Tributes paid to Wirral businessman who founded Vernons Pools empire

May 5 2009 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

Vernon Sangster had a side-business – collecting bets on the outcome of football matches from “punters in pubs”. Ken suggested formalising this business and Vernon’s Pools was born.

But his business career was only part of Ken’s life – his other great passion was painting and he became a successful practitioner and collector – even buying out an exhibition of Lowry’s long before the Manchester painter came to prominence.

Ken himself took up painting after a casual conversation with John Moores, owner of Littlewoods Pools, which saw the pair developing their interest in the arts.

Prof Bleakley said even towards the end of his life, when he had moved to Cornwall to be near his family, Ken would often speak of returning to Wirral.

He said: “Although he was born in London, he did not have the same feeling for it as he did for the Liverpool and Wirral.

“He would often speak of the drive into work, when he would work out his business plans as he drove through the tunnel – it was the highlight of his day.”

George Randall Kennerley died at Edward Hain Hospital, St Ives, Cornwall.

He had celebrated his 100th birthday in December.