Kenneth John McColm was born at Addlestone, Surrey, England in
1937. Ken’s family moved there in the depression in order to
get work and his father worked at Vickers Armstrong making
Wellington Bombers. In 1946 the family moved back to Reading
Berks, where they originally came from.
Leaving school at 15 Ken was
apprenticed into Handley Page Aircraft factory where he spent
the next 6 years learning a trade he was to use only for 2
years after qualifying. During day release from Handley Page
Ken met a fellow student who played trumpet for the Salvation
Army; this impressed him and made him wish to play music from
then on so he bought a clarinet.
Being an apprentice Ken did
not have to go for his National Service at 18 years of age.
This was deferred until he finished his apprenticeship and so
at 21 he was called up. By the time he was 21 he had, after a
lot of practice, got to a standard to enable him to join a
major Staff Band of the British army REME (Royal Electrical
& Mechanical Engineers).
Preferring playing music to
factory work Ken became a regular soldier and served for 7
years in the REME band. During this time he married his
patient wife Jill.
When Ken left the Army it
was right in the middle of the British pop boom and he joined
a professional band touring Britain. During this time he
played live on stage with many of the top UK recording
artistes including, Rod Stewart, Mick Fleetwood and US
guitarist Jimmi Hendrix.
In 1973
Jill and Ken decided to move to Australia with their three
children and dog. Just prior to this a circular about the Clan
MacThomas Society arrived in the post. Ken eventually sent off
his £1 and became a member; however in the move to Australia
membership was allowed to lapse.
Purchasing a computer in the late 1980’s Ken
found the Clan again on the web and rejoined the Society. A
year later Marguerite, the secretary, wished to resign for
health reasons and Ken became secretary of the Australian
branch in January 2001. He retired from this role in May
2011.
*****
Ken sadly passed away on
14th March 2015 after a period of illness.
Please use the
links below to view further information about Ken:
A
selection of photographs of Ken at Clan and other
events.
A
video on which "Moosh" performs on
Saxophone.
More about Ken's musical exploits in Australia in
his own words.
