My Father  1906 - 1987

Leslie's Father died when he was quite young and when he left school he was put into a shop, but he persevered with woodwork at evening classes and became a first class cabinet maker. During the war he was deployed in Biggleswade repairing aeroplanes, especially Mosquitoes. They were made of wood then!

Later at home he would spend months completing items of furniture to a very high quality. His oft repeated favourite saying was if something is worth doing it is worth doing well . Although often parsimonious this followed though to if it is worth buying it is worth buying well, even though this did not happen often.

He did not go in for entertainment much but recognised his duty to take his son to certain important things that every one should see at least once in their lives: The Science Museum, The Lord Mayor's show and a few others. In this respect he could teach modern fathers a thing or two. They might buy many things for their kids, but they do not share them. My endearing memory of him is building my first Meccano model with him accompanied by the aroma of Erimore tobacco.