A FORMER piano tuner and repairman who became the youngest leader of Witney Urban District Council has died following a long illness.

Ken Cook, 83, right, spent his entire life living in Witney and ran music shop Kempster Pianos Ltd in High Street for two decades.

He was born in 1928 and, after leaving school in 1942, went straight into an apprenticeship as a piano tuner and repairman at Kempster.

In November 1946 he was called up, and joined the Royal Air Force. He finished his national service in February 1949.

On his return to Witney he rejoined the music shop and, after Jack Kempster retired in April 1964, took over with partner Peter Timms.

Mr Cook was elected to Witney Urban District Council in 1955 and served for 12 years. He became the council’s youngest chairman – at age 36 – in 1965 and held the position until he stood down from the council in 1967. He was also a member of Witney Chamber of Trade, a county magistrate, a member of Witney Choral Society and chairman of Witney Abbeyfield Society for 29 years. The society helped run two homes for the single elderly in Witney.

Mr Cook became so well known for his knowledge of the town and his involvement in all aspects of it that he was affectionately known as Mr Witney.

He married Patricia, who was headmistress at The Blake Primary School, in 1981 and retired from Kempster’s a few years later. Mrs Cook passed away in 2007.

His former colleague Mr Timms, 78, from Eynsham, said: “Ken was a real gentleman, keen, considerate and generous.”

Mr Cook died on January 14 and a service in his honour, which attracted so many people many had to stand, was held at Holy Trinity Church on January 27.