Jenny Reynolds writes, Having known the Kennedys family/shop for many years, I have grown up with the famous Kennedys sausage and the Kennedy’s store in Peckham Road as my husband’s father Edward Reynolds was the manager both the shop in Peckham and Penge High Street for many years. Both Edward and Dorothy Reynolds lived in the Kennedy’s house at the back of the factory at 3 Talfourd Road, and my husband Dave Reynolds, remembers many happy times at Alex Kennedy’s staff holiday premises at Hawksworth House in Sandown on the Isle of Wight. I have been told many stories of Kennedys over the last few months after the sad demise of the Kennedy’s family store. Seems such a shame as the shops were so lovely and very ornate. 

Eddie was always known for his whistling in the shop and everyone knew him. He kept the shop in Peckham immaculate and had very high standards unlike the supermarkets of our day. He had many orders for sausage rolls, sausages and the wonderful Christmas puddings they sold. We drove by a few months ago and understand the whole of the shop in Peckham Road, 3 Talfourd Road, and the factory went to auction. Such happy memories, but sad to see in such disrepair. We could tell you lots of happy stories and have many memories of the time Eddie was employed by Alex Kennedy.  His wife Dorothy, (my mother in law) who is now 86, can remember lots of stories from the Isle of Wight when Kennedys used to make the ice cream for the Golf Course on the front of Sandown which they owned as well, and many a queue at the café next door. This too has long since gone and has been replaced by a sanctuary for the swans. No more boating lake where crowds use to gather for the much loved cream filled doughnuts.

Dave was thrilled when I showed him Ian Waller’s account of his stay at the Kennedy’s holiday premises on the Isle of Wight back in the 60’s. This provoked a wealth of memories for Dave and wondered if there was anyone who remembers their stay with Randy and Vi when Dave stayed at Hawksworth House in the late 50s and early 60’s. He remembers a family by the name of Latter (father’s name Jimmy), and a family with the father’s name of Arthur Gibbons.   Evidently once Arthur and Dave’s dad (Eddie  (Ted) Reynolds,) got together, both Randy and Vi would tell them off for disrupting mealtimes.   Dave remembers the mums helping Randy and Vi with the washing and drying up after mealtimes.  He also remembers the lovely meals (3 a day) which Randy and Vi used to make, and whoever was at the end of the table, always had the last of the roast potatoes etc. Does anyone remember the walks the Kennedy holiday makers used to make to Alverstone to a café there, and also the great cricket matches they used to have on the beach at Sandown near the beach hut that the “Kennedys” folk used to use. Dave would be thrilled to hear from anyone who stayed at Hawksworth around that time.

As we visit the Island almost every year, we always make a stop at the corner of Grove Road to re-visit Hawksworth House.  As those who have visited recently will know,  Hawksworth House has now been turned into flats and the two extra “rooms” (bungalows) in the garden of the grounds have now been turned into residential property one of which was for sale during our last visit.  The garden he used to play in is now car parking space and the fruit trees which once graced the garden have gone. We would love to hear from anyone who remembers those heady days of wonderful Kennedys jam doughnuts, the boating lake and the little train which used to run from the crazy golf area along the front at Sandown.

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Yvonne Neblett from Carshalton writes, Having only just discovered via the 20th Century Society website the demise of the Kennedy Sausage shops I am utterly devastated by this news.  Having recently lost my beloved husband I have been a bit 'out of it' so did not see the ITN or Channel 4 features.  We married in Croydon in 1958, moved to Beckenham in 1959 where our two daughters were born, all the while regularly frequenting Kennedys for our sausages, saveloys, bacon, apple pies etc. The piece de resistance for my dear mother (also newly departed) were the rissoles.  I can truthfully say they were bought at least twice a week for the children's after school treat!!  The last time  I went on a nostalgic trip by tram to the Croydon shop must have been just before it closed in 2007.  According to the C20 Society the Walworth and South Norwood shops still have to find viable long term use, not much hope I feel with the current way of thinking.  Good to know that Brodies Tea Shop won an award from the Bromley Civic Society.

Thank you for your wonderful website so lovingly created - certainly a work of art.  I have added it to my favourites and shall certainly join Facebook!

