15 June 1928–13 January 2026
The sad news that Len died on 13 January 2026, at Luton hospital, was passed on to us from John Betts – a fellow member of the Pipe Club of Norfolk.
Len was born on 15 June 1928 and joined HMSO on 4 September 1944. He worked in London and Basildon Reprographics before dispersing to Norwich, where he worked in Supplies Division until retirement. John has added the following notes:
‘Len’s son Jim said that last week there was talk about getting Len back to the care home but yesterday morning it was agreed the hospital would keep him comfortable and pain-free and let nature take its course. They expected him to last a few more days and Jim said he had been planning to visit again today, so the phone call that Jim received yesterday to say Len had died came as a real shock. Jim said he had been surprised at Len’s rapid rate of decline since moving down from Norwich to Hertfordshire last November. Len didn’t say anything, but it’s almost as if his mind and body had decided not to fight the inevitable.
As Len got older (he was 97 last June) and had fewer and fewer friends, he decided he did not want a thinly-attended funeral – so he will be cremated and the family will get together in better weather to scatter his ashes somewhere with an RAF connection. Len was always very proud of his service and connections to the RAF.
A lot of us know that Len was an enthusiastic member of the Pipe Club of Norfolk and had achieved notable successes in Club, National and International pipe smoking competitions. He was an officer and a gentlemen. We are all the poorer for his passing.’