Leslie Powell (8 Oct 1946 - 26 Aug 2022)
Donate in memory of
LeslieSouthampton Hospitals Charity
![](https://dleuvcgxlyz71.cloudfront.net/assets/img/jg-logo.png)
Donate in memory of
LeslieMotor Neurone Disease Association
![](https://dleuvcgxlyz71.cloudfront.net/assets/img/jg-logo.png)
Funeral Director
In loving memory of Leslie Powell who sadly passed away on 26th August 2022.
Leslie Ivor Powell (Les to some, Ivor to others) was the only child of Robert Leslie Powell and Phyllis Margaret Powell (nee Newman). He was born on 8th October 1946 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, but the family returned to Robert's home town of Southampton to find work. Young Les grew up in a prefab in Montgomery Road, Bitterne, Southampton where he was one of the first intake of pupils to attend Beechwood Junior School.
He decided at an early age that he was a practical type rather than academic and that he would like to work outdoors. As a result, his secondary school studies took place at Millbrook School, which meant that he took 2 buses every day. Millbrook School offered a specialist vocational course in Farming and Gardening. Teenage Les was too kind hearted to slaughter any livestock that he had cared for so opted for a career as a gardener.
His very first job when he left school aged 15 was as a trainee gardener at Moorgreen Nurseries. He stayed there until August 1964 when he moved to the University of Southampton. He was still living with his parents, who by this time had moved to a newly built house in Tatwyn Crescent, Thornhill, Southampton. The University supported his qualifications in Amenity Horticulture at Sparsholt College, Winchester and he was promoted to the level of Chargehand Gardener in 1970. After a spell at the main university campus in Highfield, Les moved to the Wessex Lane Halls complex where the grounds were originally landscaped by the famous 18th century gardener Capability Brown. Les often said that Capability Brown had more than 3 staff to manage the property but did not have modern equipment such as tractors!
In 1985, Les met Alison Macleod at the University Staff Badminton Club and they married in July 1987. The wedding took place in St Mary's Church, South Stoneham, on the estate where Les worked. He made sure that the grounds were in tiptop condition for the wedding photographs and the reception at Connaught Hall. He remained at Wessex Lane until 2009 when he started to work part-time at Avenue Campus and at the Vice-Chancellor's official residence at Birchwood in Chilworth. His work was very much appreciated by the Vice-Chancellor and his family until Les finally retired in October 2016. He received a long service award for 50 years in 2014 and was the University's longest standing member of staff.
His favourite leisure activity was photography and he joined Woolston Camera Club in 1984. His photography improved considerably after his marriage to Alison, where he appropriated the utility room in the family home as a dark room. He became a Committee member and eventually Chairman and President of the club and represented them on the regional meetings of the Southern Counties Photographic Federation (SCPF). In March 2017, Les received the SCPF's highest award by being entered on the Roll of Honour, in recognition of and appreciation for dedicated and long service to Photography in Club and Federation.
Les and Alison purchased their first motorcaravan in 2000 and travelled extensively throughout Europe. Their favourite destinations included Finland, Croatia, Hungary, Portugal and Italy. To celebrate their 30th (Pearl) Wedding Anniversary, they splashed out on a cruise to Canada, the USA and Bermuda. This was the holiday of a lifetime and provided plenty of material for photography competitions.
Les was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in May 2022, and with the consultant's blessing, embarked on one last motorcaravan holiday to France in June 2022. Les and Alison celebrated their 35th (Coral) Wedding Anniversary on 4th July 2022 quietly, at home, where Les enjoyed Alison's home-made trifle.
He died peacefully in Southampton General Hospital on 26th August 2022, with his loving wife Alison at his side.
He will be missed by all who knew him.
lit a candle
lit a candle
lit a candle
lit a candle
lit a candle
lit a candle
lit a candle
lit a candle
lit a candle
lit a candle
lit a candle
lit a candle
lit a candle
lit a candle
lit a candle
lit a candle
lit a candle
lit a candle
lit a candle
lit a candle
lit a candle
lit a candle
![Leslie Powell](https://d24pb0tc2lc7uj.cloudfront.net/SwdSAUHInMN79tpiSNi9-gWiLck=/fit-in/800x600/public/assets/uploads/a5df3414-a694-4b1e-93a6-5e32eeefc3dc.jpg)
our last photo together.
Happy memories of a trip to Honfleur, France, in 2012.
87 weeks gone and still sorely missed.
![Never forgotten, xxx](https://d24pb0tc2lc7uj.cloudfront.net/3XPFRYavOQ8j73MJNGqxCZIP0dw=/fit-in/800x600/public/assets/uploads/d142f425-d099-4ea5-80f2-58868e439503.jpg)
Never forgotten, xxx
![18 months since you left us, never forgotten.](https://d24pb0tc2lc7uj.cloudfront.net/3IiMFpIYB4QWnlIHj48Yq1XPaRE=/fit-in/800x600/public/assets/uploads/f6b019a6-cd2c-4fdc-bc9b-4a77a77b8279.jpg)
18 months since you left us, never forgotten.
