Ken Haywood RIP

I have just learned that my former friend and colleague Honorary Alderman Ken Haywood has died at the age of 91.

Most readers of this blog in Cumbria and the North West will not have heard of Ken but if I have any readers in St Albans or indeed in Hertfordshire they will almost certainly remember him.

During his twenty years as a member of the Council of the City and District of St Albans Ken was Mayor of St Albans in 1982/3 and again in 1988/9, and he was leader of the council in 1990-1

He was my immediate predecessor as leader of the Conservative group on the council and also served a term on Hertfordshire county council - he was in fact my county councillor from 1989 to 1993.

Ken was a dedicated public servant with an eye for getting to the heart of the matter and he had a number of favourite expressions for concentrating on the big items and not getting so hung up on minor details that you forget the more important ones.

"Fish where the fish are" was one of those expressions, and another, referring to what takes up most of the costs of local government, was "costs walk in on two legs."

You probably would not get away with that latter comment today but back in the eighties and nineties someone like Ken could say it without meaning or causing offence. 

Ken Haywood worked hard for his constituents, was a loyal friend, had a good sense of humour and was a sympathetic and patient listener, and I will miss him.

He is survived by a widow, June, and a son and daughter-in-law, David and Cathy.

Usual Obituary rules apply to this post.

Rest in Peace.

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