Ken Whittle - Revision history

Smeeds: /* Tribute by his son, David Whittle */

2026-08-05T00:36:42Z

Tribute by his son, David Whittle

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:36, 5 August 2026
Line 116:		Line 116:
	On the night before Carolyn’s wedding, Pa untypically rather overdid it on the drink and in attempting to manoeuvre around the bedroom managed to become entangled in Carolyn’s wedding dress which was hanging up encased in tissue paper. His thrashing around woke Ma who launched a tirade of abuse. ‘Why on earth didn’t you put the light on?’ she asked. ‘I didn’t want to wake you’, he replied. By this time the whole house had been roused.		On the night before Carolyn’s wedding, Pa untypically rather overdid it on the drink and in attempting to manoeuvre around the bedroom managed to become entangled in Carolyn’s wedding dress which was hanging up encased in tissue paper. His thrashing around woke Ma who launched a tirade of abuse. ‘Why on earth didn’t you put the light on?’ she asked. ‘I didn’t want to wake you’, he replied. By this time the whole house had been roused.

	Carolyn will say more about Pa’s enthusiasms shortly, but many of you will be aware of his love of Scotland and Scottish country dancing. Most of the music to day reflects that. As a little break, we are going to play [[Wikipedia:John M. Mason (musician)\|Archie Beaton]], one of his favourite tunes, one that the [[Wikipedia:Leicester Grammar School\|Leicester Grammar School]] folk group always played when he and Ma came to a concert. Indeed, one or two of my former pupils told me that they played a recording of it when they heard of his death. We are very grateful to two erstwhile members of the LGS folk group for playing it with me, former colleague Eleanor Graff-Baker<ref>[https://charnwoodvoices.org.uk/popups/eleanor-graff-baker.htm Charnwood Voices] - Eleanor Graff-Baker</ref> and former pupil Charlotte Bentley<ref>[https://www.ncl.ac.uk/sacs/people/profile/charlottebentley.html Newcastle University] - Charlotte Bentley</ref>. I am also grateful to former colleague Ron Berry<ref>[https://www.lgs-senior.org.uk/attachments/download.asp?file=71&type=pdf Old Leicestrian Newsletter] - Ron Berry</ref> who will play with us at the end of the service.		Carolyn will say more about Pa’s enthusiasms shortly, but many of you will be aware of his love of Scotland and Scottish country dancing. Most of the music to day reflects that. As a little break, we are going to play [[Wikipedia:John M. Mason (musician)\|Archie Beaton]], one of his favourite tunes, one that the [[Wikipedia:Leicester Grammar School\|Leicester Grammar School]] folk group always played when he and Ma came to a concert. Indeed, one or two of my former pupils told me that they played a recording of it when they heard of his death. We are very grateful to two erstwhile members of the LGS folk group for playing it with me, former colleague Eleanor Graff-Baker<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20240228031541/https://charnwoodvoices.org.uk/popups/eleanor-graff-baker.htm Charnwood Voices] - Eleanor Graff-Baker</ref> and former pupil Charlotte Bentley<ref>[https://www.ncl.ac.uk/sacs/people/profile/charlottebentley.html Newcastle University] - Charlotte Bentley</ref>. I am also grateful to former colleague Ron Berry<ref>[https://www.lgs-senior.org.uk/attachments/download.asp?file=71&type=pdf Old Leicestrian Newsletter] - Ron Berry</ref> who will play with us at the end of the service.

