Rupert Talbot: Death of Ken Mcleod (RIP)

The India Mark II

Editor's Note:  We are grateful to Augustine Veliath and UPGI Link for passing on the following news sent by Rupert Talbot.

Read also Maggie Black's The Handpump Cometh
See also Wikipedia's page India Mark II

......

 Rupert Talbot

"I regret to inform you of the death from lung cancer, of our former Water Section colleague Ken Mcleod, on January 23rd, 2020, aged 88, in Cairns, Australia.


Ken led the development programme for the India MK II hand pump from 1974 - 1978. He initiated contact with the pioneering NGO community in Maharashtra that made improved hand pumps upon which the MK II was subsequently based; and he coordinated the design and manufacture of the first MK II hand pumps at Richardson and Cruddas in Madras.


Ken was also instrumental, together with Gerry Lyckholm of Supply Section, with introducing third party quality assurance procedures for hand pump manufacture which became the cornerstone of hand pump production across the country and established the MK II as a strong, reliable and easier to use and maintain community hand pump on India's rural water supply programme.


The dedicated team of Ken Gray, Hank Marrero and K.S Sundaresan further developed and fine tuned these early quality assurance protocols and manufacturing procedures and their uncompromising approach soon confirmed the MK II as the best hand pump in the world, enhancing Unicef's reputation in many countries.


We should not forget, however, that it was Ken Mcleod who set the ball rolling and that there are millions of India MK II hand pump users around the world today who benefit from his early direction and decisions.


RIP Ken Mcleod"

Suman Dhar

John Skoda had informed me that Ken was very ill. He was part of the Water team when I joined unicef. I remember his jeep well, which was used by the group filming Sea Wolves, and my missing the chance to meet Gregory Peck! We were all part of a small, close knit team. Rest in peace Ken.



Madan Arora



I am very sorry to learn about the demise of Ken - for the information of everyone, I too was actively involved with Gerry Lyckholm for handling all the commercial aspects of the India Mark II.

INDIA should be very proud of the BEST DEEP WELL HAND PUMP produced 100% locally - the technical contributions of Ken and Rupert played great role in it. 

At a few WORLD BANK meetings in Copenhagen where all the various hand pumps were being presented and reviewed, I had the honor of representing UNICEF and remind all others "not to re-start the wheel from scratch again" but just get INDIA MARK II from India - that did lead to exports of the same. 

Ken was MOST PLEASANT and DEDICATED person to deal with - his contributions would be remembered by the whole world for ever. May the departed REST IN PEACE and MAY GOD give courage and strength to bear this irreparable loss, amen, best regards, madan arora