A devoted couple who were inseparable during almost 70 years together died just four hours apart.
Boxing trainer Ken McKenzie and wife Audrey have been described as the ‘Posh and Becks’ of their era in Hull, East Yorkshire.
Ken and Audrey, both aged 83, met when they were 14 years old and died last Monday after they each suffered from dementia.
Their only daughter, Debbie Callaghan, 58, has paid a moving tribute to the couple.
‘The last few years have been traumatic. Dementia is such a cruel illness and they didn’t deserve it,’ she said.
Well-known boxing trainer Ken McKenzie and wife Audrey have been described as the ‘Posh and Becks’ of their era in Hull, East Yorkshire
‘My dad started to go first which was really tough on my mum.
‘She was very glamorous and really beautiful. My mum and dad were the Posh and Becks of their era.’
Despite the devastation of losing both her parents in one day, Debbie admits she takes comfort from the fact they passed away together.
‘My mum was taken to hospital and when I arrived she died within five minutes,’ Debbie said. ‘It was as if she was waiting for me.
‘When I arrived back at the care home my husband Richard was with my dad. He told him he would look after me and the family. I said I would always love him.
‘It seemed as if he knew my mum had gone. My mum always complained if he was late so I don’t think he wanted to wait too long before joining her.
‘Strangely, I take comfort from the fact they died on the same day and that neither was left alone.’
Debbie had three boys, Andrew, who is now 34, and twins, Daniel and Jamie, who were severely disabled.
Daniel died aged just 18 while Jamie passed away two years ago, just a week before his 30th birthday.
Ken and Audrey, both aged 83, met when they were 14 years old and died last Monday after they each suffered from dementia
‘It also helped me because I have suffered so much grief with the loss of my two boys,’ she said.
‘I feel they decided to go together so I would only have to go through the grief once.’
She said her parents were devastated at her son’s deaths.
‘My parents were devoted to my three boys,’ she said. ‘My mum even gave up her job to help me look after them.
‘When Daniel died it shattered my dad and I think that was the start of him going downhill.’
Debbie’s other son, Andrew, is married to Karla and they have an 18-month-old daughter, Beatrix.
‘My parents did meet Beatrix but they didn’t understand a lot at that point,’ Debbie said. ‘But my dad kept kissing her on the forehead which was lovely.
‘They were such wonderful parents and I was always with my mum. But I was also a daddy’s girl. I can’t remember a time when we fell out.
‘They were always together, we all were. My dad was a real family man. I used to cook Sunday dinner and he loved it when we all came together around the table.
‘I will miss everything about my parents. I am just glad they do not have to suffer that awful illness any longer.
‘Luckily, I have so many happy memories and they were wonderful parents and grandparents.
‘They have always been there for me and they will be deeply missed.’ Ken was born in Hessle Road while Audrey grew up in Gipsyville.
Ken worked in various jobs before setting up Ken Cabs, becoming the taxi driver to the city’s fishermen.
‘He used to take me with him in the taxi,’ Debbie said. ‘It really helped me understand Hessle Road’s culture and I really lived it.’
Ken also served in the RAF and represented the force in boxing.
‘Boxing was the biggest thing in my dad’s life after his family,’ Debbie said.
‘He boxed for Hull Boys and the Fish Trades clubs before becoming a trainer, working alongside the legend Billy Hall. They became great friends.
‘They trained up lots and lots of champions, including Ricky Beaumont, Jackie Turner, Mally Heath and Mike Esa. They managed to train up five ABA champions in just one year.
‘I was their only child but I feel like I have hundreds of brothers and all the boxers treated my dad like their own father.’
Audrey was known as the ‘painted lady’ beautician in Hammond’s in Hessle Road, alongside working in the taxi office.
‘She was the only person I know who could put on her lipstick without looking in the mirror and it would be perfect,’ Debbie said.
The couple were married at 18 years old but met four years previously.
‘My mum was asked to sing in the school choir which was performing at City Hall,’ Debbie said. ‘She needed a uniform but money was tight so my nana knitted her a jumper. But they did buy her smart a Francis Askew School hat.
‘Afterwards, she was getting the tram back and Hessle Road was much longer than it is now. There were a group of rowdy lads on the tram and one knocked off her hat.
‘We was really upset as she thought her mum would kill her. She cried all the way back.
‘But as she got off the tram one of the lads was standing there twirling the hat – that was my dad. He had run the full length of Hessle Road to retrieve it. They were together after that.’