Tributes to kind and knowledgeable museums curator

Ken Reedie was passionate about the city’s art and history and credited with developing its museums service and collections, for which he was later made an MBE.

He died on September 28 at his home in Canterbury aged 74, after 18 months living with motor neurone disease.

He will be best-remembered for his work over almost four decades as head of the city council’s museums service, having been appointed curator in the early 1970s.

During his time in the role he oversaw the creation of new museums in Herne Bay, Whitstable and Canterbury – including the conversion of the Poor Priests’ Hospital and the expansion of the Roman Museum. He also increased the art collections.

But his main focus was the Beaney museum, and latterly its multi-million pound transformation.

Speaking after receiving his MBE, he said: “It was a privilege to be part of developing museums across the district. Each project involved supportive members and a team of people, and it is all of them who share in this recognition.”

After being made redundant, in 2011, Ken continued to support the Beaney, including doing fundraising work through the Friends of the Museums. He lived in Canterbury with his partner of 47 years, John Bristow, who says he was a man of great integrity who was also kind and dignified and possessed a huge knowledge of art, artefacts and the city’s history. “Ken did so much to enhance the museums’ collections and put on some wonderful exhibitions,” he said.

Among Ken’s notable achievements was overseeing the transformation of the Beaney collections and exhibits during the

building’s refurbishment and acquiring a Van Dyck painting of one of the city’s 17th century characters, Sir Basil Dixwell, bought for £1 million by the museum in 2004, largely with arts grants.

After he left his post, he became a volunteer at the Canterbury Cathedral Archives. John, a retired television set designer, said he and Ken enjoyed visits to exhibitions, the theatre and opera in London, as well as holidays in France. “He was still collecting things, especially old postcards and photographs,” said John. “He was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in March 2019 and told he had about three years.

“But he died suddenly at home on September 28, which in a way was a blessing because he didn’t

have to endure the final stages of the disease, which are pretty ghastly.”

Council chief executive Colin Carmichael said: “Ken was at the heart of our museums and galleries service for many years and played a key role in establishing lots of the displays and exhibits that visitors see today. “Well-known and well-liked locally, Ken’s passing is very sad news and our thoughts are with his family and friends. “Our museums team has been giving thought as to how we can mark his death and will be contacting Ken’s family to discuss possible arrangements.” A small private funeral service is being held at Barham Crematorium on Wednesday, October 21, but John says it is hoped a celebration of his life can be organised at a later date.

Ken Reedie was museums curator until 2011