Latest news with #LeslieLemon
Wales Online
06-07-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
'I'm 106 years old - this sweet treat every day is the secret to my long life'
'I'm 106 years old - this sweet treat every day is the secret to my long life' Great-great grandfather Leslie Lemon was born in 1919 106-year-old Leslie Lemon eats custard every single day (Image: SWNS ) A Second World War veteran who has just celebrated his 106th birthday revealed the secret to his long life - eating custard every single day. Great-great grandfather Leslie Lemon favours Bird's but says he always has a tin of Ambrosia's ready made in the pantry for emergencies. His preferred pudding is rhubarb with custard, but he doesn't turn down a good trifle either, enjoying his custard cold. Born July 1, 1919, Mr Lemon said: "The secret to a long life is custard. Rhubarb from the garden and custard." Custard isn't just an occasional treat for him; it's a daily indulgence. He said: "I eat it every day. I prefer it cold. It's nice in a trifle. You can't beat it." Even in moments when preparation time is scarce, he's prepared. "I usually have the powder but I've got a ready made Ambrosia in the pantry for emergencies," he continued. "You should always have a pudding." Leslie celebrated his 106th birthday on July 1 this year (Image: Lemon Family© SWNS ) Leslie, from from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, has now been retired for longer than he worked - having worked as an office boy for Inland Revenue, now HM Revenue & Customs until he was 60 in 1979. Article continues below Throughout the Second World War he served as a corporal and he received the Légion d'honneur medal from the French government five years ago. But Mr Lemon said he remains youthful at heart despite his centenarian status. "I don't feel older at all,' he said. Remarkably independent for his age, he said: "I've got no aches and pains. I don't take any tablets or medications. I never see a doctor." With eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, the veteran also has a soft spot for Britain's favourite takeaway, considering fish and chips his second choice after desserts. However, Mr Lemon's he added: "Everything in moderation." For his 100th birthday, Mr Lemon was gifted a special Bird's custard jug. He also received a card from Queen Elizabeth II. Leslie received the Légion d'honneur medal from the French government five years ago (Image: © SWNS ) Since then he has also been recognised by King Charles and Camilla for his 105th and 106th birthdays, with the cards displayed on his mantelpiece. He noted the biggest change in his lifetime as video calls, admitting, "The thing that has changed the most is video calls. I can't work it myself. I'm a bit old fashioned." Mr Lemon and his late wife Doreen were married in 1944 and shared their lives until her passing in 1999. Their family included three children, Michael, Mary, and Richard; although Mary passed away at 10 due to hepatitis from polluted seawater. Leslie Lemon married Doreen in 1944 (Image: Lemon Family© SWNS ) Richard, now 73, reminisced about their childhood: "When we were growing up, we always had fresh fruit and veg - no one froze things in the 50s." He added that his father has always been an advocate for dessert, especially custard, which has been a staple for as long as he can remember. Supermarket Asda has celebrated Mr Lemon's love for custard by awarding him a year's supply free of charge. An Asda representative commented: "We'll all be taking a leaf out of Mr Lemon's book and enjoying more custard going forward, we hope he enjoys a free year's supply on us." Article continues below "When life gives you lemons add custard!". The Lemon family said: "He's absolutely delighted. He'll probably put it all under his bed."
Metro
03-07-2025
- Health
- Metro
106-year-old man gives secret to long life and he eats a mug of it everyday
A centenarian has put the key to a long life down to a simple combination — rhubarb and custard. Leslie Lemon, who turned 106 on Tuesday, attributes his good health to a daily fix of his favourite pudding. '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.' The great-great-grandfather, from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, favours Bird's but always has a tin of Ambrosia in the pantry for emergencies. He said he has no aches or pains, sleeps well and is not taking any medication or seeing a doctor. The World War Two veteran is free to indulge his sweet tooth after helping to see Britain through some of its darkest days. He served in the Army throughout World War Two, signing up in 1939 and leaving as a corporal in 1946. He was awarded the French Légion d'honneur medal in recognition of his contribution to the country's liberation during the war. Born in 1919, he was the fourth of five children in Ealing, west London. The Luton Town fan told the BBC that he had a 'bossy sister, who taught me right from wrong' and loved playing cricket. He was encouraged by his father to enlist as the war loomed, and he joined the Royal Engineers, where he found 'comradeship'. 'In the trenches, we had a young lad,' he recalled. 'He was scared, he asked me to pray and that saw me through, looking after him. 'We were all scared, but we took it in our stride and accepted it. We were lucky we came through it – it was touch and go at one time.' The soldier was stationed at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp as the end of the war approached. 'It was terrible,' he said. 'The Germans left and the British soldiers took over. We helped as much as we could.' He met his future wife, Doreen, while stationed in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, in 1943, and they married a year later. She died from dementia in 1999. The couple had two sons, Michael and Richard, and a daughter, Mary, who died aged 10 from hepatitis contracted from polluted seawater 'You never get over it,' Mr Lemon said. After being demobbed in 1946, he worked as an 'office boy' at the Inland Revenue in Luton, while his wife was employed at the Vauxhall car factory. He retired in 1979 aged 60 after his family had moved Aylesbury. More Trending Mr Lemon is often visited by his family, including eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. He plays cards, including whist, with the younger generations. Sixty relatives gathered for his birthday celebrations when he turned 100. Mr Lemon had the following advice for anyone wanting to live to a ripe old age: 'Take things as they come and be prepared to adjust; not to be too set in your ways. I am quite happy as I am.' MORE: Want to live to 100? One single factor could be the key MORE: 100-year-old woman says the secret to a long life is 'not speaking to strange men' MORE: There are three secrets to hitting 100 – and they work at any age
