Ken Noble, 1924 - 2002
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Ken Noble was born at 5 Guys Terrace, Blue Bell Hill Road, Nottingham on November 22 1924, the first child of George and Edith Noble. Ken's father was described as a Plasterers Labourer. Little is known about his early childhood but when he was 5 the family moved to 146 Wendover Drive in Nottingham. Ken's childhood was badly disrupted by the death of his mother when he was just 7 years old. Ken's father, George, was unable to cope alone with three children so the family moved in with his aunt and uncle, Hetti and Joe Kirkham and by 1938 they were living in Western Boulevard. Ken's father George spent some time with the children but eventually he left them in the care of Hetti and Joe and eventually remarried.
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Western Boulevard, Nottingham in the 1930's
On leaving school Ken took up employment as a Tobacco Worker with Players in Nottingham but volunteered for war service in the Royal Navy on 31 August 1943. War service was spent serving as a signalman primarily in the Far East and he was present at the Japanese surrender in Singapore in 1945.
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On demobilisation from the Navy, on 30 November 1946, Ken returned to his aunt Hetti's in Western Boulevard Nottingham and was employed by Shipstones Brewery, where his father was a Chargehand. Starting in the coopering shop he soon moved to the offices, working in the Accounts Dept of the brewery.
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It was during this period that Ken had his own dance band playing in local venues in Nottingham and further afield. Ken married Mavis Drury at Christchurch, Cinderhill in January 1949. They lived at various addresses before moving to 413 Mansfield Road as Ken became manager of Trumans Vaults in Nottingham Market Place in 1950. It was at this time that Ken and Mavis had there first child, Michael.
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Michael 1951
From Trumans Ken and Mavis moved to Mansfield and then managed the Athol Hotel in Sheffield. In 1957 they eventually settled in Corby, Northants, at the Shire Horse, where Ken became Corby's longest serving licensee. Whilst in Corby Ken and Mavis had there second son, Kevin in 1962.
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Ken and Cocoa the family pet, Shire Horse 1968
After 14 years as a Corby licensee he moved, in 1971, to the sleepy Rutland village of Edith Weston to take over the Wheatsheaf Inn. Ken saw the Wheatsheaf through some major changes with the opening of Rutland Water. After 6 years he was drawn back to the Corby area and the Kings Arms in Weldon. This was to be his last pub and he and Mavis eventually retired to their bungalow in the Rutland village of North Luffenham in 1985. Ken worked part-time as a driver for Uppingham School.
Ken passed away at his North Luffenham home on September 3, 2002 at the age of 77.
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October 15, 2010