Len & June Leatherbarrow at a Lancs & Lakes Christmas Dinner
The funeral took place today of a well respected and well liked Winger, Len Leatherbarrow, who died recently after a long period of illness.
June and Len had been active and popular members of Lancs & Lakes Region of GWOCGB for a number of years before increasing infirmity forced Len to give up riding his beloved GL1500 trike in 2004. His final ride was the Blackpool Light Parade of that year, an Event which Len and his wife June always enjoyed. Len was made an Honorary Life Member of the Region when he retired from riding.
Apprenticed as an electrician at age 16, shortly afterwards Len volunteered to join the Royal Navy, in which he served during the post-war period before reverting to civilan electrician for 13 years in the mining industry. He then took a job with Kellogs where he worked froi 27 years until ill health forced his early retirement at age 63.
Len & June on their Trike
Len got married at age 21 and he had three daughters but his first wife died in 1990. He then met his wife June, who also had a daughter; it was one of those rare “love at first sight” encounters and Len and his second wife June were a Derby & Joan couple from the outset. Len also fell in love with Scotland and all things Scottish and would invariably wear one of his two Kilts to any formal occasion. He wore one of them to his funeral too.
Len and June led an active live together and had been keen on horse riding before switching to a GoldWing. Both Len and June were keen on charity work, which they became very involved in.
In his later years Len was also a doting Grandad and Step Dad and it was probably contact with a granddaughter which helped him pull round when he was very seriously ill to enjoy a few more years. A tribute to his caring nature by his Step Daughter Sue was read out at the Funeral Service. The Lay Service was conducted by Sheila Deinton and the secular music included an orchestral arrangement of Some Enchanted Evening, a tune which had special meaning for June and Len.
Len will be remembered by his Winger friends as being invariably kind and considerate in his dealings with others and this is the way he stayed until the end of his life. Ten former members of Lancs & Lakes attended the funeral.