RON Kennedy, a member of the Council of Governors since 2009, is retiring in May after almost a lifetime of service to others and 12 years to Southend Hospital.

Ron worked for British Rail between 1947 to 1996 and rose from engine cleaner and fireman, to engine driver – he even drove the famous Flying Scotsman.

In 1970, Ron joined the Labour Party and, four years later, won his first election as a Southend councillor, but lost his seat after disagreeing with the Falklands War.

Ron has held manypositions in public life, including chairman of Essex County Council and chairman of the hospital charity funds. He was heavily involved with the campaign for the leukaemia unit. He was asked to become a non-executive director of Southend Hospital and after retiring from that, was elected as a governor on the Council of Governors.

Ron will be sorelymissed.