Friends pay tribute as much-loved Forth DJ dies after 35-year career

FRIENDS and colleagues have paid tribute to one of the Capital's best-loved DJs who has died after a career spanning more than 35 years.

Former Forth 2 presenter Ken Haynes passed away at his home in Ayrshire on Saturday aged 76 following a short illness.

Mr Haynes played a major role in the launch of the Edinburgh-based station, working tirelessly to make its AM audience figures the highest in the UK at the time.

Before his career in radio the Manchester-born presenter enjoyed a successful career as part of a singing duo touring the UK and abroad for more than 20 years, and once performed at New York's Carnegie Hall.

Former colleague and friend Grant Stott said that he is forever grateful for getting his big break from Mr Haynes.

He said: "I stuck my demo in which was full of contemporary music, and he was the first to hear it. It wasn't exactly his kind of music so I did another demo for him with Dean Martin and other music from his era, showing that I was versatile. He never let me forget that first demo. The thing I remember most about him was his razor tongue. He was this cuddly character on radio but when he came off you would have to withstand this battle of wits.

"I used to be on the show after his and I would be nervous, not about the show, but about the encounter that would come before that.

"He was a right stickler for grammar and it only took him about three weeks to beat saying 'youse' on air out of me."

Mr Haynes first began his showbusiness career as a pianist, hooking up with Glasgow singer Eddie Robertson to form Ken and Alan Haynes. The pair were on tour for more than 20 years from 1954 until the mid-seventies.

After his success he joined Radio Forth in its infancy going on to present many popular shows, including Ken's Den on a Sunday morning, which had a 15-year run.

He also presented Ken's Ceilidh, which was on the air for around 20 years until he retired in February this year.

Radio Forth breakfast presenter and friend Bob Malcolm, said: "Ken must be one of the few people ever to play Carnegie Hall in Dunfermline and Carnegie Hall in New York.

"He mentioned that to me in numerous occasions, he said it was his claim to fame.

"He was very popular, very bright, and very funny. Despite technological advances he insisted on bringing about 100 records with him every day, right up until he left. He'll be sadly missed."

Mr Stott added that the sheer number of programmes that Mr Haynes presented put him among the most high-profile of the station's DJs.

He said: "He was so popular because he presented such a variety of shows.

"He e-mailed me not long ago to tell me he didn't have long left. He wasn't alone, he was with his friend Alex Shuttleworth, who he moved in with after retiring.

"It's a great loss to the station and to radio."