Obituary

Ken Hitchcock

On 11 February 2004, Ken's life was celebrated in a service at St George's, where he and PIp had worshipped for many years.

Ken would have been 90 this year, and having been married to Pip for some 62 years, is a wonderful example of longevity in the family. He is also a great example of the value of a balanced diet that includes cooked breakfasts every day, red wine and pink gins!

Ken was a civil engineer for some 35 years, and by right, should have joined his father in the family cricket ball making business in Tonbridge, Kent. His career involved several moves to Ealing, Leicester, Southend and finally to Havant in 1953, where he worked for Havant and Waterloo Urban District Council (in pre-Borough days) as the Deputy Engineer. The war interrupted his career and he joined the RAF, where he specialised in rebuilding runways that had received bomb damage. He was posted to Wick in Scotland, the Faroe Islands and ended the war in Paris.

He took early retirement from the council at aged 53, and then focused his energies on cricket (a life long love), badminton and the Havant Club. Having played both cricket and badminton until a ripe age, he went on to umpire with the Havant Cricket Club, and also supported the administration of umpiring in Hampshire, as well as playing a full part in the Hampshire Badminton Association. What with Pip playing tennis until she was 85, and Ken being active in both cricket and tennis, they were both excellent adverts for an active lifestyle!

Ken was also a keen gardener, and trod the boards with the Phoenix Players who presented plays in St George's Hall for many years. Ken and Pip enjoyed many walking holidays in both Austria and Switzerland, plus a few long winter breaks in warmer climes.

After Pip's death in September 2002, Ken spent his final months at a nursing home in Selsey, where he was well cared for, until he peacefully slipped away on 19 January 2004.