Ken was born in 1928. He was educated at Marlcliffe Intermediate School, Sheffield College of Commerce and Technology, and Nottingham University. He joined the Royal Air Force towards the end of the Second World War and served until 1949. He married Audrey in 1951 and they had a son (Leslie), and a daughter (Janet).

Ken was a true son of Yorkshire and worked for Neepsend plc, in the metal industry, in Sheffield for much of his working life, rising to Finance Director in 1968 and  Group Deputy Chairman in 1977, having also been a director of various overseas subsidiaries. In Sheffield he served as President of the Chamber of Commerce in 1980/81 and Chairman of the Sheffield & District Branch of the ICSA. He was President in 1984.

He retired from Neepsend in 1983 and set up a consultancy, moving house to Saxilby, outside Lincoln.

He was one of the 13 founder members of our Company in 1976 and joined the Court at once. In 1979 he presented three silver goblets to the Company for use by the Master and Wardens at dinners. He was elected Master for 1982/83, and served with distinction. In his year the first Livery tie was introduced as were Master’s lunches. He laid a foundation stone at the World Trade Centre in St. Katherine’s Dock, London E1; after this short-lived building was demolished, this beautiful stone was recovered and now sits in the Company basement awaiting a suitable opportunity for re-use.

He fostered links with the Worshipful Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire, of which he became a Freeman. To mark his year as Master, he presented a large silver tray which recorded the names of every Master to date, with space for some 10 to come.

He was a Trustee of the Company’s Charitable Fund between 1978 and 2010, and Chairman of Trustees between 1990 and 2003. In the late 1990s he served on the Finance & General Purposes and Education Committees; he also served as the Company’s liaison officer with ICSA, 1995–99.

Amid health issues, he resigned from the Court in 2011 and he and Audrey moved back to Sheffield in 2012. Regrettably, poor health kept him away from Livery functions in his final years.

The sixth WCCSA Master, Kenneth Jaques was described in the Resolution of Thanks as “a most conscientious Liveryman and Member of the Court of Assistants, who contributed wholeheartedly to the proper development of the Company.”  Appreciation to his wife Audrey was also placed on record, “who by her full support and her personal charm made her own distinctive contribution to such a highly successful year.”