Framlinghamian 2022 - Flipbook - Page 282
SOF | OBITUARIES
OF and Hon OF
Obituaries 2021
KENNETH GEORGE MAYHEW RMWO
from the history recounted in that booklet
(R29-34)
that any picture of Ken’s war has
emerged.
Born 18 January 1917. Died peacefully
at home on 13 May 2021 at the age of
104. His family were around him at his
passing.
“We never forget that we have regained
our freedom thanks to the courage and
sacrifices of our allied friends…Major
Kenneth G Mayhew volunteered for duty.
His leadership and courage shown during
the liberation of the southern part of the
Netherlands deserves our greatest
respect. The Military Order of William
(MWO) – the highest award for valour,
conduct and loyalty – testifies to this and
expresses our solidarity and lasting
gratitude.” Those words from King
Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
Born in Helmingham, Suffolk, the second
prefaced the 2018 official biography
of four sons of farmers Wilfred and Ada
booklet honouring Ken Mayhew, the
Mayhew, Ken attended Framlingham
oldest of the four living Knights of the
College from 1929 to 1934. He became
RMWO. His award had originally been
a prefect but was by his own admission
made in 1946, but Ken Mayhew’s modesty
less interested in scholarly matters than
in staying out of the limelight was such that
in sport - at which he excelled - playing
it was not until he was 94 years old that
in the cricket, hockey and squash teams.
the Order rediscovered him, feting him at
The College was to remain of life-
numerous events in his last decade. As the
long importance to him, attending Old
booklet states, his war-time comrades
Framlinghamian events until the end of
were the only people Ken Mayhew shared
his life. After a traineeship with Fisons in
his experiences with. “That box remained
Suffolk, he moved into fertiliser sales in
closed for citizens and family.” It is only
Norfolk, starting up his own successful
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