From Mark (Len’s nephew) and Linda

Hi Lorna,
Please accept our condolences on the loss of such a wonderful dad, personally speaking I have such fond memories of Uncle Len and the times I used to stay with you and work with him in the garage. My favourite memory was working with uncle Len in the garage it was freezing cold all day then at the end of the day we went to wash our hands. He took me out to the old galvanized water tank which had about an 1" thick layer of ice on it, we proceeded to wash our hands in the icy water after breaking the ice with a hammer.........he was a tough cookie.

Another memory was when he asked me to assist him take out a gearbox. I sat in the car whilst he worked underneath, after a few minutes he shouted to me to grab the gearstick and hold on for dear life, so there I was probably only 13 years old holding the full weight of this gearbox with my uncle directly below, that was a bit worrying. He was a great man and although we all drifted apart I know I will miss him dearly.

Unfortunately we are not going to be able to make his Shindig, if it were any other day it would be possible but we have had Hayley’s 21st birthday (28th Feb) booked for months now and it cannot be cancelled. Linda and myself are so disappointed that we won't be able to come but hope all goes well as I'm sure it will.

Please wish everyone well and express our sorrow at your loss especially Paula and Toni

With Love
Mark and Linda

xx

And oldie but goodie

Here's a little photo I just found of Mom and Grandad walking me around the garden at 9 Post Office Road.

Len & Beryl

A Blogging Good Idea

A few days before the shinding I thought I'd Google Grandad, just out of curiosity, and I was shocked to find just one entry: a link to the archives of the Royal Aero Club. But, I then thought, why would he have an online presence? I doubt he'd ever been on the internet, or indeed given two shits about it.
However, now that the funeraling and shin-digging is over I feel it's time to put all of those words, images, videos and whatnot somewhere more accessible. Blogs are free and easy. So a blog it is.

You can comment on everything I put up at the bottom of each entry, and there will be links at the side to previous posts that don't appear on the main blog feed.

I'll set to work typing up all of the stories and comments that we had at the shindig, but we need MORE. So send you Len-based anecdotes to jimtheralley@gmail.com

Also, Mom/Paula is working on a rather exciting looking family tree. So watch this blogspace.

Until next time
Jim (grandchild, son, cousin, nephew, brother)