. Jacky, his wife for 49 years was always supporting Ken’s voluntary work in Southam and took responsibility for the colourful floral displays in the planters close to St James Parish Church. She still tends these planters and long may she continue. Through their joint association with St James Parish Church, Southam Open Gardens was formed and their own beautiful garden was ‘open’ annually.

Ken, being a very caring resident, was always interested and concerned with the well being of people in the town and his life is a testament to this with the many groups and associations he was linked to. Ken also instigated a safe and lasting football initiative in Southam raising funds for Southam Junior Football Club. Ken was also a very active school governor for Southam Primary School.

As well as being a prominent town councillor for many years, Ken was elected Mayor of Southam twice in 1984-85 and 1988-89 – Jacky was of course by his side as a very proud consort. Len Gale, former Mayor and lifelong friend asked for advice from Ken when he was elected. Ken’s answer was ‘be part elder statesman and part clown!’ Len says that this was the best advice he received from anyone! Rowan Parker another former Mayor and lifelong friend said of Ken ‘Some Mayor’s come and some Mayor’s go, I wish we had a few more like Ken, he cared more for Southam than most!’

During the years Ken was a Southam Town Councillor, he was nominated for the position of JP (Justice of the Peace) a position he held until he was 70 years old.

Another interest of Ken’s was Southam Twinning Association and Ken was involved in the setting up of the association in the late 80’s and was instrumental in the formation of the Charter in 1992 twinning Southam with Marolles en Hurepoix. Apparently the fun everyone had with the celebrations both in France and Southam are remembered fondly on both sides of the channel!

Ken’s working life as an engineer and latterly a sales manager with Coventry Climax, led to his association with the Gaydon Heritage Centre where in recent years he was both guide and driver to the many visitors attending this important local attraction. Later he became involved with the Banbury Museum right up until his death last week.

The Severn Valley Railway was Ken’s great interest. He joined as a volunteer in 1992 working in the ticket office for 10 years. In 2002 he was made a travelling Ticket Inspector also being part of the Education Team in the Engine House. In 2009 he joined the Training Team of Ticket Inspectors. One aspect which keeps cropping up was Ken’s enthusiasm - whatever he was doing!

Everyone associated with the huge number of interests of Ken mention this enthusiasm, drive and inspiration to others. It was his enthusiastic drive that was infectious and inspirational. He supported amongst others: Southam Christmas Lights, Southam Millennium and Southam 2020 Vision. This support was pivotal since he was so wise, knowledgeable and had such great influence.

Throughout his married life, Ken was always interested in local history and was influenced in a very positive way by his late father in law, Jack Cardall. Jack had started a collection of local memorabilia and before long local residents had brought along masses of articles and papers etc which were stored throughout the family home. Rene Cardall eventually took control of the vast collection and Ken very much again the guiding influence, instigated public meetings to set up what eventually became known as the ‘Friends of the Cardall Collection’. Ken’s immense local knowledge and through his Lion’s connection, led to fundraising opportunities and contacts for grants being identified. Bernard Cadogan Chairperson of the Friends said ‘I shall miss Ken, his enthusiasm and support very much. He was the initial driver behind the formation of the Friends and he provided a wealth of knowledge, support, ideas and practical help. We will all really miss his contribution’.

Ken was a Charter Member of Southam Lions Club which formed in 1971. His wife Jacky said ‘Ken was very proud to be a Lion and was looking forward and taking an active part in the Club’s 40th Anniversary Celebrations in June’. Sadly Ken will not now be there but the Lions will remember the massive contribution he made over the years. Ken was really passionate about Lions. He was president on two occasions in 1973-74 and 1996-97, and it was in the second presidency that the club celebrated its 25th Anniversary. For 19 years Ken was Treasurer and for many of the years of his membership he held important offices. Ken ran the Southam Senior Citizens Party for over 35 years and the party was something he really enjoyed doing – he always had a smile and loved calling out the village names so that partygoers could call out that they were there! Whilst the main activity of the Lions Club is fundraising to support local communities and charities, this is usually associated with a ‘fun’ element and certainly Ken was a fun loving individual. One year the Club as an entrant to the Southam Carnival entered a float as Southam Loins! This does conjure up an image of Ken dressed resplendent in a loin cloth! Whether it was a wizard, clown, frontier scout or Charlie Chaplin, Ken was always ready to give it a go! Another main Lions activity in the year is to take Father Christmas to Southam and surrounding villages and Ken for many years took on the mantle of Father Christmas. One year he had to disguise his voice when his own grandchildren came to see him! Whether it was furniture sales, the May Day Fete or any other activity, Lion Ken was always involved in the fore-front of these activities. The current President of Southam Lions Club, David Williams, said ‘I am proud to have known him and had my life enriched by his friendship and humour. He was full of tales of what some of the previous Lions members were like and what they got up to!’

This is a man, a great man, an absolute gentleman, who will be genuinely missed by the towns’ people of Southam – a huge loss.

Peter Guy
Southam Lions