My dearest mother has passed away - Pat Wood 1927-2022

My dearest mum - a real character, loved by all, always glamorous, and the kindest, warmest and most generous person you could ever wish to meet - passed away on 12 January 2022 aged 94. What a fantastic life she led and what a wonderful mother she was to me! I love her dearly and will always miss her - her warm heart, her smile, her kindness, her love, and most of all, her sense of fun ♥💔

 See also: https://www.facebook.com/johnalexwood/posts/10159541796164014

 

 

Kenwood Memories: The Story of an Iconic Brand

David Murray has done a sterling job in writing "Kenwood Memories: The Story of an Iconic Brand" published by The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre in Havant. It is a remarkable record of everything you've ever wanted to know about Kenwood, particularly if you or a family member ever worked for the company.

I was asked to write the introduction for the book!

Here is the press release about the launch of the book:

Memories of Kenwood workers feature in new book

A new book featuring the memories of workers at Kenwood’s factory and offices in New Lane, Havant, has been published by The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre.

Kenwood Memories: The Story of an Iconic Brand traces the history of the internationally famous company, which was founded by Kenneth Wood in Woking in 1947 before it moved to Havant in 1962.

Funded by a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the book covers Kenwood’s early successes in Woking, including the invention of the iconic Kenwood Chef, before focusing on the move to Havant and subsequent takeover by Thorn in 1968, which led to the departure of Kenneth Wood. The company’s more recent history, including the management buy-out in 1989 and takeover by current owner De’Longhi in 2001, is also featured.

John Wood, stepson of Kenneth, says: “With a great deal of detail, including examples of actual staff contracts and correspondence, and many wonderful photos, the book takes you right up to the present day with chapters on the management buy-out, the manufacturing move to China and the De’Longhi takeover. As well as the ultimate reference guide to all things Kenwood, this book is a glorious trip down memory lane if you, your parents or even your grandparents ever worked for the company.”

The book is available to buy from The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre, priced £5.

Kenwood Blue Plaque Unveiling Media Round-Up

What a wonderful occasion the Kenwood Blue Plaque Unveiling at 79 Goldsworth Road, Woking, Surrey was on 7 Sept 2017 in memory of Kenneth Wood. I certainly enjoyed delivering my talk on Ken's life and work at The Lightbox afterwards and meeting past and present Kenwood employees. The event certainly generated a lot of media interest!

My heartfelt thanks go to Woking Borough Council and The Lightbox.

The next big event will probably be Kenwood's 80th anniversary! See you there!

Just as a reminder, if you have any Kenwood memories you'd like to share, please post them here: www.facebook.com/KennethMaynardWood

7 Sept 2017 - BBC Radio Surrey: John Wood's interview on the James Cannon Show

(click the above link to hear the full interview)

7 Sept 2017 - BBC Surrey: Live Facebook Broadcast of the Kenwood blue plaque unveiling

(click the above link to watch the full broadcast)

7 Sept 2017 - BBC Surrey: Live Facebook Broadcast of John Wood's talk on the life and work of Kenneth Wood

(click the above link to watch the full broadcast)

8 Sept 2017 - Surrey Advertiser: Woking honours Kenwood founder with blue plaque

(click the above link to see the article online)

(Click the above image to see the full article as a jpg)

8 Sept 2017 - Woking Borough Council: Mayor unveils new blue plaque to honour father of Kenwood Chef

(click the above link to view the full article)

10 Sept 2017 - Celebrate Woking: Unveiling of Kenwood Blue Plaque

(click the above link to view the full article)

12 Sept 2017 - Portsmouth News : Havant firm celebrates its 70th anniversary
(click the above link to view the full article)

(Click the above image to see the full article as a jpg)

22 Sept 2017 - Woking News and Mail: Blue plaque in honour of Kenwood Chef inventor
(click the above link to view the full article)

(Click the above image to see the full article as a jpg)

25 Oct 2017 - Woking Borough Council: Woking Magazine Winter 2017 
(click the above link to download the full article)

(Click the above image to see the full article as a jpg)

26 Oct 2017 - Liphook Herald: In Memory of Ken Wood

(Click the above image to see the full article as a jpg)

References to the Kenwood Chef and other Kenwood Products in Popular Culture

Foot (Victor Spinetti) using a Kenwood Knife Sharpener before cutting Ringo's finger off in the Beatles 1965 film Help! 

Here is an ever-growing list of mentions of Kenwood or Kenwood products, or examples of where the name or products are seen in popular culture:

A Kenwood knife sharpener is used in The Beatles film Help!

A Kenwood Chef is seen at the start of Terry Gilliam's Time Bandits

A Kenwood Chef is een in the kitchen of "Fawlty Towers"

A Kenwood Chef makes an appearance in Are You Going to be More Permanent?, a 1965 episode of Danger Man alongside Susan Hampshire.

'Are You Going to be More Permanent?', a 1965 episode of Danger Man alongside Susan Hampshire

A Kenwood Chef is mentioned in Series 6, Episode 4 of Only Fools and Horses "Perkins: Is he not a good mixer? Del: A good mixer? He's like a Kenwood Chef when he gets going.

A Kenwood features in one of Tim Vine's one-liner jokes.

A Kenwood Chef seen in Peter Sellers' film Hoffman.

Graham Kerr, the Galloping Gourmet, always used a Kenwood Chef on his TV show.

Kenwood products have appeared in many other TV cooking shows e.g. Raymond Blanc.

The Lancashire Hotpot's video Black Friday:

Getting punched for a half price Kenwood Chef

Kenwood adverts from the 1960s appear in many books and Facebook posts about politically incorrect advertising

Kenwood usually have a stand at the Goodwood Revival Festival

The Kenwood 'kMix' Mixer is used on the Great British Bake Off TV show

There is a band called 'Kenwood and the Mixers'

The closing credits of the film A Fistful of Fingers by Edgar Wright (who also made Shaun of the Dead, The World's End and Hot Fuzz): 

Food Mixer - Ken Wood

Closing credits of "A Fistful of Fingers"

"So Pissed Off With Love" performed by Victoria Wood and Dennis Lawson

The lyrics of Victoria Wood's "So Pissed Off With Love" include the line:

"We don't need a ref. You can take the Kenwood Chef. Just get your pimply bottom through that doorway!" 

A 1969 Kenwood Chef appears in ITV's 2017 series Tina & Bobby:

Series 1, Episode 1 of The Goodies (1970):

Here's a still from the 1963 movie Billy Liar:

A paragraph on the history of Kenwood is given on page 14 of the book
1950s Childhood Spangles, Tiddlywinks and The Clitheroe Kid:

From the 2015 VIZ Annual:

From the episode Brains of Adam Faith's Budgie, broadcast on ITV on 23 April 1971:

Here are two stills from the brilliant 2026 Netflix series Legends starring Steve Coogan and Charlotte Ritchie:

If you come across any more, please let me know via johnalexwood@gmail.com