Name bid war hero dies, 84
Colonel John Kenyon, the landowner, councillor and war hero who led a successful campaign to have "Shropshire" restored as the official name of the county, has died at the age of 84.
Colonel Kenyon, of Pradoe, West Felton, began his campaign in 1979 and immediately attracted huge support in what was described as a "people's revolt".
The then Salop County Council backed the change - a two-thirds majority was needed - and from April 1, 1980, "Salop" was ditched and replaced by "Shropshire" on official documents and signposts.
Colonel Kenyon inherited the Pradoe estate from his father and joined the Royal Artillery in 1941. He subsequently served in Burma, and won the Military Cross during the Battle of Kohima in 1944. He also received the OBE in 1969 in recognition of his services to Nato.
It was while serving as a member of Salop County Council as an Independent that he hit the headlines with his campaign to have the name Shropshire reinstated. Colonel Kenyon is survived by two sons by his first marriage.
