Kenneth Kendall

[MichaelZZ]

I never realised that KK bowled from the pavilion end.

[Sipowicz]

If that means what I think it means, it's a new one on me!

[Psybbo]

A lovely gentleman, whose partner decided he couldn't face life without him, very sad

[VHG]

Been in the papers recently

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-24730922

[FredPuli43]

Why the pavilion end? Granted 'the Nursery End wouldn't do; it suggests paedophilia; but the Vauxhall End would. The Vauxhall Tavern is a celebrated gay pub.

[voulezvous]

I never realised that KK was gay either. However, why all these euphemisms?
Why does it all sound so "nudge, nudge, wink, wink"?
Do try to grow up, all of you.
His partner hanged himself for goodness sake. A little understanding wouldn't go amiss.

[FredPuli43]

Is not MichaelZZ mocking the old- fashioned view of homosexuality, which required speakers to use euphemisms when speaking of it? If not, he must be an old club man, wears a blazer, drinks pink gin, and is aged about 80!

[Fitzer]

Indeed VV, they were together 25 years, why the need for euphemism?

[Psybbo]

Agreed, voulezvous

[wolf63]

It was very sad. His partner was much younger than KK and was still quite young. After all that time together (and living through an era when being gay wasn't so accepted) it is understandable that he would be lost on his own. To him suicide was his only option.

Sad.

[DTCwordfan]

So what.

A tragic story that should allow to go to rest in memoriam to a decent man.

[voulezvous]

Maybe, Fred, but still, I didn't find it that amusing given the circumstance of his partners death.
To be honest, the fact that he was gay should be neither here nor there, and the sooner the "plays for the other team" jokes die out the better.
He was an man in a very real relationship.

[New Judge]

I also did not know this until yesterday.

However, Fred is almost correct with his connection to the Kia Oval. But to get the euphemism correct, I believe it was that celebrated Thespian Ray Winstone who suggested that gay gentlemen "bowl from the gasworks end".

[sandyRoe]

Ray Winston is so convincing in his playing of thuggish roles that you wouldn't think he'd have it in him to come out with a epigram like that.

[sp1814]

Agree with voulezvous on this.

Elderly man dies, and his partner, overcome with grief taken his own life.

I wouldn't say that this is the the basis for some 'light-hearted banter'.

[mikey4444]

I've read all the comments on here about KK and I can't really see that any of it is disrespectful. Its just some gentle humor, about who everybody seems to agree was a lovely man. I feel so sorry for his partner.

[netibiza]

I was very surprised to read about his partner, never would have guessed.

[EDDIE51]

The correct euphemism is 'bowls for the other side' or 'bowls from the Gasworks end' as NJ says.

[youngmafbog]

Stop getting so up tight. It is common language, maybe not in right-on Islington coffee shops but the rest of the country is a much bigger place.

I don't see it as disrespectful to anyone at all.

[emmie]

he was gay you mean, i did know, read it someplace a while ago,