Ken Pye

Born and bred in Liverpool, Ken Pye retired as Managing Director of his own leadership development organisation, ‘The Knowledge Group’.

In a varied career spanning over fifty years Ken has experience in each professional sector. This includes working as a Residential Child Care Officer for youngsters with profound special needs; as a Youth and Community Leader; as the Community Development Worker for Toxteth; as the Northwest Regional Officer for Barnardos; as the National Partnership Director for the Business Environment Association; and as Senior Programme Director with Common Purpose.

He also undertook a special, one-year contract for Liverpool Hope University as Executive Director of Continuing Professional Development, before setting up ‘The Knowledge Group’ in 2009.

Ken is a Fellow of Liverpool Hope University.

Ken also continues as the Managing Director of his own local history company, ‘Discover Liverpool’, which he established in 2005. As such, he is a recognised expert on the past, present, and future potential of his home city and region. Ken is also a frequent contributor to journals, magazines, and newspapers. He is in great demand as and after-dinner speaker and guest lecturer to a wide range of groups and organisations. Ken is a regular broadcaster for both radio and television, and performs his very popular one-man theatre shows a couple of times a year.

Well known across Merseyside and the North-West as an expert in his field, Ken is the author of many books. Ken’s other published works are ~

* Discover Liverpool (now in its 3rd edition);

* A Brighter Hope - about the founding and history of Liverpool Hope University;

* Merseyside Tales;

* More Merseyside Tales; and

* Even More Merseyside Tales

* Liverpool: The Rise, Fall and Renaissance of a World Class City ~ his complete history of the City, also in its 3rd edition;

* Liverpool Pubs;

* The Bloody History of Liverpool (now in its 3rd edition);

* Liverpool At Work;

* The A to Z of Little-Known Liverpool;

* Liverpool’s Military Heritage; and

* Two Triangles: Liverpool, Slavery, and The Church;

* Liverpool Murders and Misdemeanours;

* Beastly Merseyside; and

* Liverpool: A Potted History.

Ken was also a significant contributor to Trinity Mirror’s celebration of Liverpool and its people ~ Scousers, and the special advisor on Sung and Unsung – A collection of portrait photographs and biographies of the ‘Great and the Good’ of Liverpool.

Ken also completed two books privately commissioned by the 19th Earl of Derby.

On a personal basis and if pressed (better still, if taken out to dinner), Ken will regale you with tales from his own fascinating life, including his experiences during the Toxteth Riots; as a Child Entrepreneur; as a Bingo Caller; as a Puppeteer; as the Lead Singer of a 1960s Pop Group; as an Artists’ and Photographers’ Model; and as a Mortuary Attendant.

Ken is married to Jackie, and they have three grown-up children; Ben, Samantha, and Danny.

Visit Ken's website at www.discover-liverpool.com

February 2023