Ken Vickery – A true Wisborough legend
It is with profound sadness and sorrow that we share the sad news of Ken Vickery’s passing on Thursday 27th January peacefully at home.
During his life Ken made an outstanding contribution to Wisborough Green and has touched the hearts of many within the community with his humour, warmth and support.
Over the years Ken acted as Ad Vincular columnist, Parish Councillor, Chairman of the Horticultural Society, and part of a Wisborough team that won a Gold Medal in the Courtyard class at Chelsea Flower Show. However, he is probably most associated with village sport and the huge contribution he has made over many decades.
Ken played football for the Green and was a great support to the football club, running the line, rolling the pitch and always being around for help and advice. Later in life he became a referee for the West Sussex League. He was always fair and remained in control of the game, so the players soon affectionately referred to him as “The best ref in the village”.
Ken’s support extended beyond the cricket club into all the clubs and Wisborough Green Sports; preparing pitches for stoolball, laying turf, unblocking drains and advising touch rugby players that they should be tackling not just touching.
Ken played cricket on the green for over 50 years and during this time he held almost every official position at the Club including 1st XI and 2nd XI team Captain, Chairman, Fixture Secretary and Groundsman. He was involved with colts’ cricket at WG for over 25 years and always remained a great advocate and support for the colts set up. Many of the current club players have been coached and inspired by Ken to enjoy playing cricket here on the Green.Ken’s extraordinary contribution to the Cricket Club over the years was conducted in an understated and selfless manner – every year he put in an enormous amount of work for the benefit of others without fuss or fanfare.
Ken will be sorely missed and warmly remembered as an outstanding man and his legacy will live on in Wisborough Green for many years to come.
Our thoughts and best wishes are with Lucy, Frank, Dan and Emma and the rest of his family.
45 thoughts on “Remembering Ken”
Ken was an extraordinary man who will be sorely missed and warmly remembered. His legacy will live on in Wisborough for many years
Kenny was a true club man. He gave his time and energy freely so others could enjoy the game of cricket he loved to play. I can’t quite believe we won’t see him hitting the ball back over the bowler’s head one more time.
Ken was the heart of the club, he did the jobs nobody thought of or wanted to do. He was a dear friend, I will miss him.
Kenny aka the Grey Bear. What can I say, a WGCC great and my cricketing Dad. Always there to say well played or abuse my innings/form of dismissal, and laugh together about it all. You will be truly missed, but I will always be thinking of you while on your 22 yard strip. RIP Kenny x
Ken was a very special man who genuinely wanted others to get as much enjoyment out of the activities he loved, as he did. This was particularly true of his cricket and it was a privilege and pleasure to have known & played with him. His selfless contribution to Wisborough Green Cricket will be sorely missed and impossible to replace.
Ken will be hugely missed by the whole sporting community. His never ending dedication has been an inspiration, his dry humour so much enjoyed and his car horn blasts when approaching pedestrians (me) from behind were always perfectly timed – thank you Ken.
Ken was truly a Wisborough Green legend. A great sportsman in every sense. He was very competitive, but also compassionate, always ready to help others. He will most certainly be missed.
Neil Trestrail – past President
Kenny was a remarkable man, also played in the Darts league for the club, RIP to a great bloke and a true friend. My thoughts are with family.
Aah Grey Bear! We had many a battle over various subjects over the years. Especially me giving you out LBW with your pad first thrust hehe. But at the end of the day we could always share a drink and a laugh. I jokingly used to call you Lord Mayor of Wisborough Green But the truth was without you a lot of positive things would not have happened in the village especially related to cricket and… we did make a mean barbecue team on Friday nights. A big hole has been left in the community. RIP Kenny!
A very special man who was caring and kind. He wanted the best for everyone who played cricket at Wisborough Green.
An irreplaceable person, who gave so much but his only ask was for people to enjoy themselves!
It was always a pleasure to teach ”Young Ken” at The Weald School in the 60’s and to be taught by him ever since.He was a wonderful man; a true legend.
Essentially a 2nd father to me, after spending countless overnight stays on the Vickery sofa due to one too many cold ones post cricket on a Saturday afternoon! A true clubman, who selflessly devoted himself to all things Wisborough. And a much loved man, even to those he enjoyed winding up! Gone but will never be forgotten. RIP Kenny xxx
I cannot but endorse the wonderful tributes being paid to Ken – he deserved every one!
I well remember my last meeting with him at the Bat and Ball for the Annual Dinner of WGCC – he was teasing me about my ‘fifteen minutes of fame’ on ITV racing at Glorious Goodwood and asking me for my autograph, preferably on a cheque.!!! He had a wonderful sense of humour and I loved his articles in Ad Vincula!!
