He grew up on the main island of Mahe and upon reaching 19 years he left Mahe for Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, Africa to work as an engineer with the British Oxygen Co.

He returned to Mahe for a holiday in September 1956 where he became engaged to Anne Cecilie Yvonne Paul, whom he married 3 months later on December 27th. The newlyweds returned to Tanzania in Januray 1957 and continued to work there until 1962 when Tanzania got their independence from Great Britain.

They then decided to move to London, settling first in Turnpike Lane and later moving to Palmers Green. Here they raised 2 children, Susan born March 3rd 1966, and later a son, David born September 3rd 1970. Leon continued to work for the British Oxygen Co., whilst Yvonne began working for BOAC, later to become British Airways. It was the travel benefits that Yvonne received from her job that allowed the whole family to go on holidays to exotic places. Leon than switched jobs and began working at Edmonton College as a technician and later on as a teacher until his retirement in 1995.

I have many fond memories of dad, as do many of mine and David's friends. Dad was a very sociable man enjoying the company of others over a glass of Glenfiddich with some music in the background.

Music was one of dad's great passions stemming from his early days of playing the banjo. His taste ranged from Jazz to 40's Big Band to Country music to current day's pop music.

Another major source of entertainment for dad was watching old World War II movies and Westerns. David and I grew up with John Wayne and Clint Eastwood and repeatedly watched such classics as Guns of Navarone, The Great Escape, Kelly's Heroes, The Magnificent Seven, The Dirty Dozen, A Fistful of Dollars and many more. At the same time one of dad's favorite pastimes was to watch Tom & Jerry cartoons.

Anyone who knew Dad will know about his love for cars. He was a Ford man for many years, then switched to a Volvo and finally settling with a Saab.