Ken Lindley

Kenneth ‘Ken’ Lindley was born on the 23^rd of June 1926 in a thunderstorm at Scraggs coal merchants on Hillsborough Road Sheffield. His Father George was 26 and his Mother Nelly was 23. George and Nelly rented rooms at Scraggs before they moved to 11 Oakland Road Hillsborough. One of his earliest memories was being pushed round in his pram as a baby. Ken was the eldest of two. Joan, his sister, was born a few years later.  

Ken attended Maling Bridge School and then onto Wisewood School. His close home friends were Ken Jenks at number 6 Oakland Road, Alan McIver at number 32, Jack Clayton at number 18 and Ken Burnett who lived on Taplin Road. They loved to go off exploring the moors of Sheffield together. This sense of exploration was passed down to Jayne and Nigel as they grew up. Kens best friend Harry Furniss lived at number 82 Oakland Road. They both shared a love of planes and would think nothing of biking to Finningley airport at a youthful age to watch the Wellingtons take off and land. This was their way of having fun, and they would be gone all day.

Later on, Ken and Harry joined the RAF, and Harry became a rear gunner on a Wellington Bomber. Sadly, Harry was shot down over Bremen, Germany at the young age of 18. In later years Ken was able to visit and pay his respects at Harry’s memorial within Kirmington and bomber command in Lincoln. 

It was the love of planes that was at the core of Ken’s hobbies: making planes from firewood became an early pastime along with building radios. This led to him being a keen amateur short wave radio enthusiast and building his own aerials. Ken was still able to make planes at the age of 91.

He got to fly in a real plane when he joined the air training corps. His first flight was in a Wellington bomber. Ken particularly loved the feeling and the way it made the world look totally different. Ken’s other talents were swimming and diving. Close by was Hillsborough Baths which meant he could train regularly and compete. He competed for South Yorkshire at diving, and also gained his advanced lifesaving award. 

During his childhood there was still fun and many fond memorable get togethers and they had good neighbours in Helen and Albert, who were extremely good with Ken and Joan. They were surrounded by close family who all lived on the same street. This strong family bond stayed with Ken throughout his years and this legacy has been passed down through the generations of the family. Despite times being difficult with George's post war trauma and worsening epilepsy, the family pulled together to support Nellie, Ken and Joan. However, sadly in 1941 during the second world war George died at the young age of 41. The family believed his exposure to Mustard gas, which was found in booby trapped tunnels, may have contributed to George's condition which resulted in his death. Further tragedy followed in 1951 with the death of Joan age 18 due to TB.  

Ken's career first started at the age of 14 through Mr Knowles, his metal work teacher. He and Stanley Byford started an engineering apprenticeship at Faircut Tools on Button Lane where they made little Lathes. At 18, Ken was called up to serve in the RAF. He used his skills gained during his apprenticeship and served as a flight mechanic fitter. Part of his service was within Tengeh, Singapore and Malaysia. He worked mainly on Dakotas which carried troops and trainer tiger moth planes. In his later years Ken was interviewed by Bomber Command to share his experiences within the RAF.

When he returned home, he then went to work as a factory manager at Remploy. During his time at Remploy he became a liaison engineer for 8 factories within the UK and Europe and eventually progressed to become a production manager for the whole of United Kingdom. Within his final years of employment, he went on to work for Spear and Jackson specialising in garden tools. After being made redundant, he supported young apprentices at The Industrial training board with engineering and computing. 

During their teenage years a beautiful love story between Ken and Jean began. Jeans' charitable nature and ability to stick up for those in need led to their romance. Jean intervened when Ken was getting his head bashed up on a wall when a friend was trying to sober him up. She told him to stop and despite being unsteady on his feet, Ken was still a gentleman and asked her to dance. This memorable dance took place to a song that echoed throughout their journey together which was ‘Strangers in the Night’ by Frank Sinatra. This song is a tale of two people who share a moment of fleeting but meaningful eye contact, a moment which leads them to fall in love by the end of the night.

They started married life in 1950 at Nelly’s in her front room. The wedding took place on the 8^th of June and despite post war Britain the family pulled together for a ham salad, tinned fruit, trifle, port, ice cream and a cake. Ken in a de-mob suit and Jean in her dress made from a parachute. Ken built their oven with his engineering skills using leftover parts he found at work - he reported that it produced lovely cakes. Ken and Jean then moved to Eggerton Street where they rented their first home together. With his career progression and bringing in more money they were able to buy their first home together on Wyatt Avenue. After the first decade of married life Jayne and Nigel arrived within quick succession. Weekends were devoted to the family, which included picnics in Derbyshire and walks around Derwent. Parties and dances were regular features for birthdays, anniversaries, and family get-togethers. Many happy holidays were spent at either Scarborough or St Ives. Ken loved to take the dinghy out in all weathers, with the kids crabbing and fishing. Ken and Jean loved to be surrounded by friends and family.  

It was their love of the seaside which meant when Ken finally retired, they moved to Bridlington. Jean and Ken loved Bridlington, and this meant they had many visits from the Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. Christmases were celebrated with the ever-growing family at the Expanse, a tradition which lasted many years. Ken would grow his beard so he could be the real Father Christmas and Jean was Mrs. Christmas. They never went abroad and were happy at the seaside. Ken enjoyed his friends and family around him and was ‘Happy with his lot’ during his retirement. With his lifetime of knowledge and skill he built computers, mended electric guitars, toys and toothbrushes for the grandchildren and great grandchildren. Another tradition that evolved was designing and constructing creative cakes for the grandchildren.

Ken and Jean spent 26 wonderful years at Bridlington before moving to Epworth to be nearer to family. Sadly, Jean died in 2016 and Ken managed to live independently throughout his 90’s and could often be seen out in the village on his scooter. He continued to enjoy socialising and traditions with his family until the end of his life.  

Ken should be remembered as one with a big heart, a sparkle in his eye and mischievous smile. His love, care, compassion, and empathy for others shined along with his quick wit and humour. His clever phrases reassured people and funny sayings filled you with hope. Every person that met Ken during his lifetime felt loved, and loved him. He was a proud family man, hot on tradition and content. He always left you with a smile and a wave.