Kenneth Killeen, an RAF Veteran and great-grandfather who will go into history books as the first person to receive a COVID vaccination on the Isle of Wight, has died at the age of 101. Ken, who spent most of his life living in Newport, was not only a World War II vet but a well-known teacher from the Isle of Wight Technical College. He also worked at Morey’s in Newport and for the Council, before volunteering with the Home Front at the outbreak of World War 2. He was called up in 1942 and joined the Royal Air Force as a navigator on the Lancaster Bombers. In December 2020, at the age of 98, Ken became the centre of attention when he received a COVID-19 Pfizer/BioNTech vaccination – the first person on the Isle of Wight to do so. The vaccination took place at Carisbrooke Health Centre on the outskirts of Newport at 13:46 on 15th December 2020. At the time, Ken said:
“I didn’t expect to be front of the queue, but very pleased to be. I fully respect people who won’t want it on various grounds, but if you can you should. “Particularly when you think of medical science now to how it was 98 years ago when I arrived.”
Ken was born in Hunnyhill, Newport on 11th September 1922. He died at Autumn House, Sandown on 7th May 2024 and leaves behind 2 children, 2 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
There are far too many Numpty’s who overtake and cause such accidents.
I pray the elderly persons are ok.
The guilty party should be imprisoned.
Anyone caught overtaking a vehicle and driving on the wrong side of the
Road should receive an immediate prison sentence.
The only vehicles who should overtake are Emergency services vehicles that are
attending an accident etc
And lose his driving licence for life,if caught driving again then straight to prison immediately
Why do you say he was overtaking, I reckon hes come up from firestone copse, gone round the corner too fast at the top of the hill and not noticed the giveway towards the village.
Don’t drive too fast then, no excuses for maniac drivers.
There are sometimes reasons for overtaking the other day an elderly person was driving over the downs road at 25 mph the traffic queue was unbelievable and this was at the day time clear conditions and yes cars started overtaking so they should end up in prison?
In Wales and London 20mph is the new normal
so 25mph is too much
It is only a matter of time when the Island roll out 20mph
The delay is because at present the infrastructure to do so is not
ready, it is getting ready with all the gigabit work being put in place
then hey Presto, all the stupid B’stards who overtake will have a shock.
Bring it on Cllr Jordan, make the Island a safe place,
there are so many unnesseccary accidents taking place on a daily basis.
goon don’t be stupid..it’s the little unt that caused this going very fast..
Ridiculous, so you’ll be happy to sit behind a tractor, bin lorry, cyclists or horses just to avoid crossing the white line? Not all overtakes are dangerous.
If it means not causing an accident yes, too many people are in a rush
where are they rushing too!
Who said he was overtaking anyone?? Prob just going to fast for the bend
He was more likely round the bend or on something
“Anyone caught overtaking a vehicle… should receive an immediate prison sentence.”
Not condoning what happened here…
But, wow, what a stunningly stupid idea….
Would you sit behind a tractor all day ‘cos you were afraid to over take it?
Imagine if it was a tram or train line, you don’t cut across the rails to
the other side.
The moment a vehicle is on the wrong side of the road, it is a disaster
waiting too happen.
Hence crash
Wow. I missed the bit about overtaking. Did you see what happened then?
Seriously..overtaking is legal and at times necessary ..spouting this kinda nonsense is ridiculous..and it doesn’t say he was overtaking probably took bend to fast or as it was dark and not yet fully experienced in night driving lost his bearings or under influence..
You would not be saying this if you was in the other vehicle
Overthinking is NOT illegal in the uk and sometimes it is necessary.
Maybe you should not be driving if you don’t know the uk Highway Code and rules of the road.
Overthinking?
oh the joys of Autocorrect …..
(I don’t think you can accuse JS of ‘overthinking’… the exact oposite perhaps?)
but you’re right,.. there’s nowt wrong with overtaking, as long as you make sure it is safe to do so.
(as any driver should)
but anyway,. according to the reports’ he wasn’t overtaking anyway,.. just a pathetically bad driver
Probably cutting off the bend at speed. Hope the occupants of the other car are not seriously injured.
Impaired through drink and drugs,he should be banned for life,that’s if he had a licence to start with
What if the accident was caused by the elderly driver ,the same drivers who forget to indicate,or very rarely wear seat belts ,I love how the assumption from the police is it’s a young driver
99% of the time it is…
The police obviously know which vehicle was on the wrong side of the road, and there is clear evidence that the younger driver caused the accident.
Because they arrested the young idiot driver! Must have been obvious.
Ajad, put more effort finding a village that suits you, there has to be one short its village idiot and you are so highly qualified it seems.
“I love how the assumption from the police is it’s a young driver”
I don’t think that was an assumption.. I expect the evidence and known facts lead them to that conclusion.
