Pal Kennet—farewell to a trucking pioneer
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Elhe Hawk was greatly saddened to learn of the death of truck journalist Pat Kennet at the age of 67. Pat passed away at home in his sleep on 22 November. Although he had suffered from diabetes for some time, this did not deter him from the work he loved---he had just completed a Financial Times survey of the CV manufacturing industry. Pat's knowledge of the industry was extensive, dating back to 1948 when he 'pined Leyland Motors as a student. After a brief spell as a truck design draughtsman it was realised that his obvious talents were better suited to trouble-shooting in the field. Later, having completed his National Service in the Middle-East and acquiring a taste for travelling, he returned to the company, but working in South America, supervising the maintenance of big fleets of Leyland buses His journalistic career took off in 1969 when he went to work for CM's sister magazine, Motor Transport, writing roadtests. In 1974 he became editor of another CM stablemate, Truck magazine. Truck's deputy editor Jack Semple, explains what made Pat so unique; 'Above all it was his independence when it came to writing about trucks and his ability to get the copy out. He brought a new style to truck
testing—he was very international in his outlook. He had this huge experience in Central and South America with his field background at Leyland Trucks. Speaking personally there's no doubt that everybody who worked in Truck magazine benefited from what he did and the style that he set. He was a bit of a pioneer in my view ' Pat leaves behind his wife Carole and his son Daniel, 13.