Obituary: Ken Hadland (From Witney Gazette)

Obituary: Ken Hadland

7:57am Friday 4th January 2008 in Witney

FORMER local government officer Ken Hadland has died at the age of 79.

He was born in Witney, becoming a member of the town's Boys' Brigade and the Methodist Church.

He entered local government service with the former Witney Rural District Council, transferring on reorganisation in 1974 to West Oxfordshire District Council.

He worked in the treasurer's department until his retirement, at 65, in 1994, as assistant revenue treasurer.

For many years, Mr Hadland lived with his wife and family in Brize Norton, where he became a driving force behind the work of the parish council.

Village resident Richard Print said: "Brize Norton used to get rate income from the nearby air base, and it was largely down to Ken, as parish clerk, that the money was invested in good local facilities.

"We got a new village hall, tennis courts, and 55-space car park. He also started a very informative parish news sheet, which became a model for others up and down the country."