Ken Haffenden, a friendly and familiar figure in Dulwich for many years, died in May at the age of 77. Ken was born in Bromley and was apprenticed as a plumber. After National Service in ‘The Buffs’ where he served in Hong Kong and Egypt, Ken joined British Rail. He joined the Dulwich Estate in 1959, becoming Estate Bailiff in 1979, a post he held until his retirement aged 65 in 1995. Ken’s retirement from this post coincided with the ending of a direct Dulwich Estate labour force but he continued to be connected to the Estate for a further eleven years as a part-time assistant to Tony George as a trees consultant.
Ken was a keen gardener and opened his garden on occasions for the Dulwich Society and the residents of Edward Alleyn House when visitors would admire his collection of Koi Carp. The Dulwich Society is to plant a tree in Ken’s memory.
