On arrival in France, Ken collapsed in the street and was taken to the nearest hospital. It seems that this may have been due to a heart condition, but he discharged himself a few days later feeling that he had recovered sufficiently.

He had purchased a mobile home in the UK to be transported to France, but the manufacturer became insolvent and Ken lost his home and his money. He was forced, therefore, to rent a small caravan on a campsite near Frejus when he arrived in France.

With no income and little money until his house could be sold, times were difficult. In addition, as the year progressed, he found that the weather was not always as warm as he had hoped. He returned to England twice, once to collect his car and on another occasion to arrange a bank loan.

He was not playing at all now; just some guitar sessions in a local bar, but was planning a master class that he hoped to be able give at Toulouse University.

He spent much of his time around the harbour of a small nearby fishing village, Les Issambres, and it was here that he met a French couple who befriended him and took him into their home.

Ken corresponded with many of his friends, both in the UK and on the continent, and it was one of these, Bernie Thiele, who arranged for him to enter a clinic at Gifhorn in Germany. It was found that cancer was causing the stomach problems and a small operation was performed to relieve the condition.

Ken had agreed to play at a concert organised by Max Collie and this was to be followed in 1988 by a trip with Max to Australia. The concert, which was to be Ken’s last performance, took place in Hanover on Friday 11th December. Ken led Max’s band for ‘The Curse of an Aching Heart’, then on solo guitar played and sang ‘Midnight Special’ and joined the Saints Parade Band for ‘Just a Little While to Stay Here.’