Leonard LenWALLACEWallace Leonard, died June 11th, 2002. Len was born on December 7th, 1916, a native of Brentingby, near Melton Mowbray and moved to Waltham on the Wolds where his parents kept the Granby Public House. His younger brother, John, died when the Lancastria was sunk off Brittany in July 1940 and his elder brother, Cecil, died in February 1995. Len married Ivy (nee Poole) on March 20th, 1940 at St. Chad's Church, Leicester and their daughter, Marilyn was born on January 26th, 1947, she now resides at Waterlees. Ivy passed away on April 19th, 1996. Len was a former Leicestershire police officer. He joined the Leicester Constabulary in December 1937, retiring as Detective Inspector, in 1968. His police service was interrupted in August, 1942 when he was called up into the Army. He landed on 'D' Day, subsequently passing through Holland, Belgium and Germany. He returned to the Police Force in September, 1945 and served in various branches, uniform and CID, including the Regional Crime Squad, until retirement. After a short time employed as a security officer, Len returned to the Leicestershire Constabulary in a civilian capacity and served as an administrative assistant in the Higher Courts Department at Charles Street, Leicester. He retired for a second time in March, 1980. In his younger days he was a keen soccer player, playing left-half for the Leicestershire Constabulary team, for 20 years and captained the First X1 from 1948 to 1952. As a cricket lover, he was a member of the Leicestershire County Cricket Club for many years, he has served on the Management Committee and was the first Chairman of the Friends of Grace Road. He had a great love of gardening and of the countryside and his knowledge of Leicestershire and its communities was vast. He was a member of the Wigston Probus Club and was their President in 1987. He was much loved and will be greatly missed by family and friends. The service of cremation will be on Thursday, June 20th, at 2.15pm at Gilroes Crematorium, Groby Road. Friends and family are invited to meet together at the Premier Lodge, Groby Road after the service. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested for the Leicestershire, Rutland and Wycliffe Society for the Blind (please make cheques payable to VISTA) and should be sent to R C Weston and Son, Funeral Directors, 5 Saffron Road, South Wigston, Leicester, LE18 4TD, Tel. 278 3381.
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