Jonathan Anthony Henry Key

Jonathan to some of you, Jono to others … Dad to the 6 of us, brother to Gillie, husband to Detta, partner to Margaret, grandad, great grandad, super Grandad, even Santa Grandad to little Arthur and great friend to the many.
It’s impossible to capture all of the joy and stories of dad’s life; all the people he loved, all the people who loved him. But here are some snapshots of a life well lived.
It’s hard to know where to start with a life as rich as his. But I guess where better than the start.
Early life
Being a child through the war, Dad had what we would consider today a rather unconventional upbringing, moving around the country, attending a number of different schools, including at one point an all-girls school, … but eventually settling in Taunton to where he was evacuated to from London.
In 1943, aged 9, Dad joined Taunton School, following his father and uncle, which must have been a welcome relief from the all-girls school, as well as his sisters at home!!
He remained at Taunton School until 1950. He actively participated in school life, and it was where he first learnt to row, a sport which he continued at university, exceling and winning many races.
To this day, he still kept his rowing oar on the wall in his office. Dad took delight in attending the Head of the River Race to watch my son Lawrie who, had followed in his footsteps, and also rowed at university.
Dad was also interested in amateur dramatics in his youth - performing in MacBeth at school, but also in many plays put on by parents and siblings. He took great joy in several of his grandchildren choosing to follow in his footsteps here too, taking to the stage in various guises.
Dad also loved cars. Aged 16, he attended the first ever grand prix at Silverstone, cycling down with a friend for a fun day out. He bought Delila, his Austin 7, as a student, drove her for a few years, and travelled throughout Europe with friends and her. He subsequently sold Delila, needing something more practical. Some years later Dad bought Delila back again and kept her in storage for many years. However by request from Ana, Dad restored her to her former glory for her and Tony’s wedding.


Career
Following school, Dad went to Bristol University to read engineering, including working at Bristol Aeroplane Company. Unknown to him at the time his later love Margaret also worked there at same time.
And following University, Dad joined the family business - Horstmann Gear Company – climbing through the ranks at Horstmann, and eventually becoming Chief Executive.
He was a brilliant engineer and respected champion of industry. One of his proudest achievements was the Economy 7 Time Switch, which was used nationwide. He often recounted that it blew away the competition and how he was a bit peeved that un-wily sales guys didn’t reap the full potential of this technical masterpiece. Looking on Ebay today, these devices are sold boxed as collectables and their core design remains in many analogue devices still 60 years on.
 

Love and family
As one does when you’re in your twenties, you end up going to many friends’ weddings. And it was at one of these Mum and Dad met. After a long-distance romance that involved a lot of traveling up and down the country, in 1960 Jono and Detta married and set up home in Bath. In 1961 I was born, followed rapidly by four of my siblings and some years later by number six, Ana.
In the early years Dad would always try to be home from work promptly to spend time with the family. Back in the 60s and 70s, as a family we’d all sit down and watch TV together, this was before VHS or digital, so he was sure to be prompt to watch his favourite children’s program, The Magic Roundabout, with us. Weekends would be spent gardening or out and about, maybe going to the New Forest or playing games on Studland Beach.
Childhood for us older ones of us was very different from that of the youngest, Ana. I remember Dad saying, that when we were younger he had all the energy but not the money, to do things, whilst for Ana, it was the other way round, he had the money, but less of the energy!

The Hill and Woodwork
Dad’s love for the hill, The Wantis Piece Woodland, near Taunton, started when his parents bought it. I remember him telling me about VE day in 1945. An enormous beacon was built there to celebrate this, which when lit and could be seen for miles. When Granny died Dad inherited the hill and it became a firm favourite place to meet for his family, including as the venue for bonfire nights and the trademark wild weekend family parties. That tradition will continue with him watching on, knowing when to turn a blind eye and when to filter out overly colourful language.
Dad always loved woodwork, teaching us kids, well mostly Bede and me, how to make things – he could be quite traditional in this aspect… I recall as a child using these useful skills to make a totem pole with Bede when our parents were out. We dug a big hole smack in the middle of the front lawn and carefully erected it so we could play cowboys and indians. Dad was mad at me on his return, though my reply “But you didn’t say I couldn’t” was not, as you can imagine, greatly appreciated!
 
The Hill influenced Dad’s hobby with his detailed carvings and woodwork made from timber from the Hill. He gifted most of his work, often for special occasions such as weddings and first Holy Communions and you’ll find these cherished items in the homes of many who are here today.
Later life
Mum’s death 30 years ago hit Dad hard, but he revelled in his family, throwing all his effort into family events including parties and it was his request that after his death that a family party be held – not a wake, but a party – to which you are warmly welcome today. At lunch you’ll see many photos of him, including at the annual Mardi Gras party.
Eventually, Dad met the new love of his life Margaret. Both widowed and both with grown families, they also met through friends. This phase of Dad’s life bought great happiness and contentment to him. His was indeed a life full of love and happiness.
 