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Ian Waller from Leeds writes, Wow this brings back memories from the 1960's. I remember Hawksworth House very well as my Father, Bill Waller, had the honour of resolutely delivering the superb Kennedys Sausage and all other products to their shops for many years as did his good pal Bert Gardner, Bert's brother-in law, Peter Creffield, worked in the Peckham factory, all now sadly departed and missed. I think Peter Creffield made the bread that ended up as breadcrumbs in the sausages. Dad and Bert had driven London trams and buses in South London prior to joining Kennedy's, was pretty cool being on a bus your Dad was driving and pretending his conductor had taken your fare if anyone asked.

Hawksworth House was then run by two ladies "Randy" (Mrs Randall I think), the housekeeper, and her assistant Vi whose husband ran the Ice Cream factory in the summer.I think he, and/or Vi, made the Christmas puddings back in Peckham in the autumn/winter. They were known as "Aunty" Vi and "Aunty" Randy to us kids. Randy was a formidable woman to us kids, but had a heart of gold, and would chase us out of the laundry room in the garden, our play area on wet days. Their cooking was superb and I remember all the female "guests" mucking in with washing up after each meal. The then Kennedy brothers were very good employers and I believe these holidays were even free on occasion for loyal staff including train and ferry fares from Waterloo to Sandown. The journey itself was an adventure for us kids, train to Portsmouth, paddle steamer to Ryde Harbour, steam train to Sandown, taxi To Hawksworth House. I remember on one occasion we drove there from London and Dad's Ford Anglia got trashed on our first day, it turned out that the the guy that was to blame for the accident was the son of another Kennedy's employee on the "island", and the Kennedy brothers paid to hire a car for the rest of our holiday.
Hawksworth House also had a beach hut at Sandown and everyone would go down there for most of the day when it was fine. One particular day I always remember was when the kids were taken into the Ice Cream factory by Vi's husband, kid nirvana, and I was amazed that they boiled it! Browns served a mean cream doughnut in the cafe and of course us "Kennedy" kids could usually wangle a free canoe or paddle boat on the boating lake, a round of golf was more "difficult".

As a kid in London I used to go out with Dad delivering to the shops in his blue "Kennedy's" van with sliding side passenger / driver doors. But once or twice a week in summer it was off to Waterloo Station to send food, Kennedy's of course, down to Sandown by rail. I also remember going to London docks with Dad to pick up corned beef and on one occasion a wooden barrel of pale ale for that years Christmas puddings. Saturdays were the best day of the week when Dad arrived home laden with brown paper carrier bags laden with Sausages, Pies, Ham etc, I think he paid for them !!!! (staff rate of course).

I know that Dad was very reluctant to leave the firm in 1970 and only did so in order to try to improve the family quality of life by moving to Suffolk. I now live near York but was mortified to find out about the demise of Kennedy's and have signed the "plaque" thing  as has my brother. (please see my comments in italics below)

I will be very pleased to hear from anyone that remembers Dad and will see if I can find any old pics of the Isle of Wight or whatever.

Alan Edwards comments........Get Kennedy's Sausages a BLUE PLAQUE on the 305 Walworth Road, Southwark, Grade 2 listed branch of Kennedy's. Just email vote4icons@southwark.co.uk and put "Kennedy's Sausages" as the subject

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Colin Smith writes, Just thought I would let you know that I, my brother and sister were brought up on Kennedy's produce, as my dad George Smith worked at Kennedy's from 1940 - 1991 when he retired, and he is one of the few who know the recipe of their sausages. Originally my dad worked downstairs in the butchers but later in his career he moved up to the bakehouse and was the bakehouse foreman up until he retired in 1991. My mum also worked at Kennedy's up until they got married. I also worked there for some extra pocket money in the school holidays. And yes all Kennedy's produce was very tasty and my favourite was their sausage rolls, when my dad retired we still found time to go to the Bromley shop to stock up on sausage rolls and sausages. Don't know if you are aware but Kennedy's also had a very large house in Sandown on the Isle of Wight, with chalets in the grounds, where the staff could take their summer holidays and we had some good times there with other members of staff. My dad is still around and has lots of memories of Kennedy's. I also attach a photo of the Sausage Linkers which was taken around 1945, names are from Top Row, Left to Right, Irene Smith, Doreen Quire, Dolly Petch, June ?, Bottom Row, Left to Right, Charlie Jacobs, Helen Carden, Daisy Barnes, Joan (Bunny) Tokley, Gladys Carden. THE SAUSAGE LINKERS photo is shown below.

