Tributes have been paid to a community-spirited resident in Burnham-On-Sea who has given decades of his life to helping groups in the town.
Ken Hindle, 90, passed away in Weston Hospital on Thursday (March 20th) after a brief period of illness.
He was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2013 for his services to the community and adult education in Burnham-On-Sea.
Ken was President at Burnham Community Centre and only stepped down from the Chairman’s role last year after several decades of work.
He helped to secure hundreds of thousands of pounds in grants to keep the building open and also launched the U3A in 1992 which has grown to hundreds of members.
David Norton, Chairman of Burnham Community Centre, pictured above next to Ken, says: “The community was Ken’s life – and our community centre would not be here today if it was not for all his work in the 1970s and in the decades since with repairs and upgrades.”
“He also formed the U3A here at the centre, used by hundreds of local people, and gave his life to helping other people. He was a rare person, an exceptional person, who I was lucky to know. There are so few people like him.”
“Ken always liked to be busy and to be involved in community activities and just this past weekend he was here welcoming people to our community lunch on Sunday and attending other activities here. He will be hugely missed.”
Ken was also President at Burnham’s Bay Centre for many years and was instrumental in setting up the facilities. He is pictured above at the BAY centre’s 50th anniversary in 2016.
Mike Lang, Chairman of the BAY Centre, says: “Our Burnham community has lost one of its heroes.”
“We at the BAY Centre management committee greatly respected his experience and commitment. He was the youth worker who first ran the BAY Club in our building as it was then named. He was determined and always worked for the common good.”
John Strickland, of the North Sedgemoor Local History Group, adds: “Ken will be hugely missed. He has greatly helped us with our Burnham history photos archive project in recent months.”
“Ken came up with the idea of basing the collection in a spare room at the community centre, giving us a safe storage space for this invaluable collection of local photos, so his name and legacy will live on.”
“I am very sad to see him go – he was incredible for his age and so sharp in the mind too. Losing him is a big loss for Burnham.”
Burnham-On-Sea U3A celebrated its 30th anniversary with the unveiling of a tree in the town’s Manor Gardens in 2022, pictured.
Ken cut a celebratory cake at the 20th anniversary of Burnham U3A in 2012, pictured.
Ken Hindle at the opening of the Community Centre’s refurbishment in 2011, above.
One of Ken’s final community activities was presenting the awards at Burnham’s 2025 Spring Flower Show, held earlier this month.