	===Tribute by his daughter, Carolyn Hill===		===Tribute by his daughter, Carolyn Hill===

Smeeds at 00:26, 5 August 2026

2026-08-05T00:26:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:26, 5 August 2026
Line 80:		Line 80:
	During national service in the RAF Pa was a lecturer in the training section and taught mathematics to navigators. He met Ma, an RAF nursing sister, at an autumn Ball at [[Wikipedia:RAF Halton\|RAF Halton]] in 1951. Pa had been asked to act as an escort to an unnamed lady. Ma had apparently said that if there wasn’t an escort she was going straight back to the mess. Why doesn’t that surprise us? All clearly went well, though. They were engaged in 1952, and married two years later in High Wycombe where Ma’s parents had moved in retirement. By this time Pa was teaching at [[Boston Grammar School]]. Carolyn arrived in 1955, followed by me in 1958.		During national service in the RAF Pa was a lecturer in the training section and taught mathematics to navigators. He met Ma, an RAF nursing sister, at an autumn Ball at [[Wikipedia:RAF Halton\|RAF Halton]] in 1951. Pa had been asked to act as an escort to an unnamed lady. Ma had apparently said that if there wasn’t an escort she was going straight back to the mess. Why doesn’t that surprise us? All clearly went well, though. They were engaged in 1952, and married two years later in High Wycombe where Ma’s parents had moved in retirement. By this time Pa was teaching at [[Boston Grammar School]]. Carolyn arrived in 1955, followed by me in 1958.

	He taught at BGS from 1952-1989, essentially his entire working life, most of it as head of department. He completed an MSc in Mathematical and Computing Science at [[Wikipedia:University of Nottingham\|Nottingham University]] during a year’s sabbatical. I shall leave his BGS career to the reminiscences of others as I became a chorister at [[Wikipedia:Peterborough ~~CathedralPeterborough~~ Cathedral]] and thus attended the [[Wikipedia:The King's (The Cathedral) School\|King’s School]] there so never saw him in teaching action. We have been overwhelmed by the sentiments expressed in the vast number of messages we have received from former colleagues and pupils. They all express the respect in which he was held, his love of maths and his ability to inspire a similar love in others, or at least to get those who struggled through their exams. I hope you don’t mind me quoting a few (I shan’t give names) as they say more about his career at BGS than I ever could. It’s important to remember that he did not like being described as a teacher – he was a schoolmaster.		He taught at BGS from 1952-1989, essentially his entire working life, most of it as head of department. He completed an MSc in Mathematical and Computing Science at [[Wikipedia:University of Nottingham\|Nottingham University]] during a year’s sabbatical. I shall leave his BGS career to the reminiscences of others as I became a chorister at [[Wikipedia:Peterborough Cathedral\|Peterborough Cathedral]] and thus attended the [[Wikipedia:The King's (The Cathedral) School\|King’s School]] there so never saw him in teaching action. We have been overwhelmed by the sentiments expressed in the vast number of messages we have received from former colleagues and pupils. They all express the respect in which he was held, his love of maths and his ability to inspire a similar love in others, or at least to get those who struggled through their exams. I hope you don’t mind me quoting a few (I shan’t give names) as they say more about his career at BGS than I ever could. It’s important to remember that he did not like being described as a teacher – he was a schoolmaster.

	Firstly from former colleagues:		Firstly from former colleagues:

Smeeds at 10:43, 7 March 2024

2024-03-07T10:43:30Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:43, 7 March 2024
Line 7:		Line 7:
	\| alt =		\| alt =
	\| caption = Ken Whittle		\| caption = Ken Whittle
	\| nicknames = Ken, Kenny, Bunny, Jet (after Frank Whittle, inventor of the jet engine)		\| nicknames = Ken, Kenny, Bunny, Jet (after [[Wikipedia:Frank Whittle\|Frank Whittle]], inventor of the jet engine)
	\| birth_name =		\| birth_name =
	\| birth_date = {{BirthDeathAge\|B\|1928\|3\|14\|2024\|01\|18\|yes}} <!-- {{Birth date and age\|YYYY\|MM\|DD}} -->		\| birth_date = {{BirthDeathAge\|B\|1928\|3\|14\|2024\|01\|18\|yes}} <!-- {{Birth date and age\|YYYY\|MM\|DD}} -->

