Forum for former BBC staff

Forum for former BBC staff
http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl >> Notices, obituaries and tributes >> Ken Griffin http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1277374603 Message started by Mikej on Jun 24^th, 2010, 10:17am

Title: Ken Griffin
Post by Mikej on Jun 24^th, 2010, 10:17am

Former colleagues and friends will be saddened by the news of the death of the former OB Events & Entertainments producer Ken Griffin after a tough battle with cancer at the age of 79.

After his earlier career with the Regimental Band of the Coldstream Guards, Ken’s entrée to the department was via his organising and conducting of bands in circuses being televised by the BBC, where his knowledge of military-type music was ideal for the backing to trapeze, tight wire walkers and even clowns!

It followed that his musical knowledge influenced his programmes – The Best of Brass, the occasional Come Dancing, The Schools’ Prom, dance championships, Marching Bands, series with Sacha Distel, Iris Williams and Peter Skellern, the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and some Variety Club Lunches were all part of his OB-based mix, from French jazz trios on the Thames to 1000 Welsh Voices in the Albert Hall.

On his days off – there weren’t many, Ken was a keen sailor and the proud owner of a boat moored near Chichester; no surprise, therefore, that he also produced the occasional boat show.

Ken’s enthusiastic output during an exciting and economical era of OBs was indeed prolific – not for nothing did his colleagues smilingly declare “You want a show a day? Then swing and sway the Kenny Griffin way!!”

The funeral was held in Cheshire on Tuesday 22nd June. His son Simon passes his thanks all who attended.