Peter Burrell writes, On 22nd December 2007 we staggered away from the Bromley High Street Kennedy's shop with 'half a hundredweight' of pork sausages, knowing that these were the last ones we would have. Last evening (17 July 2008) we ate the last of these - having rationed ourselves to one Kennedy's meal per week since December!  I 'Googled' "Kennedy's sausages" and found your superb website, which is now on my Favourites list! Well done for keeping the memories alive - pity there's not a 'tasti-web' yet!  Has anyone found a sausage maker to come anywhere near the Kennedy's taste? If so, I think ex-customers should be told!

Alan Edwards replies, I don't know if you have tried KORKERS Sausages, they are made in Rolvenden in Kent. We used to buy them from our local Milkman. JONES DAIRY, PURLEY but as like everything else, the Dairy was taken over, firstly by Unigate several years ago, then Unigate was taken over by Dairy Crest and neither of those milkmen sold the sausages. Then a few months ago we were in a Garden Centre at POLHILL, near Knockholt, between Bromley and Sevenoaks in Kent and there was a whole freezer filled with an assortment of Korkers Sausages and Sausage meat. They have a similar texture and look to them and also taste almost as good, but that is our opinion, they are certainly the next best thing to Kennedys that we have found....so far. I have the name and address of Korkers if anyone is interested. KORKER SAUSAGES, BRANN'S DRIVE, HIGH STREET, ROLVENDEN, KENT, TN17 4LN. Tel: 01580 241307

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Anthony Warren writes, "I do appreciate your tribute to Kennedys in your web pages.  Well done, and very interesting. As lifelong consumers of those wonderful sausages were are very sad the business has closed. I suppose the family aren't interested and the buildings are worth a lot of dosh? But what have they done with the recipes? Do you know anything about any aftermath of the closure? Is there a campaign to re-establish the product? I for one would join it!"

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Eva Vladyka writes, "It is amazing website with lovely pictures and sad memories of the Kennedy's departed business. My name is Eva Vladyka and I am second year student at Camberwell College of the Arts. I am not one of those lucky ones who could tried some of the beloved sausages but I think it is a big loss not to have butchers shops with such a character and originality. I am not big fan of supermarkets and online shopping so I decided that my last college project will be an installation piece to pay a tribute to the Kennedy's business and other departed small shops.In the website there is a list of the shops with some missing dates. For example when the Catford shop got closed and others as well. It would be a big help for me to have some more information about these dates. Please if anyone can help me, send me an email on this address  gera1@centrum.cz Thanks a lot"

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Brian Stanton writes, "What a fantastic page, as to add to the other memories my grandfather John James Banfill used to work for Kennedy's (Peckham) he installed some plumbing and even installed and or serviced the ovens etc. My grandfather was born in 1901 and died in 1977. I think, so my Mum says that George Kennedy or Mr Kennedy (don't know if this may have been the original Mr Kennedy, too old maybe ??) came to his funeral, I was only a baby at the time, but everybody knew who this gentleman was. But yes as like everyone else you just cant find a banger like em or a shop like them, our favourite were the chipo's you just cant beat or find the taste anywhere. I remember as a baby my Mum mashing em down for me etc, no wonder im bigger than my Mum now :-) Sausage rolls and the sausage meat and xmas puddings at xmas were fantastic as well as the sausage meat for sarnies etc'. We did stock up but all gone now.... The site is great but sad at the same time, its a shame because they still seemed to be doing a roaring trade in the shops (there always seemed to be someone in there) Wonder if anybody has any recipes ????. If I was in the Butchers game I would make a bid for this etc. It's great to see somebody has taken the trouble to put this on the web. Good on you Alan !!!! .Thanks for the memories Kennedy's. Please re-open

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Julia Todd writes, "I've just 'found' your tribute to Kennedy's Sausages website. Well actually I got the link from a newspaper article that someone sent me. I am the grand-daughter of John and Mary Ann Kennedy, who founded the business in 1877. Although I wasn't closely involved with the running of the business, I did work in the office there one summer in the late 1960s, so know a bit about it. Alex Kennedy Limited had 15 shops when I worked there. 14 are listed on your website, and the other one was at New Cross. Sorry, I have no idea what it's address was. The Rye Lane shops were at numbers 85 and 140. These were owned by John Kennedy Ltd.

