In November 2002, Dr Ken Harbord sadly passed away, after fighting ill health for most of the summer. Ken was a keen allotment and Committee member with a passion for nature. He will be remembered for his tremendous sense of humour and his insistence on helping others wherever he was able.
Ken was the tenant of both allotments which had been planted with hazel coppice, and did more maintenance work to these sites than anyone else, with regular strimming to keep the weeds under control. Ken was also warden of Birtchnells Copse, the small area of woodland above Sunnyside New. Here he did plenty of work, quietly, alone, without wanting any recognition for his efforts. One of his policies in the woodland was to control sycamores, which were starting to take over. We were horrified to find out that he’d been felling trees which were leaning over the road and power lines by climbing the trees to install a rope then cutting them from the ground with a blunt old bow saw. When the tree was on the brink, he’d pull the rope and somehow manage to get the trees back into the woodland!
Ken was a strong character, and his enthusiasm and positive outlook on life will be greatly missed.
On the 8th March, an oak tree was planted in Ken’s memory in the presence of his daughter and son-in-law. In addition Patrick planted two ash trees for Ken at the request of his daughter Patricia and son Peter. Patrick has also arranged that there is a cherry log to sit on at the site of Ken’s trees.
