Tributes paid to Aylesbury WW2 veteran, 106, who loved custard

BBC News

16-07-2025

Tributes have been paid to a 106-year-old war veteran who recently attributed his long life to "custard, custard, custard". Leslie Lemon, from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, died on Friday, just 10 days after his birthday.His granddaughter Ruth Lemon said he was a "constant presence in our lives". She described him as "a war hero, our hero, and the family patriarch who wore his position with a gentleness and lightness of touch, unwavering positivity and a resolve to carry on".
The great-great grandfather served in the army throughout World War Two, having joined in 1939 and left as a corporal in 1946.His son Richard said he had fallen and broke his hip on 5 July, and was successfully operated on at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. However, he died six days later after contracting a lung infection. "It's difficult to sum up 106 years," he said. "He was always optimistic and positive and he never gave up - it was a full indication of a life well lived."Up until the end he was engaging with the family, in his gentle way."Mr Lemon celebrated his birthday with a family barbecue on 29 June, and again on the day itself, 1 July."He achieved everything he wanted to do, and possibly a bit more," his son added.He said the story about his father's love of custard, covered extensively in the media, meant he had a "brief encounter with celebrity, which really chimed with his sense of humour". He added: "He was moved by all the comments placed on social media."
Speaking to the BBC just days before his 106th birthday, Mr Lemon said he had no "aches and pains", slept well and was not on any medication. He also revealed his unusual recipe for longevity."That's my secret to a long life: custard, custard, custard; rhubarb from the garden and custard," he said."You can't beat it. I have it every day and I want it every day."
Born in Ealing, west London, in 1919, Mr Lemon joined the Royal Engineers just before war was declared. As the end of the war approached, he was stationed at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp."It was terrible. The Germans left and the British soldiers took over. We helped as much as we could," he said.
While stationed in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, he met his future wife, Doreen.They were married a year later, in 1944, and remained together until 1999, when she died from dementia.They had three children - Michael, Mary and Richard. Mary died aged 10 from hepatitis, contracted from polluted seawater.
After he was demobbed in 1946, Mr Lemon worked for the Inland Revenue until his retirement in 1970, aged 60. The Luton Town fan loved cricket, reading, playing cards and spending time with his two sons, eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
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