An esteemed British author, who had been honored with an MBE, passed away following a tragic incident in Thailand where he was struck by a reckless motorbike rider. Barry Kenyon, aged 84 and hailing from Lancashire, was hit by the motorcyclist while crossing the road on his way to meet friends for dinner in Pattaya on a Saturday evening. The collision occurred near a central reservation close to traffic lights, causing Kenyon to fall to the ground. He was quickly rushed to a local hospital in Lancashire, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Before retiring in 1995, Kenyon had a distinguished career as a policeman and headteacher. Upon moving to Thailand, he served as a British Honorary Consul and managed the local bridge club. The authorities in Pattaya have initiated an investigation into the accident that took place on Thappraya Road. Lieutenant Akrapong Saenputawong, the deputy investigation officer at Pattaya City Police Station, disclosed that the collision involved a motorcycle operated by a 38-year-old Bangladeshi national named Mr. Rana Mama and the British pedestrian Barry Kenyon.
The incident occurred around 7 pm on October 18, 2025, in front of Rung Ruang Company near the Pattaya intersection. According to Lieutenant Saenputawong, Kenyon was crossing the road as the traffic light was transitioning to green, and the motorcyclist happened to be passing by, leading to the tragic collision. The crash site was not at a designated crosswalk, and authorities are currently examining CCTV footage to determine the precise cause of the accident. Alcohol testing confirmed that the motorcyclist was not intoxicated at the time of the collision.
Following Kenyon’s untimely demise, his friends have expressed their grief and paid heartfelt tributes to the author. George Albert, a close pal, fondly remembered Kenyon as a “gentleman” who will be deeply missed. Albert praised Kenyon’s insightful discussions on intricate topics like immigration and taxation, highlighting his expertise in Thai regulations and his talent for bridging cultural divides, which garnered him respect from both Thai officials and expatriates.