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Ken Gadd obituary Ken Gadd obituary
(4 months later)
My father Ken Gadd, who has died aged 84, believed that he participated in a golden age of industry when professional engineers knew their worth and made a real difference. Ken was a successful and bold entrepreneur (he made and lost at least two fortunes), always fun, optimistic, hardworking and clever. He claimed "death was nature's way of telling you to stop" and certainly nothing else ever did.My father Ken Gadd, who has died aged 84, believed that he participated in a golden age of industry when professional engineers knew their worth and made a real difference. Ken was a successful and bold entrepreneur (he made and lost at least two fortunes), always fun, optimistic, hardworking and clever. He claimed "death was nature's way of telling you to stop" and certainly nothing else ever did.
Ken was born in London, one of three children of Albert, who worked for the Southern Railway company (later part of British Railways) in Lambeth, and his wife Edith. After Albert's death from diabetes at 23, Edith remarried and had a further eight children. Ken had a hard childhood in Eastleigh, Hampshire, and left Eastleigh county high school (earlier and later known as Barton Peveril school) at 14 to begin work. He boldly claimed the Southern Railway apprenticeship he was entitled to as a railway orphan, thrived and eventually obtained first-class honours in mechanical engineering from Southampton University.Ken was born in London, one of three children of Albert, who worked for the Southern Railway company (later part of British Railways) in Lambeth, and his wife Edith. After Albert's death from diabetes at 23, Edith remarried and had a further eight children. Ken had a hard childhood in Eastleigh, Hampshire, and left Eastleigh county high school (earlier and later known as Barton Peveril school) at 14 to begin work. He boldly claimed the Southern Railway apprenticeship he was entitled to as a railway orphan, thrived and eventually obtained first-class honours in mechanical engineering from Southampton University.
He brought drive and humour to everything he did, enjoying a meteoric rise first as an engineer for British Railways and then, from 1958, with the manufacturing company Pressed Steel, in Cowley, Oxford. There he led the work on an innovative goods vehicle, the RoadRailer, which could run on both rail and roads; it was hailed as the answer to road congestion and keeping lorries to a minimum. Then, Ken established Acugreen, his own large container fleet. In "retirement", he invested in factories in Oxford and near Eastleigh producing refrigeration and medical equipment, using his own engineering flair and employing many of his former colleagues.He brought drive and humour to everything he did, enjoying a meteoric rise first as an engineer for British Railways and then, from 1958, with the manufacturing company Pressed Steel, in Cowley, Oxford. There he led the work on an innovative goods vehicle, the RoadRailer, which could run on both rail and roads; it was hailed as the answer to road congestion and keeping lorries to a minimum. Then, Ken established Acugreen, his own large container fleet. In "retirement", he invested in factories in Oxford and near Eastleigh producing refrigeration and medical equipment, using his own engineering flair and employing many of his former colleagues.
Apart from engineering, his great loves were his family (he married Kathleen in 1951 and was a devoted father to my brother Bryan and me); and the Church of England and its music. He was a keen athlete, an AAA coach and a lifelong supporter of Southampton's football club, the Saints.Apart from engineering, his great loves were his family (he married Kathleen in 1951 and was a devoted father to my brother Bryan and me); and the Church of England and its music. He was a keen athlete, an AAA coach and a lifelong supporter of Southampton's football club, the Saints.
Ken served the church faithfully and effectively. For many years, he ran the Oxford section of the Royal Society of Church Music and transformed services at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, by establishing and efficiently running both the Cathedral Singers and the serving teams. His popularity was reflected at his magnificent musical funeral, which packed the cathedral.Ken served the church faithfully and effectively. For many years, he ran the Oxford section of the Royal Society of Church Music and transformed services at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, by establishing and efficiently running both the Cathedral Singers and the serving teams. His popularity was reflected at his magnificent musical funeral, which packed the cathedral.
Ken is survived by Kathleen, Bryan and me, nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. His great-grandson Felix predeceased him.Ken is survived by Kathleen, Bryan and me, nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. His great-grandson Felix predeceased him.
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