Ken Wood

October 4, 1916 (age 81)

Lewisham, London, England, United Kingdom

A year later, in 1936, he set up his own company, Dickson & Wood, selling, installing and repairing radios and televisions. In 1939, he sold the company and joined the Royal Air Force where he worked as an engineer at the Admiralty developing radar and electronic controls. When Roger Laurence left the company, Wood changed the name to Kenwood Manufacturing Company Limited. The company moved to Havant in Hampshire in 1961, then employing a workforce of 700. Kenwood"s products were successful because Wood identified household tasks that gave housewives most work and developed machines to do those jobs. Within a few years of setting up the company, he was one of Britain"s youngest millionaires. However, in 1968, Wood parted company with Kenwood Manufacturing after a hostile takeover by Thorn Electrical Industries Limited. although he maintained an interest in the company until his death. On 31 May 1972, he was granted the Freedom of the City of London as a result of his membership of the London livery company called the Worshipful Company of Farriers. Between 1972 and 1980, Wood was chairman and managing director of the Dawson-Keith Group of Companies and in 1984, he was appointed Fellow of the Institute of Ophthalmology. He founded Forest Mere Health Farm (now Champneys Forest Mere) and the keen golfer invested in Old Thorns Golf & Country Estate club near his Hampshire home with television commentator Peter Alliss, both in Liphook and was also chairman of the governors of Wispers School in Haslemere, Surrey (which closed in 2008). He was managing director of Hydrotech Systems between 1984 and 1987. Wood died on 19 October 1997 in Liphook, Hampshire after a short illness.

Ken Wood

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Background

Wood was born on 4 October 1916 in Lewisham, London, England, United Kingdom.

Education

He was brought up in Chelsfield in Kent and was educated at Bromley County School before leaving home in 1930, aged 14 to join the merchant navy for five years, after which, he studied electrical engineering and accountancy at night school.

Career

A year later, in 1936, he set up his own company, Dickson & Wood, selling, installing and repairing radios and televisions. In 1939, he sold the company and joined the Royal Air Force where he worked as an engineer at the Admiralty developing radar and electronic controls. When Roger Laurence left the company, Wood changed the name to Kenwood Manufacturing Company Limited.

The company moved to Havant in Hampshire in 1961, then employing a workforce of 700.

Kenwood"s products were successful because Wood identified household tasks that gave housewives most work and developed machines to do those jobs. Within a few years of setting up the company, he was one of Britain"s youngest millionaires.

However, in 1968, Wood parted company with Kenwood Manufacturing after a hostile takeover by Thorn Electrical Industries Limited. although he maintained an interest in the company until his death. On 31 May 1972, he was granted the Freedom of the City of London as a result of his membership of the London livery company called the Worshipful Company of Farriers.

Between 1972 and 1980, Wood was chairman and managing director of the Dawson-Keith Group of Companies and in 1984, he was appointed Fellow of the Institute of Ophthalmology.

He founded Forest Mere Health Farm (now Champneys Forest Mere) and the keen golfer invested in Old Thorns Golf & Country Estate club near his Hampshire home with television commentator Peter Alliss, both in Liphook and was also chairman of the governors of Wispers School in Haslemere, Surrey (which closed in 2008). He was managing director of Hydrotech Systems between 1984 and 1987. Wood died on 19 October 1997 in Liphook, Hampshire after a short illness.

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colleague:: Roger Laurence

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Ken Wood

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Ken Wood

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