Love to Lucy and his loving family. We shall miss you Ken but on sunny days in the summer, you will be shining down upon us. Brenda Karn-Smith
A true club legend. You could always count on Kenny for support. RIP Ken, You will be missed
As the enormity of the passing of Ken, and realisation that we will not see him rolling the wicket, smashing a straight boundary, cutting the grass, doing a bbq, having a beer, is almost impossible to bare.
He has been an amazing friend to all at Wisborough Green, and was always delighted to see people playing cricket in his ‘front garden’!
His fun, friendship, and amazing energy will never be forgotten and he will forever be in our hearts – until we meet again X
It’s difficult to believe I won’t see Ken again and enjoy chewing the fat about the building game, local sport and politics and more recently in my Yoga Classes!
His contribution and presence will be solely missed by many. A true loss.
Ken was a fixture of the Village, as much a landmark as the Chestnut trees around the Green! In my years living overlooking the cricket square, he could be relied upon to be around every weekend, playing, umpiring, mowing, rolling, organising the nets in front of the houses – or just simply watching the game. A lovely, kind and funny man, taken too soon. Bless you Ken
Ken made WG special every time we returned to the Green. Such a great character who can never be replaced.
But his memory will live on forever.
Following my move to Wisborough Green in 1971,I gradually became aware of the various activities that make our village such a great place in which to live. One name kept cropping up namely Ken Vickery who seemed to be involved in everything be it ,cricket, football, Parish Council , the Horticultural Society and much more. However I did not really get to know Ken until I became a supporter of Wisborough Green Cricket Club and was able to see for myself not only the strength he brought to the Club as a player but also his ability to encourage others to play to their strengths. In 2000 I was proud to be appointed President and only then did I witness for myself the incredible all round contribution he made to the success of the Club in so many ways not least the support he gave to younger players in their early days in the Club
Wisborough Green Cricket Club owes him so much and he will be greatly missed.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Lucy and all the family at this difficult time
Ken was at the heart of our village and all things Wisborough Green.
The green army will miss you.
To my family and I, a good friend, and a true Wisborough Legend
RIP Ken xx
My coach when I first started playing cricket, his passion for the game was clear right from the start and that transferred to his under 16 side. Many of us graduated to the senior side and were lucky enough to play alongside him for many years. As well as my coach he became my “Wisborough Dad” as many weekends were spent at East Lynne after Dan, Chris, Jason, Chris G and myself rolled in from the pub, no doubt waking him on numerous occassions. How he and Lucy put up with it I’ll never know.
Other lasting memories are of Ken on the green, always helping not just the cricket club but other sports clubs too. His work around the cricket club was tireless. His contribution to local sport was huge.
RIP Kenny, and Thank you for everything!
Such sad news. Ken was as much a part of WG as the green itself and his passing will leave such a gaping hole in the lives of many people – not least his family to whom I send my deepest condolences. All the Bowes family have happy memories of life in WG that will always include Ken, his kindness, his humour and his enthusiasm. RIP Ken.
It has been an absolute pleasure to have known Ken for the past thirty + years. He has been an incredible friend, one who never put himself first in any situation, was always thoughtful and unwaveringly loyal.His love of family, friends, Wisborough Green, The Cricket Club and so much more ensured that he led a very hectic life. His love of cricket and his commitment to the club saw no equals which was more than demonstrated by the numerous roles that he undertook for the club, all in his usual selfless manner.I am proud to have been able to name Ken amongst my friends and will miss him enormously.
I grew up with Ken, part of a small group of village kids. Playing cricket and football on the green, all year round. Ken is the only one who stayed in the village and got involved in all parts of life in Wisborough Green. I also worked with Ken for a while, and went to college with him for 4 years, during which he gave me a lift on many occasions. He did so much for the village and the people in it; often unseen. Ken, you will be greatly missed.
Our thoughts are with all of Kens family at this incredibly sad time.
He is an irreplaceable character who I personally and everyone within our company will miss greatly..
Such sad news to hear. All of the other messages sum up Ken perfectly. I have so many happy memories of growing up playing cricket on the green and Ken was a huge part of them. He was such a lovely man and I feel lucky to have known him. Wisborough Green have lost a legend.
The absolute epitome of a club legend and someone who gave so much of his time so tirelessly and so selflessly. A truly great man, Ken will be enormously missed by all of us, but never forgotten
I can remember Ken warmly welcoming me to the green in 1998 for my first match. He was a true gentleman and would always ask if I needed anything while I was away from home.
I feel very sad to hear of the loss of Ken – a true WG gentleman. He will be sadly missed! Eric Clark
So sorry to hear this news, Ken was the life and soul of WGCC. I have really great memories of playing cricket on the green and they invariably include Ken somewhere along the way. A funny, kind and generous man who will be warmly remembered. Thoughts and best wishes to Lucy, Frank, Dan and Emma.
