A BLUE plaque to honour the 70th anniversary of inventor Kenneth Wood’s workshop was unveiled with the help of his widow Patricia, from Liphook, where the couple used to live.

She was accompanied by her son John Wood, as well as Mark Welch, chief executive officer of Kenwood-DeLonghi, Ken Wood’s daughters and grandsons, and many original employees of the firm in Woking.

The former workshop site on Goldsworth Road is now home to a branch of Kwik-Fit.

In 1947, Ken and his business partner, Roger Laurence, started their first workshop in Goldsworth Road together under the name Woodlau, later renamed to Kenwood.

In 1948, the company expanded to premises on Hipley Street, in Old Woking, where production of the A200 mixer was established, which would be the firm’s most successful product.

It was renamed the Kenwood Chef and re-released in its most iconic form in 1959 after a revamp by famous industrial designer Sir Kenneth Grange.

Production continued in Woking until 1961 when Kenwood relocated to Havant.

Following the ceremony, guests gathered at The Lightbox museum, where John Wood delivered an enlightening talk celebrating his step-father’s life and work.

Last Thursday, the family also commemorated the 20th anniversary of Ken Wood’s death – he passed away in 1997, leaving behind his widow Patricia, two sons and daughters by his previous marriage and three stepsons.

Born on October 4, 1916, in Lewisham, South London, he was the grandson of confectionery manufacturer Charles Riley Maynard, was educated in Bromley before leaving home aged 14 to join the Merchant Navy for five years in 1930.

After studying electrical engineering and accountancy at night school, he set up his own company, Dickson & Wood in 1936, selling, installing and repairing radios.

He founded Forest Mere Health Farm, now part of Champneys, and a former family home and helped to create Old Thorns Golf and Country Estate, another family home he and his wife Patricia lived in, together with his friend Peter Alliss.