Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2006 | Page 33

JOHN HANNAM
very high and I can’t find fault with any of it,”
enthused Kenneth.
He has one major gripe with the current world
of television and is certainly not alone. Millions
are switching off for the same reason.
“I am left gasping so many times by the language
currently allowed on television. It’s a terribly bad
example and not a nice sound at all. I just don’t
know why they keep allowing it.
“It would never have happened in Sir John
Reith’s day. He was the founder of the BBC. That
kind of leadership has now changed.”
Like most of us, he also feels certain current BBC
TV presenters are really not worth the colossal
money they are paid.
For many years Kenneth was an integral part of
Channel 4’s number one show, Treasure Hunt. He
had to try and stay calm to assist the contestants
and never knew where the wonderful Anneka
Rice was heading.
There were many lighter moments to Kenneth’s
television career. He appeared in episodes of Dr
Who, To the Manor Born and Troubleshooters
and was seen in the movie Space 1999. The
1973 Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show was
another cherished moment – although he did not
attempt the dancing.
As a newscaster he was always popular with
viewers. His accolades include being voted the
best dressed newscaster and the nation’s number
one favourite. He also had a weekly letter from a
devoted fan for well over twenty years. Then she
decided he would never ask her to marry him. I’m
sure he quickly recognised her handwriting after
just a few letters.
The high standard of dress for newscasters has
always delighted him. In certain cases, this has
slipped in more recent times. He did deny that
Home Service newscasters dressed up for radio
when he first joined the BBC. Apparently, that
was the case before the war.
There was a short experiment, when he was
reading the news, of having a dual presenter.
This was something he was not too keen on.
Personally, I think two newscasters sharing the
same news bulletin is often most embarrassing
and a complete waste of time.
Kenneth left the BBC Television News in 1981
after he became bored with the job. He has never
had any regrets.
He moved to the Island sixteen years ago, after a
spell in the Cotswolds.
“Having grown up in Cornwall, I really missed
the sea and decided to come south. It could have
been anywhere but the Island was the best I saw,”
said Kenneth.
Many of his friends thought he was mad and had
moved to the back of beyond. In the early days
he regularly commuted to London for voice-over

sessions and could be in the West End in just over
two hours from Cowes.
Kendall’s Fine Art was opened eleven years ago
and the business has never looked back. Being in
Cowes has proved the ideal location and in the
summer months they are extremely busy. They
have slowly built up an enviable reputation and
now have so many American clients, who buy via
the internet.
When their current lease expires in June of next

year they will move to a brand new building,
with much more room, which is currently being
built within the luxury flats complex, next door
to their current premises.
Kenneth Kendall has really taken to Island life
and has been involved in numerous local events
and charities. He has a great passion for the
downs around the Needles. With three dogs to
exercise he is also quite fit.

We
all know
that theinIsland
has aTolotThe
lessManor
crime Born
than the
Kenneth
appeared
Dr Who,
and Treasure Hunt
mainland, that’s why most of us chose to move here!
Island Life - www.isleofwight.net

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