77 weeks now, fond memories, xxx
75 weeks gone, never forgotten. Memories of your 70th birthday trip to Leeds, xxx
Bournemouth in 2005. 74 weeks, 1 year 5 months gone now, never forgotten, xxxxx
Remembering you on a trip to Mont St Michel, France in June 2013, xxx
Remembering you on our holiday to Provence in 2004 (Orange Roman Theatre). Missing you always, xxx
A lovely smile even though you were becoming unwell. My second Christmas without you and you are always in my thoughts, xxx
![Receiving the SCPF achievement award in 2017.](https://d24pb0tc2lc7uj.cloudfront.net/Scg8nH4Qs9eO7U1_rEBBkUAq-Zg=/fit-in/800x600/public/assets/uploads/4c34c189-de7f-40ff-a8f4-74e855268304.jpg)
Receiving the SCPF achievement award in 2017.
Remembering happy days in Switzerland, missing you, xxx
Leeds Central Arcade in 2016 for your 70th birthday. 59 weeks now, xxx
One year since your funeral and still very much missed, xxx
Honfleur in 2012. Gone for 56 weeks now and still missed very much, xxx
One year ago today that you left us, still missed, xx
50 weeks since you left us, I'm missing your cheerful smile, xxx
left home for the very last time one year ago tomorrow, 49 weeks since you joined the angels, missing you, xxx
![Thinking of you on what would have been our 36th wedding anniversary, xxx](https://d24pb0tc2lc7uj.cloudfront.net/rSX9xlsv5JTViFj1dOPrs7nTA1Q=/fit-in/800x600/public/assets/uploads/cf4b8c64-05ab-44c6-8241-05d8858301d3.jpg)
Thinking of you on what would have been our 36th wedding anniversary, xxx
We visited some wonderful places together. You left us 10 months ago but will never be forgotten, xxx
The cacti in the greenhouse that you nurtured for years still flowering beautifully, xx
9 months yesterday. Thinking of our visit to the National Botanic Gardens of Wales with the motorhome in 2022, one of our last holidays together.
Memories of a holiday in Switzerland in 2008.You've been gone for 37 weeks now and still very much missed, xxx
Cordoba 2006.
34 weeks since he left us. This was Merida in Spain, a few days before our 20th wedding anniversary in 2007.
The holiday of a lifetime, to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary in 2017. 32 weeks since I lost him.
The last photo of us together in Looe, Cornwall, September 2021. It's now 6 months since I lost you and you will never be forgotten, xxx
Thinking of you on Valentine's Day, xxx
Remembering you, always.
Thinking of you at Christmas, xxx
In happier times.
He knew it was coming - a relaxing moment on the last holiday in France, June 2022.
![Les receiving the SCPF Roll of Honour.](https://d24pb0tc2lc7uj.cloudfront.net/tLpRNcIEMfoRUvC6zG2daw_cF7g=/fit-in/800x600/public/assets/uploads/ae6c3519-3fde-4851-85f9-6f27c2704021.jpg)
Les receiving the SCPF Roll of Honour.
![Les and Alison on their wedding day (photograph by Derek Collins)](https://d24pb0tc2lc7uj.cloudfront.net/yyPHXLPRSNMkAFVwqN4VHD7WRi8=/fit-in/800x600/public/assets/uploads/033841ed-07b7-49c2-9ee2-e1d3ab3ab6ff.jpg)
Les and Alison on their wedding day (photograph by Derek Collins)
![Les alias Ivor receiving an award from the Vice-Chancellor Professor Don Nutbeam for 50 years' service at the University of Southampton.](https://d24pb0tc2lc7uj.cloudfront.net/olJhDbh4spFUoJPM0ndK4mcMwJc=/fit-in/800x600/public/assets/uploads/043106a3-526c-45af-9352-92b5bbbda08c.jpg)
Les alias Ivor receiving an award from the Vice-Chancellor Professor Don Nutbeam for 50 years' service at the University of Southampton.
The Moongate (kissing gate) in Bermuda, September 2017
New York, September 2017
![](https://d24pb0tc2lc7uj.cloudfront.net/VvrT9AhjiKmVi4v8DCYyqMIsszQ=/fit-in/800x600/public/assets/uploads/3f6ad373-601b-4110-aa83-902202c21ff9.jpg)
![](https://d24pb0tc2lc7uj.cloudfront.net/dsvtIGN5p1bVNqeet9RRg5r2Hlk=/fit-in/800x600/public/assets/uploads/2d1e8c57-b0b6-415e-9db6-616019fff339.jpg)
![My favourite recent photo of Les - he is smiling very naturally when I tested out my new smartphone.](https://d24pb0tc2lc7uj.cloudfront.net/8zN0MlwFJtmiJ05OfGbow_Gpl4s=/fit-in/800x600/public/assets/uploads/4b34e302-661a-43e2-a15e-a153982f6cb9.jpg)
My favourite recent photo of Les - he is smiling very naturally when I tested out my new smartphone.
Les in Torquay, September 2021
Comments