Smeeds: Wife's full name

2024-03-07T10:42:05Z

Wife's full name

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:42, 7 March 2024
Line 36:		Line 36:
	\| predecessor =		\| predecessor =
	\| successor =		\| successor =
	\| spouse = Pat		\| spouse = Patricia M "Pat" Thompson
	\| partner =		\| partner =
	\| children = Carolyn, David		\| children = Carolyn, David

Smeeds: /* Tribute by his son, David Whittle */

2024-03-07T10:39:29Z

Tribute by his son, David Whittle

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:39, 7 March 2024
Line 116:		Line 116:
	On the night before Carolyn’s wedding, Pa untypically rather overdid it on the drink and in attempting to manoeuvre around the bedroom managed to become entangled in Carolyn’s wedding dress which was hanging up encased in tissue paper. His thrashing around woke Ma who launched a tirade of abuse. ‘Why on earth didn’t you put the light on?’ she asked. ‘I didn’t want to wake you’, he replied. By this time the whole house had been roused.		On the night before Carolyn’s wedding, Pa untypically rather overdid it on the drink and in attempting to manoeuvre around the bedroom managed to become entangled in Carolyn’s wedding dress which was hanging up encased in tissue paper. His thrashing around woke Ma who launched a tirade of abuse. ‘Why on earth didn’t you put the light on?’ she asked. ‘I didn’t want to wake you’, he replied. By this time the whole house had been roused.

	Carolyn will say more about Pa’s enthusiasms shortly, but many of you will be aware of his love of Scotland and Scottish country dancing. Most of the music to day reflects that. As a little break, we are going to play [[Wikipedia:John M. Mason (musician)\|Archie Beaton]], one of his favourite tunes, one that the [[Wikipedia:Leicester Grammar School\|Leicester Grammar School]] folk group always played when he and Ma came to a concert. Indeed, one or two of my former pupils told me that they played a recording of it when they heard of his death. We are very grateful to two erstwhile members of the LGS folk group for playing it with me, former colleague Eleanor Graff-Baker<ref>[https://charnwoodvoices.org.uk/popups/eleanor-graff-baker.htm - Charnwood Voices] - Eleanor Graff-Baker</ref> and former pupil Charlotte Bentley<ref>[https://www.ncl.ac.uk/sacs/people/profile/charlottebentley.html Newcastle University] - Charlotte Bentley</ref>. I am also grateful to former colleague Ron Berry<ref>[https://www.lgs-senior.org.uk/attachments/download.asp?file=71&type=pdf Old Leicestrian Newsletter] - Ron Berry</ref> who will play with us at the end of the service.		Carolyn will say more about Pa’s enthusiasms shortly, but many of you will be aware of his love of Scotland and Scottish country dancing. Most of the music to day reflects that. As a little break, we are going to play [[Wikipedia:John M. Mason (musician)\|Archie Beaton]], one of his favourite tunes, one that the [[Wikipedia:Leicester Grammar School\|Leicester Grammar School]] folk group always played when he and Ma came to a concert. Indeed, one or two of my former pupils told me that they played a recording of it when they heard of his death. We are very grateful to two erstwhile members of the LGS folk group for playing it with me, former colleague Eleanor Graff-Baker<ref>[https://charnwoodvoices.org.uk/popups/eleanor-graff-baker.htm Charnwood Voices] - Eleanor Graff-Baker</ref> and former pupil Charlotte Bentley<ref>[https://www.ncl.ac.uk/sacs/people/profile/charlottebentley.html Newcastle University] - Charlotte Bentley</ref>. I am also grateful to former colleague Ron Berry<ref>[https://www.lgs-senior.org.uk/attachments/download.asp?file=71&type=pdf Old Leicestrian Newsletter] - Ron Berry</ref> who will play with us at the end of the service.

