ALE Summer 2004 No. 314 : Next section

Hairy Womble RIP

At the Cambridge Beer Festival you can see old friends and also make new ones because Real Ale has a particular way of getting people together for a talk on any subject, but mainly the beer. But at the 31st Festival there was one person missing who had helped at the Festival for many years - from the very first one, as far as I remember (I used to help out as well when it was held in the Corn Exchange and the Guildhall).

That person was Ken Longford, and the Festival felt strange with him missing. I had known him for many years, from the days when he was involved in the Cambridge Claimants Union in the Bath House on Gwydir Street - interesting times. He would always have something to day and could hold a good conversation on many subjects.

I had not seen Ken for some months so I thought he may have moved away from Cambridge, but at the Beer Festival I found out that something much more drastic and shocking had happened: that Ken had died several months before. I do not shock easily, but I was very surprised to hear what had happened to Ken, and for once I was not sure what to say other than salute Ken with a pint of Real Ale - I knew Ken loved a pint of good beer and food.

Ken will be greatly missed, both at the Beer Festival and in the pubs where he used to go, and I for one will always remember Ken as a friend and a great person to talk to on many subjects.
Goodbye, Ken. I hope you are at peace.

Stephen J Ryder

ALE Summer 2004 No. 314 : Next section
Cambridge & District CAMRA