A HEARTBROKEN community has paid tribute to a ‘legend’ and ‘enigma’ who was one of the city’s best-loved characters who brightened up their lives.
All manner of tributes for ‘Kenny’ were laid outside the Co-op in Lichfield Avenue in Ronkswood, Worcester, which residents described as his favourite spot.
Kenny, who would often ask for money or cans of pop, has even inspired calls for a plaque in his honour.
Some joked that they had ‘given him more money than they had their own children’ over the years, and others described how polite he was when asking for change.
MISSED: Kenny still looking out from his favourite spot outside the Co-op in Lichfield Avenue, Ronkswood, Worcester (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)
To pay their respects, people left bouquets of flowers, photos of him and even cans, beer bottles and loose change at the wall outside the supermarket where he would sit. Despite being a popular personality, nobody we asked knew his surname or much about his previous life.
Kenny lived nearby at Chelmsford Court when he died, but before that had lived at an upstairs flat in Lichfield Avenue, near the Co-op.
A message from staff at the Co-op read: “Rest Easy Ken. Forever one of the Ronkswood legends. You were outside the shop more times than some of the staff were at work. Always wanting something off one of us either a pork pie or a can. Gonna miss knocking the window and giving you a little wave everyday. Love, all the Co-op staff.”
MESSAGES: Personal messages were left for a Ronkswood legend, the one and only Kenny (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)
Jean Wilson MBE, founder of New Hope on Lichfield Avenue, a registered charity that provides specialist daytime short break and respite care for children with disabilities and complex health care needs, paid tribute.
Mrs Wilson said: “He was never a bother. People would just buy him drinks. He was so very, very well known in this area, always to be found sitting on that wall of the Co-op. In my experience, he was a very inoffensive gentleman, asking for cigarettes and change. Since he has gone, it has been really lovely to see all the tributes people have been putting by the Co-op.
“He used to smoke rollies and people used to give him their leftover baccy. Tributes have included cans of pop and loose change has been left. Somebody left their rollie, which was lovely. That was last week. Flowers were also tied to the railings. I understand he died about two weeks ago.
“Personally. I would love to know his backstory because he was something of an enigma. Nobody knows much about him. We have been here 16 years and he has always been around. I know Sue, who used to have the Punchbowl, really looked out for him.
HEARTFELT: A touching message from the Co-op staff in honour of Kenny, a ‘Ronkswood legend’ (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)
“It’s just sad. He was such a character. I would liken it to when Chicken George died. Kenny was the same. He was part and parcel of Ronkswood.”
Cllr Elaine Willmore, the Labour councillor for the area, said: “He was always sitting outside the Co-op in Ronkswood. Kenny was a familiar face to many and he has been a constant presence outside of the co-op for many years where he would sit, quietly watching the world go by.
“I didn’t know him well – we’d only exchange a few words on the way in and out the shop but his absence will be felt and I hope his memory is a blessing to those who knew him best. Rest in peace Kenny.”
A spokesperson for Scales Pharmacy in Lichfield Avenue said: “Everybody has been shocked by it. It came out of the blue as far as I’m aware. He was a well-known character.”
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Sothy at the newsagents in Lichfield Avenue said: “He was a nice man. Everyone is in shock and everyone will miss him.”
Wayne Holloway, a Ronkswood resident, said: “He was a good bloke. He was loved, definitely. He was in his 70s but people didn’t realise how old he was. He said when he won the lottery he would sort out my mum. He’s going to be missed.”
Sandra Holloway, Wayne’s mum, said she had told Kenny off only recently because she noticed he had got wet in a storm.
“He said if he won the lottery, ‘you would be the only one I would look after’. I used to buy him Christmas presents and give him cigarettes and sandwiches. It was the company he wanted. Everybody used to talk to him. He was the character of Ronkswood,” she said.
We approached Platform Housing for comment because he had lived at Chelmsford Court but they declined to give a comment.