(who knows, the young driver may have even admitted it)
This why old farts shouldn’t have not drive
English not your first language is it.
Wan king kev get off here before, mummy catches you.
You naughty naughty boy, mummy banned you from playing on here.
Another numpty that needs to be banned from driving, forced to pay the total costs of the entire incident from start till all the injured are back on their feet.
Really surprised this is not a daily occurance due to the speed some of the idiots travel through the village.
The old farts was only going 15mph such a dangerous slow speed
I live by a school,and sometimes grandpa in his merc estate collects the grandkids,its comical watching him attempt to get into a huge gap that a bus could get into,then he parks at an angle 4 feet from the kerb,then the good bit,he gets out and literally nearly falls over,he does this every time!
i wonder if the parents are aware of this as its bloody dangerous,he then drives off with (terrified) kids in car at 5 mph down a main road with traffic backing up behind him!
a decent percentage need to be off the road.
Thanks for a honest opinion your so right! they so dangerous on the roads putting young lives at risk, but it’s seems ok for a old fart to hurt people than a younger person
Age is not the major factor in how well people drive. It is in most part due to temperament, bad attitude and lack of awareness of , and thought for , others.
This can apply to any age group
Some People taking there kids to school in the mornings are maniacs
Quite often drive this piece of road but normally under a ton say 80ish. No problems for an experienced driver like me but you younger less experienced people need to slow down a lot. Before you know it there could be a serious crash.BEEP BEEP see you laterz.
Well done for driving it like you stole it Head on collision sweet. Not easy to give a damage rating but I have decided 4/10 could do better. Copy and paste next from the village idiot.
Two innocent people are in hospital and you say “Head on collision sweet”
You are SCUM.
How do you no it was not the elderly people fault
Why don’t you take some literacy lessons?
Because it was the other driver who was arrested.
Old people should not be on the road there dangerous
“There dangerous”… where dangerous ??
Oh,..you meant ‘they’re’ dangerous,..
well why didn’t you say that…
Oh & No they’re not!
“How do you no it was not the elderly people fault”
its things called ‘Observation’ and ‘Evidence’… but I don’t suppose you’d understand
Try driving down Havenstreet at 30 mph and see how quickly traffic catches you up.
That junction is a mare..ive had people cutting across in front of me turning down there as its so close to the bend.. Warning signs should go up to make those coming thru havenstreet aware that is a junction there and cars maybe turning..the speed is 30mph through there for a reason..but many don’t abide by it. Yet never see the speed camera van down there.. I do hope the 3 elderly recover OK and don’t have any lasting trauma..it can shake them up badly and have long term affects on their health.. these just passed drivers need to have limits placed on them for the first year lolenis oz and other countries do ..as a driving test is not the same as driving for real never has been..
I agree. I was staying in Havenstreet during Christmas and noticed a high volume tailgating me. I was doing 28 mph as the rain was heavy, yet, I had numpties flashing at me (Oh, Matron, if only). Many overtook me and drove off at speeds above 30 mph.
Reading regular news articles, there appears to be an influx in drug/drunk driving. However, the penalty for such is too lenient. I’ve been the victim of drug driving, and, as another person commented, I have to live with the injuries for the rest of my life. While ‘little Bobbie’ gets three points on his license, he gets a tiny financial penalty and skips off into the distance to do it again.
What deterrent is there nowadays? None.
That CANNOT be ‘careless’ driving. Surely dangerous driving would be more appropriate.
Will be sadly missed a great person .Always very helpful when working at the college .Always
stoped for a chat and talked about old friends we both new
John Mcewan
R.I.P and thank you for all you done you are a hero
What is he done to be a hero then Wayne ? You must be werido
He fought for his country in WW2, helping to keep this a democratic country.
That doesn’t automatically make him a hero – the term has been devalued. What do we now call people who commit exceptional acts of bravery?
Sorry we all forget a hero is someone who’s highly paid run around a football pitch, run or ride in the Olympics.
Or someone who’s decided to tell the world their Sexaul preferences.
Navigator in a Bomber watch “Masters of the Air” then you would understand.
What a stupid comment, clearly you are the strange one!
Maybe you should shut your mouth King Kev. You’re the kind of person that would surrender all our freedoms just to protect yourself. You own your entire way of life and freedoms to Kenneth’s generation. Have some bloody respect.
RIP Kenneth Sir,
Thank you, My Grandfather was a Navigator in Bomber Command in Wellington’s.
He and my Grandmother brought me and my Brother up,He was the person I most looked upto in my life,
The Greatest Generation this Country will ever see xx
RIP Ken.
I had the pleasure of meeting you at Autumn house. Absolutely lovely man. You will be greatly missed.