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Matthew Pavey writes, "I was working at Bromley 1 (Market Sq) branch at closure on the 27 Oct and took some pics and also at Bromley 2 (11 High St) and have one pic of staff in back room. Thought you might want the Bromley 1 pics as it was their flagship branch and you dont have much on your site for this branch. I worked for Kennedys on and off from Jan 1992 to the end working every branch except the two at Peckham. I forgot to mention that there were originally 2 Kennedy chains. A Kennedy and J Kennedy each with their own shops and factorys. It was family rivallry. Kennedy sausages only date back to 1904 having originally been trading in game and meat. J Kennedy can be seen on Camberwell branch although in later years this was an A.Kennedy shop. Kennedys also had fish shops one of which the signage can be seen on page 56 of the book Memories of Bromley and situated at 29 High St. Bromley. It may be worth you researching at Biggin Hill Airport as there is apparently a plaque to thank Kennedys for their food contributions during World War 2. The last of the genuine J Kennedy shops was Peckham Rye and took supplies from the A Kennedy factory. From memory the Peckham Road factory shop closed around 1993ish, Brixton I'm told went during the 1981 riots. Rye Lane branch which was J Kennedys I never saw or worked in but was closed around late 90s and Streatham at a similar time. There was a branch in Orpington which went in the 70s and I cant remember if it was Catford or Lewisham that had a branch bombed during the war. Penge branch was the only one with modern doors and front window frames as a car drove in around 1989ish time. I remember working at penge shop during 1992 when an old fella about 90ish was telling me how he helped lay the lovely tiled floor as a teenage apprentice.

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Kathy Cook writes, "My great Grandmother started the family business in the 1890’s by selling home made pies from her home front room. As it has always been a part of my life for a very long time I was also upset to see its demise. Unfortunately there were many factors that caused its closure, one being that there was nobody coming up in the family that was willing to take over. The present management did not wish to sell off to outsiders. As everyone else has already said – they have no equal & will be particularly missed at Christmas time, along with their brilliant Christmas puddings! I liked your photo of the sausages cooking together with sound effects!. Kennedys was run as 2 separate concerns – J. Kennedy & A. Kennedy. They sold exactly the same produce, the shops all looked exactly the same, but had been set up by 2 brothers in competition many years ago. The J. Kennedy side actually folded after my Fathers death in 1974. A. Kennedy has been run by my cousins. Both factories were in Peckham. I have been talking to various relatives & have confirmed a few more facts about Kennedys for you.

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Kathy Cook adds "You were right about one of the shops being bombed – it was the one at 166 Lewisham High Street . The other shops belonging to J. Kennedy Ltd were ; 85 & 140 Rye Lane Peckham - 20 Westow Hill Upper Norwood - 128 Rushey Green Catford - 1A Woolwich New Road - 278 High Street Orpington - In approximately 1897 there was a shop in Dartmouth Road Forest Hill that was only open for about 4 years. There were also 2 mobile shops for about 2 to 3 years in the 60s. A Kennedy Ltd had shops until recently in; Bromley Market Square and Bromley South - Beckenham High Street - Penge High Street - West Wickham High Street - Croydon - South Norwood - Camberwell Green - Walworth Road and Deptford. Other shops that were closed quite a long time ago were Peckham Rd.- New Cross -  Brixton & Streatham. The other Kennedy factory (J.K.) was at Harders Road, Peckham."

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Simon Evans writes, "What a shock to only find out today that kennedys were no more. They were a staple when we were children, and as I was in the area it was my intention to pick up some sausages and some of their awesome pies... but alas they are no more. Is their any hope that someone out there worked in the factory, and can actually reveal their recipes so as we could try and attempt to recreate these gastronomic wonders, or if not indeed sell them 'home made'?"