Travel
Dad loved to travel - indeed probably the most travelled person I know! Detta’s brother Patrick was a regular travelling companion. They chatted weekly on the phone and together the two of them would plan holidays, mostly to pilgrimage sites throughout Europe and to the Holy Land but always with well-earned beach holiday at the end.
As a young family we couldn’t afford to travel quite so far afield. Cornwall was always a favourite as was camping in France. I’ve very fond memories of these holidays including learning to body board with Dad, not on the polystyrene boards of today, but on thin plywood boards. This love has been passed down through the generations to my children and grandchildren too, along with the original boards Dad bought, that still survive and work to this day.
In later years Dad and Margaret built up a bucket list of places to travel to, throughout the world, but both deciding their favourite trip was to Southern Africa, to the Victoria Falls and Namibia in particular.
Lately Dad’s travels with Margaret included a number of river cruises, which they greatly enjoyed. Though as Margaret would say, they’d arrive at the port, get off the boat, Dad would find a coffee shop to observe and watch the world go by while she did the tour of the city.

Stubbornness
Dad was a stubborn man, however being the youngest of three he probably needed to be.
His stubbornness continued throughout his life. If you had a discussion with him, it was difficult to convince him of your argument, if ever!
I recall a story of Margaret’s that he popped round on his way home, after church on Christmas morning. She was busy and in the throws of preparing the Christmas Lunch for her visiting family, and handed him a drink and then quickly gave him his present. Feeling largely ignored in the hustle and bustle, he left shortly after. Years later when he moved from Chessel Avenue, Margaret found his present, still stubbornly unopened in his office!
Unfortunately, or is that fortunately, this stubbornness seems to be an inherited trait!
 
Music
Dad loved music. Though I recall Dad and Mum’s album collection of 1960s and 70s music, which in my teen years was definitely not to my taste! Classic music was a particular favourite, with Classic FM being his favourite radio channel in his later life.
Margaret and he shared this love of music which developed into a passion for them both – she encouraged him to broaden his musical repertoire and they continued to share this love as friends of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

 
Family and love
A picture tells a thousand words, and for those joining us at the Kitchen Club afterwards, you’ll see many photos of more stories of Dad, throughout his life.
His greatest and proudest legacy is his family. Every new family photo seemed to have a new member. He loved us all and delighted in watching us become the people we are today. He was proud of us as people, proud of our achievements and not too judgemental of our failures. We tried to fully reconcile the modern family number which we think comes to 77, but surely that will out of date before too long.
Dad you have always been our rock, with your steadiness, wisdom, kindness and generosity of spirit to everyone. That steady warmth of joy and love that always shone through. Shining through in happy times and sad. Your inner strength shone through, buoying everyone up, and in turn we buoyed you up too.
Warren Buffet said that the amount you are loved, and not your wealth or accomplishments, is the ultimate measure of success in life. And yes, Dad achieved a lot and was highly successful. However, love for his family and by his family of him was his greatest accomplishment and Dad achieved this in bucket loads.

Dad was a brilliant engineer and respected champion of industry climbing through the ranks at Horstmann to become Chief Executive. One of his proudest achievements, however, was his work on the Economy 7 time switch. He often recounted that it blew away the competition and how he was a bit peeved that unwily sales guys didn’t reap the full potential of the technical masterpiece. Look on ebay and these devices are sold boxed as collectables and their core remains in many analogue devices still 60 years on.

Dad’s love for the hill, The Wantis Woodland, lives on too is his detailed carving and woodwork, branded as the work of the Wantis Woodman. He gifted most of his work and these are cherished items in the homes of many here today. The hill was also the venue for trademark wild weekend parties and that tradition will continue with him watching on, knowing when to turn a blind eye and when to filter out overly colourful language.

He loved his paper. He enjoyed it from collection where he developed a wonderful banter relationship with Al the news agent. He would read it front to back and you would often find him slumped over his daily in the kitchen, while he took a well-earned break. Then in the evening he would join the with the loves of his life to complete the crossword. As a dyslexic he could always make the answers fit. The Telegraph was a symbol of his politics. As a proud Tory he demonstrated strong Christian morals and enormous generosity. He will be respected for living his life true to his values. Any donations to the Conservative party will be gratefully accepted in lieu of flowers.

He loved his sport, snooker, football and formula 1 and aged 16, attended the first ever grand prix at Silverstone, cycling down with his mate for a fun day out. He fell out of love a bit with rugby and cricket feeling the professional game lost the some of the true spirit of competition. As a dad he much preferred to have a knock about in the garden than to go for an aimless walk.

He loved his lists. He mapped out Sainsbury as a shopping list to optimise his visit and was slighted irritated every time they adjusted the layout. He maintained lists on 40 year old software honed to run on the latest tech. He always had a pen and paper in his pocket and even Post-its stuck to his dash in the car just in case. In his last few days he smirked cheekily when Bede told him he’d finished the list he’d been handed a week before.

His greatest and proudest legacy is however his family. Every new family photo seemed to have a new member. He loved us all and delighted in watching us become the people we are today. He was proud of us as people, proud of our achievements and not too judgemental of our failures. We tried to fully reconcile the modern family number which we think came to 77, but surely that will out of date before too long.