The death has announced of Kenneth Worgan, of the UK banding movements most popular personalities through his long term association with the Woodfalls Band.

He was aged 92, and is survived by his son, Terry, and his two granddaughters, Victoria and Emma.

Career

Born in 1923, from the age of seven Ken played with the Boys Band before passing an audition to play with the Bristol Aeroplane Company Band.

He endured personal loss during the Second World War and although deferred from the forces, at the age of 18 he joined the RAF and served for the remaining five and a half years as a gunner, eventually being drafted to the very first squadron of the RAF Regiment 2816 Squadron.

Posted

In 1942 there was a shortage of skilled coppersmiths and sheet-metal workers and Ken was then re-mustered back as a tradesman. Having served in Bomber Command on a number of airfields, Ken was finally posted to West Africa.

On his return, he was posted to 32 Maintenance Unit at St Athan where, on VE Day, he met Gladys — marrying her five months later.

In 1946 both Ken and Gladys were demobbed with Ken going back to work at BAC as a fitter. He also rejoined the band and played under both TJ Powell and DC Dyson playing in the works canteens every few days and performing radio broadcasts twice a month at the BBC Whiteladies Road studio.

Eventually, though, the band broke up and Ken joined the Albion Dockyard Band for three years.

He became secretary in 1976 whilst taking on the position of second euphonium and although finishing as a player in 1984, his proud association continued as the President, some forty years after first joining4BR

Canada

In 1951 Ken left BAC and went to work for Canadair in Montreal, Canada — the same year their son, Terry, was born. After a year in Canada, the family returned and he joined the City of Bristol Band.

In 1961 Ken was sent by BAC to Hurn Airport as an inspector. During that time he joined Hamworthy Band on solo euphonium and was in the quartet ensemble that won the top prize at the Morris Motor Works in Oxford in 1971.

Woodfalls

In 1974 he was approached to play baritone with Woodfalls Band under Musical Director, Courtney Bosanko — heralding a period when he was a member of the band that went on to win the Grand Shield, West of England Championship and appear at the National Finals.

He became secretary in 1976 whilst taking on the position of second euphonium and although finishing as a player in 1984, his proud association continued as the President, some forty years after first joining.