Lesley Irving (26 Apr 1942 - 22 Dec 2021)

Sadly, Lesley died on Tuesday 22nd December 2021, it would be great to say she died peacefully at home but that just wouldn’t be Mum. She met her Maker, kicking and screaming and although in the last couple of weeks she faded fast, she still had strength and gusto to the end. In recent years, Lesley would joke, “I still have a few more people to upset so I’m not going anywhere just yet”. Now though, we mourn the loss of a Wife, Mum, Grandma, Great Nanna and Friend.

Lesley was born in Hillingdon Hospital where she would later go on to give birth to her three children Sean, Nicky and Lorna. The eldest daughter of Dorothy & Leslie Moore and eldest sister to Annie, Hilary and Jeff. She was a very proud Grandma to Michael & Gary Lee and became Great Nanna to William, Owen, Lenny, Bonnie and Jack.

From a very early age, she loved dogs. Her mum would say that Lesley would often be found underneath the table, or in the dogs’ bed, chatting with them endlessly.

Growing up in Southall, she loved athletics and became an accomplished athlete, destined for the 1964 Olympics but for the Russian doping scandal which meant the British team selectors decided not to take a team to compete in Tokyo.

In the last weeks of her life, she reflected on many happy childhood memories, a couple in particular - the family had a bird called Billy, he followed Lesleys Dad everywhere in the house. One day, after a knock on the front door Lesleys dad opened the door to find a keen young man, ready to collect Lesley for a date. “Hello Mr. Moore, did you know there is a bird on your shoulder?” No reply, no greeting, the door was slammed shut in his face.

Another memory was the day Jeff was born, at home, while her Dad was at work. The girls waited to tell him the news. They always knew when he was close to home as he whistled loudly while walking. “It’s a boy” they shouted to him. He stopped and spun around the washing line and shouted yippee! This was a memory Mum repeated several times so clearly a fond one.

Mum married Michael in 1962 and Sean came into the world in November 1963 - the first-born son & grandchild and the apple of everyones eye, Nicky came 2 years later with her bright blue eyes and her youngest, Lorna, arrived 3 years afterwards. Always flanked by dogs, Lesley was known locally as the lady who walked her dogs in bare feet.

She met and married Keith in April 1974 and they moved from West Drayton to Albert Road in Yiewsley - famous for New Years Eve parties and love of Boney M played loudly at midnight. Two great danes ruled the roost at that time. A yearly tradition was to buy a Christmas Hamper and one Christmas Eve, the family went out for the day. Upon return, the two dogs, Likie and Thor stumbled towards them, seemingly drunk. They were! - every single item of the Christmas hamper was opened, eaten, licked and drunk. Indoor plants uprooted and the house looked like a bomb site!

Her love of German Shepherds never went away though, there was always a shepherd in the family mix and as an accountant by day and dog breeder by night, her first litter of puppies arrived in the early eighties.

This planted a new seed that she could do this full time, so she and Keith decided to buy a house and plot of land in Devon and with her mother Dorothy joining them, this became a small holding, and the real hard work began. With dogs and cats to begin with, four goats, two miniature shetland ponies, fourteen sheep, two pigs and the wonderful Abbie – our donkey, the family group was complete. A new breed of dog also entered the fray – the Anatolian carobash.

Many years were spent in Devon, some happy, some sad, some hard but the Moore humour always cut through and laughter saw many a bad day turn into a good one with a witty remark taking the pressure away in an instant.

A necessary house move saw Lesley & Keith move their flock to Westonzoyland for a short time. Soon enough, fate stepped in with Lesleys friend Clare and a random request for help meant that she found a true friend in Sylvia Foster and their Somerset chapter became the longest and last chapter in the story. Fosters Orchard became home, adding sheep, chickens, ducks & more goats into the already large flock, Lesley was involved in German Shepherd and anatolian carobash rescue, changing many dogs and their subsequent owners’ lives.

Being on the Somerset levels, inevitably Fosters Orchard flooded regularly in late winter. Lesley became a leading light and chairwoman of the North Curry Flood Group, canvassing the environment agency to protect the levels by dredging the rivers and rhynes, appearing on radio, television and in the local newspaper. Her phone call to Channel 5’s The Wright stuff saw Mathew Wright corrected and put in his place by her which caused much amusement to her family & friends.

Bad floods in 2000 and 2014 saw them evacuated to higher ground. In 2014 it took a year to return to Fosters Orchard, but Lesley fought hard and finally the river was dredged. To date, the flood water has risen but not overwhelmed the levels, this is, in some small part, due to Lesleys voice.

Although Lesleys health deteriorated in recent years, her strength and determination sustained her weekly shopping trips to Pynes, for the finest cuts of meat, to Mr Carrots farm shop, for fresh vegetables, to Winstays for feed & straw for the livestock and, of course, for fresh tripe for her beloved dogs that she would spend hours chopping and mincing to provide meals for the week ahead.

Her love of animals was life long, particularly her love of dogs, whatever chapter whatever weather, whatever circumstance – there was always a dog by her side. Here’s hoping all the dogs in Heaven greeted her with loud barks and wagging tails and they are by her side still. Sleep well Mum.
In her memory - we have chosen to support the PDSA (the peoples dispensary for sick animals) because they have a number of Pet Hospitals that offer unconditional assistance and love to our four legged companions, in times of financial difficulty and social hardship. There is a link at the top of the page, if you would like to donate.

Given the recent COVID restrictions Mums wishes were to have a direct cremation, this will take place on 7th January 2022. This will be a private, unattended ceremony.

She has asked that we scatter her ashes at sea with her beloved dogs, with so many cremation boxes already in the wardrobe, this will take us some time and certainly some planning!

Mum loved this poem: The Master Weaver

Our lives are but fine weavings,
that God and we prepare,
each life becomes a fabric planned,
and fashioned in his care . . .

We may not always see,
just how the weavings intertwine,
but we must trust the Master’s hand,
and follow His design.

For He can view the pattern,
upon the upper side,
while we must look from underneath,
and trust in Him to guide.

Sometimes a strand of sorrow,
is added to His plan,
and though it’s difficult for us,
we still must understand.

That it’s He who flies the shuttle,
it’s He who knows what’s best,
so, we must weave in patience,
and leave to Him the rest . . .

Not till the loom is silent,
and the shuttles cease to fly,
shall God unroll the canvas,
and explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needed,
in the Weaver’s skillful hand,
as the threads of gold and silver,
in the pattern He has planned.