Noel Leng (24 Dec 1926 - 16 Apr 2018)

In loving memory of Ernest Noel Leng 'Noel' who sadly passed away on 16th April 2018.
Noel was born in Gosforth on Christmas Eve 1926. At the age of 14 years he left school and became a messenger boy for the Post Office, his father having also worked for the post office. He joined the Scots Guards and spent some time in Italy. After finishing his National service he returned to work in the post office. He started working behind the counter and worked up to work in the audit office traveling around auditing post offices across Yorkshire.
He met Audrey in Richmond where she worked in the bank there. They married on 5th March 1955.
They had 3 children, Susan, Nigel and Peter.
Noel and Audrey lived in Richmond and then moved to Leeds. After he took early retirement from the post office he started the next chapter of his life. He and Audrey bought the Old Mill House in Kirby Fleetham in North Yorkshire. The Old Mill House was dilapidated and their neighbour owned a lion and a llama and there were rumours of the ghost of the old miller wandering around. Unexplained things did happen in the house, so maybe there was some truth in it! They built a new house in the grounds and then knocked the old Mill House down. They then moved around various houses in North Yorkshire, making improvements before selling on. Noel was often planning his next move as he was emptying the packing cases from the latest sale much to Audrey’s dismay!
Their last project was their house in Whitby, a house that had water frontage onto the river Esk. They then moved to Patrick Brompton to be nearer their daughter in law after the death of their son Nigel. They moved to Dorset 7 years ago.
Noel loved to play golf in his younger days and had a handicap of 4. However building and renovating houses took away any spare time for golf. His mental arithmetic skills were phenomenal, probably due in part to playing darts regularly in his youth whilst downing a pint or two! Mental arithmetic being very important when you need to know how many points you need for your last dart! He also was a good table tennis and cricket player playing in the post office team for both sports.
The big love in Noel’s life was Audrey and his family was very important to him and he loved spending time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
During his lifetime he owned 11 dogs, 10 German Shepherd Dogs and 1 spaniel. He enjoyed walking them although training he left to Audrey and spending time in the countryside and as his mobility decreased enjoyed sitting in the back garden or conservatory watching the birds come to the feeding station that Audrey had set up there.
It can’t go unmentioned his love of a cup of tea with two sugars! His epitaph should say “Has it got sugar in it?”as this was the frequent comment from him as you gave him a cuppa!
His gentlemanly ways, kindness and sense of humour will be missed.
Funeral details are on this page and there will be refreshments afterwards at Audrey and Noel’s house 11 Milford Close, West Moors, BH22 0HA. Wear colours. Noel looked really handsome in blue. No flowers but donations gratefully received in Noel’s memory to The Alzheimer’s society. There is a link on this page for you to donate if you so wish.