In the Hot Seat
Ken Wainwright
Retired Teacher, Badminton Champion, Model Maker The oft’ quoted words of the recently retired, “I don’t know how I ever found the time to go out to work”, could well apply to this month’s “Hot Seater”, the former Assistant Principal of the Bourne Academy, (or the Robert Manning T.C. as it was then), Mr Ken Wainwright. As a geographer, and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Ken’s many overseas travels included him climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, whilst on a scholarship to Africa. A proud graduate from the prestigious Carnegie College in Leeds, it is no wonder that the sporting excellence required for that has remained with him since then. County honours in badminton and athletics, have been augmented by a recent long-service award for Ken’s having completed forty years of badminton coaching at the Deepings Leisure Centre, and he still remains Bourne Badminton Club’s undefeated singles champion! Less energetic pursuits include forty-six years as a registered guitar tutor; a regular soloist for the Stamford Gilbert and Sullivan Society; a member of several local choirs and the “Tinderbox” light entertainment group; and a recent incursion into the world of pantomime with the “Tomorrow’s Dream” group as an ugly sister. Indeed, a very full life, made even more so for him by the Wainwright offspring, James and Elizabeth, presenting grandad with four potential guitar-playing, badminton champions of the future!
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Q: Where were you born, and what is your earliest memory of your childhood? A: I’m a Lancashire lad from Darwen, and I can fondly recall going to the seaside at week-ends in the 1950s in our old Ford Prefect. Q: Who has had the greatest influence on your life and why? A: Definitely my wife, (an “Old Brunnian” who many will remember, as Margaret Scotney.) She is always up for a challenge … for both of us! Q: Which two characters, (alive or not), would you most enjoy sharing a meal with and why? A: The designer of Bourne railway station, who could assist me in my model-making details. I have a huge and compelling ambition to build a model (1:76) of the former Bourne railway station and complex. This is a five year project, and I have already created the Red Hall, the engine sheds and parts of the station. (However, as a huge room,
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D I S C O V E R I N G
Bourne
at least thirty feet by twenty feet, would be needed to display the final working model, any offers would be gratefully received!) * Michael Palin, so that my experiences as a geographer and traveller, could be discussed alongside his. Q: How would you describe yourself in just five words? A: “House-trained, almost naturalised Brunnian.” Q: If there was one thing which you could change about Bourne, what would it be and why? A: To ensure that the town expands, but only at a rate which the public services could fully support. Q: What advice would you give to a 16 year old you? A: Don’t waste time watching television or playing computer games. Get out there and do something positive and useful.
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(* - If anyone could help Ken out with this, please contact me via “Discovering Bourne”, thank you – Ed.)
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