Kenilworth Citizen of the Year: Derek Jones

Derek Jones is another of those one-time newcomers to Kenilworth who have donated their time and talents to the benefit of the town.  After active service in North Africa and France, Derek, a captain in the Royal Corps of Signals, was injured and invalided out joining the GEC in Coventry as a highly qualified telecommunications engineer.

It is difficult to assess just when his commitment to Kenilworth began but by the 1960’s it was well and truly established for aware of the threat from increasing traffic Derek was already campaigning for a by-pass. For years he and his small band could be seen out in all weathers recording usage of the town’s highways, and reinforced by their information a formal petition was submitted to Parliament and the new A46 opened in June 1974.

Dismayed at the destruction of 17^th Century listed cottages in Bridge Street, Derek joined with other anxious residents to found in1961 the Kenilworth Society.  Chairman of the Society for many years, he was a tower of strength when success often seemed out of reach, and  it was through his and the Society’s efforts that the cottages on Castle Green were restored after the demolition by a lorry of the house on the  Clinton Lane corner.

This belief in retaining important artefacts led to a major role in the preservation of the Abbey Tantara Gatehouse and the installation of the upstairs floor in Abbey Fields barn enabling its use today as a museum.

He also compiled a comprehensive history of the purchases, gifts and covenants relating to the ownership and management of Abbey Fields. He joined with Gordon Holmes to prepare the case against the proposed Berkswell coal mine faithfully attending the successful public enquiry which probably avoided the appearance of colliery slagheaps close by Kenilworth Castle

Ever ready to promote Kenilworth’s civic pride, he was intimately involved in the design of the town’s Coat of Arms and in the presentation which led to a Civic Trust Award for the redevelopment of Little Virginia. 

In his long and active association with the British Legion he co-ordinated for many years the town’s annual Poppy collection until his health interfered, and it is characteristic of Derek the man that he personally treated with preservative the doors of St Nicholas Church where he was a bellringer for several years and organised regular clearance of the paths around the church.

Bearing in mind his contributions to the town for over half a century it is not surprising that last year he received Kenilworth’s Award of Merit.