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Ashton Foster writes, "Just seen your Kennedy's Sausages page......Good on you!! My WHOLE family eats Kennedy's ...... 3 Generations worth....And we will for the next few months from the ones we have stored in the freezer!!  Its a shame that I'm only 22 years old, and didnt get more time to eat them!!!!!   I'm just hoping that the new place opening up in Bromley will be making some sausages in the back.......But I'm not holding my breath........Anyways, keep up the good work. KENNEDY'S FOREVER!!!"

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Tony Darby writes, "I must admit to filling half my freezer with pork pies during their last few weeks trading. I should have enough for a year at two a month. Someone I know suggests putting some on Ebay, but I like the taste too much."

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Alan Townsend writes, "My wife and I were reminiscing about Kennedy’s produce today, we shopped at the Beckenham and Bromley branches, and knowing they had closed wondered if one could buy their products on the Internet, hence I came across your interesting and memory provoking website. My absolute favourite was the Kennedy pork pie; I have travelled the country and, indeed, the world and have never found a pork pie to match this succulent, spicy, moist, flavoursome and non-fatty pie. A little bit of my life was taken away from me when Kennedy’s closed - a bit like pie and mash shops that are today hard to find"

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Malcolm Edwards writes, “What a sad day, I must admit when I found the news out when visiting Bromley it brought a tear to my eye. Having been a fan since a baby this has been devastating news. But my family did celebrate this Christmas with the turkey stuffed with Kennedy's fabulous sausage meet, delicious. Also to add to the tales of woe no more saveloys and their truly wonderful Breakfast Sausage. Have you any other images of the Deptford High Shop it looks so sad as this was a pristine vibrant shop when I was a child and along with the brilliant market stalls, David Greggs and the most to die for bakers formed a huge list of memories of my childhood. I must thank you for setting up your website and do you think there is any chances of obtaining their recipes".

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Pat Stevens writes, "Enjoyed your pictures. Who would have thought you could get emotional over a sausage but my family were very sad at their departure. I think I felt even worse as I remember queuing up at their Deptford and New Cross Gate Shops when I was a teenager in the 1950's. and I felt very nostalgic about the 'good old days'. You had to go to different shops for different types of food, instead of under all one roof in the supermarkets nowadays. I believe the food was better then, certainly the sausages were. When I discovered the Kennedy shops were closing I posted the information on my football website and their were pages and pages of members' angst. I went to the West Wickham shop a couple of days before the final closure and stocked up the freezer. The queue was quite long and many people were buying large quantities and they also were very sad at the closure. One guy parted the queue to take photos of the stocked window. We thought he may have been from a local paper but he told us that the pics were purely for his own personal use. I wish I had thought to take my camera with me in order to savour happy memories. Pat(ricia) Stevens."

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Chris Meredith, writes “I have been into your Kennedy's website, very mouthwatering especially the last breakfast! Like you I shall very much miss the shops. My first memory of the firm was the shop near Bromley South, when changing trains on my way home I used to nip up to the High Street to buy a box of broken biscuits! That was in the early seventies. Later when I moved to Streatham in 1973 I often bought some of their fine sausages for my evening meal and have continued to use their shops until the very final day on 22nd Dec last when I bought some pork sausages to store in the freezer. I shall include your website amongst my Favourites, when I feel the urge to get the gastric juices going I shall go in and have another look at the last breakfast!!”

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Paul Estathiou, writes, "I was stunned to see the whole remaining chain of Kennedy's shut down, as I only found out on Xmas Eve when I visited the Walworth shop only to find it closed down. I remember as a boy in the early 60s being regularly sent by my Mum to by half a pound of her favourite pork chipolatas from the shop in Atlantic Road Brixton. Between 1978-81 I worked as a milkman for Express Dairies and delivered to the same shop in Atlantic Road where the Manager, who lived above the shop always had a full cooked breakfast waiting for me when I arrived a 6.00 each morning. It was one of their few shops that actually sold milk as well. I also delivered to the shop at the top of Railton Road in Herne Hill. In recent years we have regularly enjoyed their beef sausages and steak pies so we'll have to go a long way to find anything of comparable quality. It's truly the end of an era! Well done for putting this website up!"