Ken West - An Obituary

'Calbourne's' Driver and Inspirational Friend of the IW Steam Railway Passes Away

The veteran Isle of Wight railwayman, Ken West, died on 11th February 2012, after developing cancer last year. He was aged 82.

Kenneth William Charles West was born in Portland Street, Newport in 1929, the eldest of five children of the late William and Amy West. Ken was educated at the National School in Newport and as a boy sang in the choir at St. Mary's Church, Carisbrooke. After leaving school, Ken spent a few months as a grocer's errand boy, but joined the Southern Railway as an engine cleaner at Newport locomotive shed on 23rd July 1944. At the time, Mr Bell, the foreman, who knew Ken's tall father, commented on the short stature of the 15-year-old, saying "But he'll grow".

Apart from a short period in the army on national service, Ken spent all his working life as a railwayman. From loco cleaner he progressed to fireman and passed fireman, and worked all the lines that radiated from Newport to Ryde, Freshwater, Cowes, Sandown and Ventnor West. When Newport shed closed in 1957 he transferred to Ryde and soon became one of the pair of regular drivers of 'O2' class engine No. 24 'Calbourne', now preserved at Havenstreet. Ken drove the last train from Cowes on 19th February 1966 and, after the end of steam, the first of the 'new' electric trains from Ryde to Shanklin on 21st March 1967.  On 21st July 1991, he drove the first electric train to stop at the newly opened Smallbrook Junction station. Following his retirement in September 1993, Ken re-joined his former steed, 'Calbourne' at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway and became its regular driver for a number of years. In August 2001, Ken had the honour of welcoming the Duke of Edinburgh for a ride on the footplate of 'Calbourne', an event which the 'The Times' unusually recorded with a photograph on the Court page.

In 1965, Ken accidently squirted a small boy with the engine's pep pipe. Despite this inauspicious introduction, that same small boy, Andrew Britton, with Ken's help and guidance went on to collect the reminiscences of many retired Island railwayman. These are published in the acclaimed 'Once Upon a Line' series of social history books, published in the 1990s. Ken had many memories of his 50 years work as a railwayman, some of which he also recounted to John Hannam on Isle of Wight Radio some years ago. All of Ken's stories were witty and many showed what seem to have the more relaxed and carefree days of the 1940s and 50s.

As a young man, Ken developed a keen interest in sport, particularly darts, horse-racing and soccer, firstly as a player and latterly as a spectator of his son Paul's teams and more recently watching his grandsons Olly and Henry playing for the Oakfield and Binstead youth teams.

Ken was a true gentleman and always wanted to encourage young talent, whether this was helping loco crews at the IW Steam Railway or watching his grand-daughters, Louisa and Sarah perform in dance shows.

Ken married Margaret (nee Jones) in 1964 and had two children, Elizabeth and Paul and enjoyed nearly 50 years of family life in Ryde.  He is survived by his wife, two children and four grandchildren.