Ken Whittington pictured with University Chancellor Sanjeev Bhaskar

Ken Whittington

Ken Whittington died on 5 May 2018, aged 78 years. During his 41 years at the University he was perhaps best-known as the ceremonial mace-bearer during dozens of graduation events.

As a media production tutor in the Media Service Unit in the early 1970s, Ken set up the University’s TV studio while teaching first- and second-year television and radio workshops. These were the days before Media Studies degrees at Sussex and the presence of studio contributed to the integration of practice and theory from the outset.

Throughout his working life, Ken spent time in both BBC and commercial TV studios in London as well as working with local BBC radio. He helped produce a number of video projects on a wide range of subjects such as musical theatre, miniature railways and the energy industry. In 1994, Ken co-authored a guide to production techniques, The Basics of Media Production, with one of his students, Nick Dimbleby.

Prior to his retirement Ken received a Chancellor's Award in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the work and life of the University. The citation described him as 'an institution within an institution" and as someone who took care to get to know all his many students and support them.

Ken proved popular with his students, many of whom kept in touch with him for several years as they embarked on their own careers in the media industry.