Daily Record
03-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Second World War hero says secret to reaching 106 is classic UK food he eats each day
Leslie Lemon celebrated his 106th birthday recently and has shared what he believes is the reason for his long life. A Second World War veteran who just celebrated his 106th birthday attributes his impressive longevity to a daily dose of one classic food. Leslie Lemon, a great-great-grandfather from Aylesbury, Bucks, has a penchant for custard, particularly Bird's custard, but keeps a tin of Ambrosia's ready-made custard on hand for emergencies. His dessert of choice is rhubarb and custard, although he's also fond of trifle with custard, served cold. As he celebrated his 106th birthday - he was born on July 1, 1919 - Mr Lemon, who served as a corporal during the Second World War, said: "The secret to a long life is custard. Rhubarb from the garden and custard. "I eat it every day. I prefer it cold. It's nice in a trifle. You can't beat it. I usually have the powder but I've got a ready made Ambrosia in the pantry for emergencies. You should always have a pudding." Having retired from his role as an 'office boy' at Inland Revenue, now HM Revenue and Customs, in 1979 at age 60, Mr Lemon has enjoyed retirement longer than his working years. His service from 1939 to 1946 earned him the Légion d'honneur, France's highest and most prestigious order of merit, five years ago. Despite his advanced age, the great-great-grandfather-of-two insists: "I don't feel older at all. I've got no aches and pains. I don't take any tablets or medications. I never see a doctor." Mr Lemon, who has eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, expressed his fondness for fish and chips as his second choice of meal. He said: "You can put custard with apples, gooseberries, any fruit from the garden." Upon reaching his centenary, Mr Lemon was presented with a special Bird's custard jug. His mantelpiece boasts three Royal correspondences – a letter from Queen Elizabeth II for his 100th birthday, alongside two from King Charles and Camilla commemorating his 105th and 106th milestones. When asked about his secret to longevity, the Ealing-born centenarian advised: "Everything in moderation. I'm so lucky and I'm quite happy." But he's not a fan of all new innovations. "The thing that has changed the most is video calls," he said. "I can't work it myself. I'm a bit old fashioned." Mr Lemon and his late wife Doreen, who passed away in 1999, married in 1944 and had three children together: Michael, Mary, and Richard. Tragically, Mary succumbed to hepatitis caused by polluted seawater at the age of ten. Youngest son, Richard, now 73, reminisced: "When we were growing up, we always had fresh fruit and veg - no one froze things in the 50s. Dad is a believer in that you should always have pudding and he's had custard as long as I can remember." Asda has awarded Mr Lemon with a year-long bounty of complimentary custard. A spokesperson for Asda said: "We'll all be taking a leaf out of Mr Lemon's book and enjoying more custard going forward, we hope he enjoys a free year's supply on us. "When life gives you lemons, add custard!" Mr Lemon's loved ones confirmed: "He's absolutely delighted. He'll probably put it all under his bed."
BBC News
01-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Custard is secret to Aylesbury WWII veteran's long life
When centenarians celebrate another landmark birthday, it is traditional to ask them what they attribute their long lives nights, or perhaps a favourite tipple, are among the common answers, but 106-year-old Leslie Lemon's is more unusual: custard."That's my secret to a long life: custard, custard, custard; rhubarb from the garden and custard," said Mr Lemon, a great-great grandfather, from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire."You can't beat it. I have it every day and I want it every day." He said he still had no "aches and pains", slept well and was not currently taking any medication or seeing a doctor. Mr Lemon served in the army throughout World War Two, having joined in 1939 and left as a corporal in five years ago, he received the Légion d'honneur medal from the French government in recognition of his contribution to securing France's liberation during the war. Mr Lemon, the fourth of five children, was born in Ealing, west London, in said he had a "bossy sister, who taught me right from wrong" and loved playing his father realised war was coming, he encouraged him to sign Lemon joined the Royal Engineers, and said he still remembered the "comradeship"."In the trenches, we had a young lad. He was scared, he asked me to pray and that saw me through, looking after him," he said."We were all scared, but we took it in our stride and accepted it. We were lucky we came through it - it was touch and go at one time."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, were married a year later, and his lifelong friend Leslie Grey was best man at the wedding. The couple remained together until 1999, when she died from had three children: Michael, Mary and Richard. Mary died aged 10 from hepatitis, contracted from polluted seawater "You never get over it," said Mr Lemon. When he was demobbed in 1946, he said he got the only job he could: "office boy" at the Inland Revenue office in Luton, where his wife worked at the Vauxhall car factory."Somebody's got to do it; nobody likes it. I worked my way up," he family eventually moved to Aylesbury and he retired in 1979, aged 60. He had now been retired longer than he had worked, he family - including eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren - visit him often, which he loves, and play cards with him, including whist. Mr Lemon, a Luton Town fan, said his mindset may have helped his longevity."I've been there, done that, bought the T-shirt," he anyone else hoping to live to a ripe old age, he had the following advice: "Take things as they come and be prepared to adjust; not to be too set in your ways. "I am quite happy as I am." Mr Lemon's younger son Richard, 73, said: "He takes on a bit of stardust through his longevity. We're all very proud of him."He said just two days before his father's birthday, on Tuesday, the family gathered together for a special they hosted his 100th birthday celebrations, 60 relatives came. "It's an opportunity to recognise another year and it's the only time we all get together as a family," he said. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
