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Weekly’s scooter appeal helps local music legend

A weekly newspaper’s mobility scooter appeal has come to the aid of a local rock and roll legend whose life in the fast lane left him in poor health.

The Exeter-based Midweek Herald has just given away its 20th scooter to Ken Yeo, who was the lead singer and rhythm guitarist in well-known local band The Ken Des Tones, as part of the Joe Gilson Mobility Scheme.

It was set up in memory of Joe who died of prostate cancer not long after getting his scooter and contacted the Herald before his death about passing it on to someone who could not afford one.

The scheme is run by his widow Carol, pictured above with Ken, in partnership with the paper, with editor Belinda Bennett choosing the recipients of the scooters, which are donated by families after the death of a loved one.

Belinda said: “The latest recipient was local rock and roll legend Ken Yeo, who is in poor health after living life in the fast lane. He was nominated by someone who didn’t give us their name or contact details and we had to print an appeal for Ken to contact us.

“He was overjoyed with excitement when I told him what it was all about and last Thursday was presented with an almost brand new scooter worth £5,000.

“Ken, 71, said, when he read our appeal, he feared he may be wanted on The Jeremy Kyle Show for some shock news about a child he never knew he had. He was relieved and delighted to discover he was getting a mobility scooter.

“He pointed out he’d recently suffered a heart attack and that it had been very inconsiderate of his body to keep him in hospital for New Year’s Eve.”

Under the scheme, Carol collects the scooters, arranges for them to be serviced and undertakes home visits which include health and safety assessments.