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Ken is Born On 29th July 1928, Kenneth Eric Hammond was born in Amhurst Road, Hackney, London. He lived with his mother, father and older brother at 127a Stoke Newington Road. In 1932 at the age of 3, Ken attended the Princess May School, Stoke Newington. He was not very academic, but excelled in Drama. Photography, A life Long Hobby In the earlier part of 1939, at the age of 10, Ken was parted from his parents for the first time on a school trip to the Isle of Wight. There Ken took an interest in art and photography. The War Shortly after returning from the Isle of Wight, war was declared and Ken was evacuated with his brother to Bovington Lodge in Herts. In 1942, Ken was fortunately able to return to London, and then he was Barmitzvah in Egerton Road Synagogue followed by a small kiddush in his Grandmother's house in Stamford Hill. Ken was then sent back to Bovingdon lodge until 1945, when the war was over. Ken and his family moved to 38 West Bank, Stamford Hill. Cabinet Maker At the end of 1945, Ken took up an apprenticeship of cabinet making, owing to his lack of education during the war. R.A.F. In 1946, Ken was called up for his National Service and accepted into the Royal Air-Force. He was stationed at a disused airfield as a telephonist. Tailoring In 1948 Ken came out of the R.A.F. and went into ladies tailoring for Nat Shine, Middlesex Street, Which in fact, led Ken to sit and pass his City & Guild's in Ladies Tailorship. Stamford Hill Club and Scouts In the same year Ken joined the Stamford Hill Club and the Scout movement, and were called the "Young Dover" Pack. In 1948, at the shy age of 19, a man called Dougie Schofield, who called everyone "squire", got Ken interested in amateur dramatics. In the same year, Ken became involved as the sub-editor of the "Uphill" Magazine. Youth Work - His Lifelong ambition and Career Before Ken went into full-time youth work, he experienced various occupations, one occupation was as a machinist in one of the East End Sweat Factories. Although Ken was making a living, his main ambition was to become a full-time youth leader. Ken was guided into the profession by a man who was to become a long-life friend, Mr Harold Miller. In the late 50's, Ken and Harold ran the Scouts and Cubs movement at Toynbee Hall, East End, where they got their nicknames, "Badger" and "Kim" respectively. From there Ken went to the National Association of Youth Clubs, where he stayed for 3 years. During this time he was involved in running an all-night cafe in Soho, for runaway children, down-and-outs and drug-addicts. In 1954 Ken's mother died, which meant that the responsibility of the house was passed to him. He moved to 42 Layland Road. In 1960 Stamford Hill Club amalgamated with the Ilford Jewish Youth Club, and Ken became their first full-time youth leader. Although Ken's ability to do youth work was excellent, his office always looked a mess. During the 1960's Ken took many trips abroad with the members. One such trip was a 2 week holiday to Switzerland and Paris. On this trip Ken did all of the catering with leaders Harold Miller and Brian Bloch. From Switzerland they moved to Paris, where Ken found that their accommodation was the worst "doss-house" they had experienced. On this trip were members which later became friends - Micky Duke, Barry Marcus and Harry Levinson. Ken's Wicked Humor When the club was in Mansfield Road, opposite the club was some garages that were "out-of-bounds". Two boys, Derek and Roger, decided to have a snogging session with two young ladies, Suddenly they found themselves surrounded by police. The police questioned them, and Derek told them that they were members of the club opposite. Ken and all the members came out and kept denying that he knew the boys. Eventually, ken admitted that the boys were members. No-one went near the garages again. He Loved Film Throughout the 1960's Ken interested a lot of people in the world of films, photography and arts and crafts. The Beginning of a Legend In 1971, The Ilford Club moved with Wanstead and Woodford Club to the Redbridge Jewish Youth and Community Centre (R.J.Y.C.C.) - Ken was delighted, he had his own photographic dark room! In 1976 - Ken's brother Harvey got married and Ken was best man. It is so typical of Ken, because during the festivities Ken was surrounded by children, teaching them the art of Origami. That year Ken moved to a new home in Warham Road, Haringey. Ken finally left R.J.Y.C.C. and moved to the London Federation of Boys Clubs as arts and crafts advisor. But some years later he returned to R.J.Y.C.C. as head of the Juniors section. There he became famous for his art and craft, playwriting, photography, love of film, poetry and his tireless and selfless devotion to every "individual" young person.
During his time at R.J.Y.C.C Ken also joined the team at the Prince's Trust, where he was a valued member of the team, interviewing and advising young people for many years. Branching Out Ken branched out and left the club again in the early 80's, and after a Round-The-World trip joined The Chelsea Estates Youth Group "The Hut" and set up a youth facility in the Samuel Lewis Trust Housing Association. Retirement When the traveling got too much for ken in the mid 90's, he finally retired. Well, he called it retirement. He worked voluntary for the housing association where he lived. He ran the youth and computer clubs, and a free DVD lending library from his own personal stock of classic movies, passing his passion on to the younger generation. Just to make life easier during his retirement, he also organised the Housing association's 100th anniversary exhibition. His research took him to the British Library, the home of knowledge, where Ken felt very much at home. The Last Year Ken had been ill for sometime, but the doctors could not pip-point the exact nature of his illness. In the Kenny Hammond fashion he just carried on regardless. The news in August 2006 that ken had incurable cancer seemed to be devastating to everyone but Ken. At the request of his family, ken moved from his home in Stoke Newington to the Ridge Hill Housing Unit in Borham wood. Ken, as independent and stubborn as ever, took himself to Barts for his treatment. He still fought his causes for children, and while receiving Chemo Therapy and Radio Therapy, he was fighting the closure of his local Youth Centre, In June 2007, Ken was taken into Barnet hospital as an emergency, this time he was never discharged. At approximately 4.30am Monday 18th June 2007, this great man, my friend, lost his fight. Buried at Edgwarebury Lane Cemetery, ironically right next door to a school, he will be dearly missed. |
It
was there that he met life long friends Eve Nichols, Patrick Hickie and
Michael Gold.