The descriptive use of the word institution is overly used today. Yet, in the case of Ken Haynes, stalwart of the commercial radio scene across the central belt of Scotland, the word gets fairly near. Sam Henderson charts the rise and tunes into the man behind the mike.

The one constant in the field of Scottish music radio is Ken's Ceilidh, aired weekly on Radio Clyde and Radio Forth. These are separate programmes, with different scripts and music, each tailored to its local need. Other similarly themed shows have come and gone but Ken Haynes still caters for those who enjoy the music and times which characterise the glory years of Scots Music Hall. And this year he celebrates his Silver Anniversary with Radio Forth.

But how many of his present audience remember Ken as being one half of Ken and Alan Haynes, the stoutly Scottish music act that supported just about every major Bill topper North of the Border in the 60s, 70s and 80s?

Born in Manchester into a non-showbiz family, Ken's father had the foresight to expend 1s3p a week for piano lessons for his young son. Two years later the young Ken repaid his father's faith by winning his first competition at the Queens Hall, Manchester. First prize was the princely sum of £2! That started him off on the climb. Schoolwork often threatened to get in the way of his piano jobs (he was a dance band pianist at age 13).

His first job after school was in the cashier's office at the Manchester Ship Company. National Service in the Army followed which gave him a two year residency at Saturday night NAAFI dances, featuring Ken Haynes on piano (with some songs as an extra). A bonus during this spell was an appearance with the R.A.S.C Big Band at the famous London Albert Hall.

The two year Gig for Country over, it was "what-to-do" time again. Back Ken went to the Manchester Ship Company offices until the phone call. In this case it was an invite to audition for Billy Forrest, a theatrical agent with strong Jersey connections. The sheet music was duly packed and it was off to spend the summer in Jersey. It was there he met up with Eddie Robertson, a young singer from Govan, Glasgow. The idea of a double act, Ken and Alan Haynes was born.

After Jersey the lads moved to London where they served the requisite apprenticeship of lowly spots on Bills at The Met, Edgeware Road, the Camberwell Palace and a multitude of other theatres, large and small. Around that time they made their TV debut on the commercial channel (before STV had opened in Scotland) in the Bryan Michie inspired "Youth Takes A Bow" with the Billy Ternent Orchestra.

Then it was up to Scotland to audition for Hamish Turner at the Edinburgh Palladium one Saturday morning which saw an immediate booking for the Motherwell Empire two days later. Such was the structure of the business in those days, a trembling Ken and Alan arrived front-of-house Monday morning to find they were billed Second Top !

There followed the halcyon years, the final fling of Scottish Music Hall when summer seasons flourished from Largs to Leven and north to Inverness. Ken and Alan Haynes were ever-present on that scene. Eight summers at Perth with the likes of Aly Wilson and Chic Murray; overseas tours to Canada and the USA (with the Carnegie Hall as an extra); home tours with Calum Kennedy and others; and even another Albert Hall appearance in a Scots Festive Show hosted by Jack Radcliffe.

Then came the demise of Music Hall. Alan had by then diversified into property and catering. But Ken was diversifying too. Recognising the future of commercial radio he got in at the start of Radio Forth in Edinburgh and thus began his second career in the entertainment Biz.

The slog had started again. For a hectic few years Ken was juggling a long summer season in Edinburgh with Larry Marshall; the odd recording and cabaret work with Alan; and the process of learning the technical ropes at Radio Forth. After a while the stage and theatre work fizzled out and radio took over.

The Internet age has further expanded Ken's Ceilidh boundaries, with people tuning in via the Web. Emails are now flowing into Radios Forth and Clyde from all parts of the Globe.

Forty-some years after making his home in Scotland, Ken now lives in a pleasant Fife village near Dunfermline. Nearby too is his former partner (nee Eddie Robertson) who is now fully retired and resides in Kinghorn with his wife of many years, the dancer-singer Betty Melville.

The waspish humour often ascribed to him took over when I was leaving. As we made our farewells, I remarked that I hoped that I could do this again to mark his Golden Anniversary on radio. "Sure," he said. "You don't look too bad. You'll probably last".

Thanks to Bob Bain and Radio Clyde for the use of their images.

Links:

History of Scottish Theatre and Music Hall on GOTC

Forth FM Radio

Clyde 1 & 2 Radio