published 1988
Kenneth Fenton was born on the 11th April, 1924, the only child of George and Emily Fenton. George Fenton was a foreman at the British Oil and Cake Mills and through this was able to move from their early home in the industrial area to what was then known as D.O.C.M. Village on the outskirts of Hull.
Kenneth attended Southcoates Lane School, passed the 'eleven plus' examination and went to Malet Lambert High School. In those days we were seated in class in order of form position and in September 1936 Ken and I found ourselves in adjacent seats on the next to back row and a lifelong friendship was established.
Ken's parents were devout Methodists and although he was not to share their religious beliefs it was easy to see their influence on his life in his absolute honesty, gentleness and an outlook on life which might be summed up in the phrase 'a non-conformist conscience'. Kenneth was a heavy built lad and while not shunning sports at school, indeed I believe he enjoyed cricket, yet I do not recall him excelling in them. His main hobby at this time was angling and both East Park boating lake and Holderness Drain were to hand. No doubt his interest in natural history developed through this and the ease of access to the countryside. Intellectually, Ken was always ready for a discussion on politics or religion, but his personal emotions were not revealed.
In 1942, despite attempts by some of his fiends to persuade him to go to college, Ken stayed on at Malet Lambert for a third year in the sixth form and he was made Head Boy, then a year later he entered the University College of Hull to read Zoology. After one year he volunteered for the Royal Air Force with the intention of training for air-crew, but after being with the Initial Training Wing at Scarborough, R.A.F. requirements changed and training was reduced. Given a choice, Ken joined the Education Corps in which he was made a Sergeant and he was stationed at Milton Ernest Bedfordshire. This rural stationing probably caused an increase in Ken's serious interest in ornithology.
Military service ended in 1947 and Ken returned to the University College recommencing his course and graduating with a London external degree in 1950. Research work was difficult to come by and with his R.A.F. experience Ken entered the teaching profession, his first post being at Penge Grammar School, Kent. It was while in lodgings there that he met his wife to be, a Hull girl, Phil Bond. A year later Ken obtained a post at the Hull Grammar School and a little later he and his wife took up residence in Hessle and then in Cottingham.
That Kenneth Fenton was an excellent teacher of biology there is no doubt for there are biologists now who once were his students and colleagues who acknowledge his skill and dedication. If I may recall a personal incident, Ken taught me the whole 'A Level' Botany practical microscopy in two evening seven hour stints and it was myself, not Ken, who called a halt at 2.00 am. Shortly before the reorganisation of Hull schools into a three tier system and realising the need for a common core syllabus in Biology, he organised regular meetings at the Education Centre for teachers from Junior and Senior High Schools. He was also a member of an advisory panel on the design and furnishing of laboratories in the new schools. Ken was the originator of the East Yorkshire Field Studies Association which aimed to promote the teaching of field studies at all levels. During his later years as Head of Biology he was commissioned to write a 6th form test-book on Evolution. It was an excellent work with no equivalent on the market, but possibly because of changing fashions in education it was not published and although I never heard him complain, this must have been a bitter disappointment.
In 1974 Ken left the Grammar School and became a Lecturer at the Hull College of Technology where he had notable success with students, especially those who had failed their 'A Levels' at school. He ran excellent sixth form field courses that were much in demand. His social conscience was evidenced in his work as a Union branch secretary.
Returning to Ken's interests, he continued his bird while watching at university and there is a reference in R. Chislett's 'Yorkshire Birds' to his discovery of nesting shags at Bempton while accompanied by his friend R.A. Goodall to whom I am indebted for information. During visit to the U.S.A. Ken observed over a hundred species of North American birds. Gradually an interest in geology took pride of place, but of his endeavours in this field and of his work for the Hull Geological Society, another will write.
I cannot recall Ken ever being ill until relatively late in life and probably few realised the effect his thyroid problem was having upon him especially as he seldom commented unless pressed to do so. He disliked a fuss. His sudden death came as real shock all and he is greatly missed. To quote words used of an earlier naturalist, Kenneth Fenton 'had much of the true grit of a Naturalist, and was a very courteous and obliging man, thinking no trouble too much if he could thereby serve his friends and the cause of natural history' .
copyright Hull Geological Society 2021