	===Tribute by his daughter, Carolyn Hill===		===Tribute by his daughter, Carolyn Hill===

Smeeds: Mother's maiden name

2024-03-07T10:38:15Z

Mother's maiden name

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:38, 7 March 2024
Line 39:		Line 39:
	\| partner =		\| partner =
	\| children = Carolyn, David		\| children = Carolyn, David
	\| parents = Harold Whittle, Clarice		\| parents = Harold Whittle, Clarice Evans
	\| relatives = Eira (sister)		\| relatives = Eira (sister)
	\| awards =		\| awards =

Smeeds: Obituary

2024-03-07T00:44:52Z

Obituary

Show changes

Smeeds: Undo revision 37090 by Smeeds (talk)

2024-01-20T17:29:59Z

Undo revision 37090 by Smeeds (talk)

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:29, 20 January 2024
Line 15:		Line 15:
	\| disappeared_status =		\| disappeared_status =
	\| death_date = {{BirthDeathAge\|\|1928\|3\|14\|2024\|01\|18\|yes}} <!-- {{Death date and age\|YYYY\|MM\|DD\|YYYY\|MM\|DD}} (death date then birth date) -->		\| death_date = {{BirthDeathAge\|\|1928\|3\|14\|2024\|01\|18\|yes}} <!-- {{Death date and age\|YYYY\|MM\|DD\|YYYY\|MM\|DD}} (death date then birth date) -->
	\| death_place = ~~Pilgrim Hospital~~, Boston		\| death_place = Willoughby Grange Care Home, Boston
	\| death_cause =		\| death_cause =
	\| body_discovered =		\| body_discovered =

Smeeds: Death place corrected

2024-01-20T01:13:39Z

Death place corrected

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:13, 20 January 2024
Line 15:		Line 15:
	\| disappeared_status =		\| disappeared_status =
	\| death_date = {{BirthDeathAge\|\|1928\|3\|14\|2024\|01\|18\|yes}} <!-- {{Death date and age\|YYYY\|MM\|DD\|YYYY\|MM\|DD}} (death date then birth date) -->		\| death_date = {{BirthDeathAge\|\|1928\|3\|14\|2024\|01\|18\|yes}} <!-- {{Death date and age\|YYYY\|MM\|DD\|YYYY\|MM\|DD}} (death date then birth date) -->
	\| death_place = ~~Willoughby Grange Care Home~~, Boston		\| death_place = Pilgrim Hospital, Boston
	\| death_cause =		\| death_cause =
	\| body_discovered =		\| body_discovered =

Smeeds: Birth and death dates

2024-01-20T01:06:23Z

Birth and death dates

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:06, 20 January 2024
Line 9:		Line 9:
	\| nicknames = Ken, Kenny, Bunny, Jet (after Frank Whittle, inventor of the jet engine)		\| nicknames = Ken, Kenny, Bunny, Jet (after Frank Whittle, inventor of the jet engine)
	\| birth_name =		\| birth_name =
	\| birth_date = {{~~Birth year and age~~\|1928}} <!-- {{Birth date and age\|YYYY\|MM\|DD}} -->		\| birth_date = {{BirthDeathAge\|B\|1928\|3\|14\|2024\|01\|18\|yes}} <!-- {{Birth date and age\|YYYY\|MM\|DD}} -->
	\| birth_place =		\| birth_place =
	\| disappeared_date = <!-- {{Disappeared date and age\|YYYY\|MM\|DD\|YYYY\|MM\|DD}} (disappeared date then birth date) -->		\| disappeared_date = <!-- {{Disappeared date and age\|YYYY\|MM\|DD\|YYYY\|MM\|DD}} (disappeared date then birth date) -->
	\| disappeared_place =		\| disappeared_place =
	\| disappeared_status =		\| disappeared_status =
	\| death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age\|YYYY\|MM\|DD\|YYYY\|MM\|DD}} (death date then birth date) -->		\| death_date = {{BirthDeathAge\|\|1928\|3\|14\|2024\|01\|18\|yes}} <!-- {{Death date and age\|YYYY\|MM\|DD\|YYYY\|MM\|DD}} (death date then birth date) -->
	\| death_place =		\| death_place = Willoughby Grange Care Home, Boston
	\| death_cause =		\| death_cause =
	\| body_discovered =		\| body_discovered =