Obituary

Kenneth Richard Iliffe

Born: Chelmsford, 18 December 1932                       Died: Chelmsford, 6 March 2008

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Ken Iliffe, who died peacefully at home on 6 March 2008 following a long and courageous battle with leukaemia.  He is survived by his much loved wife Judy, four children and seven grandchildren.

Ken was the youngest of four brothers and two sisters, and was born and raised in London Road, Chelmsford.  He attended Chelmsford Grammar and Berkhamsted schools, and was a keen cricketer as well as being a fine snooker, tennis and table tennis player.  It was at Chelmsford Tennis Club that he met Judy, whom he married in March 1962, and he played table tennis for Old Chelmsfordians into his late 60s.

He took up golf, bowls, and bridge in later years, but cricket remained a central part of his life.  He was a canny all-rounder and for over half a century he turned out for a number of local teams, including Little Baddow, Galleywood and Old Chelmsfordians.  When he moved next to Chelmer Park in 1972, he followed the fortunes of Chelmsford Cricket Club and was delighted when his sons represented the club at different levels.  Above all, he was a stalwart supporter of Essex Cricket Club for over 60 years, and for most of this period, he was a Life Member.

Ken worked for most of his life in the agricultural sector, and his work involved travelling extensively within East Anglia where any opportunity to watch a game of cricket was seized upon.  He remained loyal to his colleagues and customers, and many became close friends, an indication that he valued friendship far more than the mere business side of a relationship.

Ken was a keen gardener, and was a member of the local Fuchsia Society and the Galleywood Horticultural Society.  He was also a keen member of the Great Baddow/Galleywood U3A and for a while served as secretary.  However, he will be remembered most for his contribution to the local sports clubs.  His penchant for turning up late to any sporting event in which he was involved, and his view that sport was not about winning at all costs, belied a competitive attitude. 

Ken was an unassuming and popular man with an independent spirit and a keen sense of humour.  He believed in always being smartly dressed, and would always wear a tie when playing table tennis. Opponents knew he meant business when the tie came off.  He defended older values of courtesy and respect for others, and will be sadly missed by his family and many friends.