Dad was born to Edgar and Julia Kitney on the 10th of June 1940 in Rainham. He was raised in 59 Station Road and for a short time alongside his cousin, Christine. At 12 his sister Ruth was born and you can see in old family photos his pride of being a big brother. His other cousin, Don said despite Keith being 11 years older than him and not seeing him much, he still has fond memories during the 60s when the family would gather together. Even then, Dad loved to be around family.
In 1954, at the age of 14, Dad joined the Royal Marines school of music at Deal where he played a variety of instruments from Violin, clarinet and trumpet. Whilst there he took on lots of different roles. Usually to benefit himself somehow. He enjoyed kitchen duty peeling potatoes or giving tours on a Sunday as it got him out of the mandatory church services. Being sporty he included himself in lots of different activities; one of which was Boxing.