Ken was an out and out Wisborough Green legend. This is very, very sad news and my sincere condolences go to Lucy, Frank, Dan and Emma and the rest of his family. I have very fond memories of my cricketing days with Ken at WGCC along with some not so fond ones of times we played against each other and him hitting me back over my head on several occasions! The warmth he showed to everyone, his dedication to the club and the community and his humour are indelibly marked in my memory of him. He will be greatly missed. RIP Ken.
Kenny was the true definition of a clubman!! During the summer I spent in the village he taught me so many valuable life lessons that I’ll never forget. You welcomed me into your home those first few nights and made me feel a part of the village and cricket club straight away, I’ll never forget it. A great man that will be truly missed! RIP Kenny
I doubt anybody has spent more hours on the Green in history than Ken Vickery. Whether preparing the wicket, fixing the sight screen, flipping burgers, watching a game or turning out for which ever side needed him – Kenny was the epitome of club cricket. His commitment to the club was unconditional. He never shied away from a comment, had a great sense of humour, never held a grudge and gave everyone his time. He was kind, caring, a fine cricketer and an even better man.
I played Cricket with Ken at Wisborough in the late 70’s and 80’s. We played for a club that had a rich history of players that were associated with the club on a generational level. A club of ‘Clubmen’. Ken optimised the ‘Clubman’, and has carried the torch of loyalty and stability through times when people are so much more transitory in their living habits. In so many ways, he’s been the best of us! The club will be poorer for his loss, but is richer for the memories associated with him.
My condolences to his family and close friends, and of course the club that he loved.
Ken goes down as a Wisborough Green Legend, for the work and sport he as played, When I went back to the Green to manage the football team, I was marking out the pitch and down come Ken” Dusty a tip for you with this pitch , keep it rolled when possible “ Bless him, pure heart for the great club, RIP Ken
I was terribly sad to hear the news of Ken’s passing last week. I enjoyed working with Ken over the years and enjoyed even more our battles on the pitch (to which I’m sure Steve C-S would attest to in the early years of the league). A club stalwart, who can never be replaced, I’m sure the club will pay tribute to him in a fitting way during the 2022 season and his impact will last for many, many seasons to come.From all of us at Sussex Cricket and the Foundation, please pass on our well wishes to the family and to everyone at the club.
So many memories of Ken, Lucy, Francis, Emma and Dan at Fishers Farm over so many years. We are here for you and your extended families at such a terribly sad time. With love from us all.
Please accept our condolences from Cricket Society. We played at WG last year; I liaised with Ken in our respective capacities as Fixture Secretary. It was good to meet him on the day; our brief impressions were of a very charming man who loved his cricket and his club.
Lis and I were so sad to hear of Ken’s death. Our sincere condolences to Lucy, Frank, Dan and Emma. I can’t believe we won’t see Ken driving his roller across the green again. We will miss his warm welcome, genuine interest in others, as well as his belligerent striking. He smashed it right to the end – it’s been a huge privilege to be his teammate.
Such sad news of a great stalwart of Wisborough Green. Many on field battles over the last 45 years but always ended with a friendly beer afterwards in the bar. Condolences to Ken’s family and all his great friends at WGCC.
Very sad news I loved playing and umpiring at WG and Ken was such a presence in the club RIP mate you will be sorely missed
I spent many enjoyable years in the 2000s locking horns with Ken, as we were captains for Chipps and Wisborough Green respectively. We both fought hard, but fairly, and always enjoyed a beer in the pub afterwards. I’ve really enjoyed catching up with him in recent years, and he will be sadly missed by all who remember him from Chipps.
Very saddened to hear the news about Ken. Selfless and understated is an apt description of him as person. He was interwoven into the tapestry of Wisborough Green life. I always enjoyed his company on the cricket pitch and playing in his front garden on the Green. We have lost a goodun and he will be sorely missed by all. My condolences and sympathy to Lucy and the family.
I was very shocked to hear of Ken’s passing, having seen him playing cricket at the beginning of September last year & speaking to him in early December. He was a true club man; sadly one of a dying breed. On the field he was truly competitive; off the field, he enjoyed to socialise with the opposition & have a little banter. He will be greatly missed by everyone at Wisborough Green, & by anyone who has taken the field to compete against him. RIP Ken.
Firstly our sincere condolences to Lucy and the family. You have many dear friends who will be looking out for you.
Ken has been a major influence on ours and many others lives since we moved to Wisborough Green in 1977. Through cricket, football, bar billiards at the Cricketers Arms, Horticultural Society, and latterly with him and Francis and the
piggies in our vineyard, Ken has been a constant, kind and generous presence. The entire village will miss him but he leaves many happy memories for us to cherish.