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Les Reed: 18.03.1945 - 12.06.2017
(The Bloke From The Smoke) |
Les has been an "Occasional Git" for years now... here he is at JU15 in August 2014 and at Linda's Banner Workshop, Swindon in October 2013 
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Here he is with Alan, knocking back a mug of char after FEB at Wetherspoons in Basingstoke Old Town 
and staying resolutely TT while the Gits quaff ale after a hard day on the flying field 
Enjoying a swift half at Basingstoke KF 2012 
Skybums Workshop 2010 - Les looks as pleased as Punch with this big one! 
Flying a Skydancer kite with the inventor David Davies in August 2003. 
David spoke very highly of Les, and said that he spent many hours flying with him! Skydancers over Windsor Great Park - video of Con Engels by DD April 2016 - UPDATE After a fall at home, Les spent several weeks in hospital and is now resident here: - Aronmore Residential Home, 64-66 Hallowell Rd, Northwood HA6 1DS Tel. 01923 825940 If you are able to visit him there, please do so, but we suggest you phone them first. 1st May 2016 - Keith and Alan paid him a visit They delivered his JU18 T-shirt, a GOG mug, a GOG feather and a tin of GOG mints. 
They also took a laptop to show him the Facebook Photo Album done by his friends. The plan is to print these photos and put them in a photo album for him to keep, and we hope that his friends will continue to send him photos by post, to add to that album. 3rd July 2016 Keith & Alan O visited Les again in Northwood - sad to report they found him more confused than on their May visit, and there was talk of him being moved again. 3rd March 2017 Keith had a call from Les's nephew (his only known relative) to say that Les had deteriorated to the point where he needs to stay in a secure unit. This effectively means that there is no further chance for his friends to visit him. We are all very sad about this. 12th June 2017 We are all saddened to hear that Les passed away at midday today. Our thoughts are with his nephew Steven, and his ex-wife Kate who was one of the last people to visit him. FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS Wednesday 28 June at 2:00pm - Islington and Camden Crematorium, 278 High Road, London N2 9AG Then afterwards for the wake at Steven's house - 34 Leonard road, Chingford, London E4 8NE Dress code = full kite festival regalia (extra LED sets for hats are available on the day) N.B. if you cannot make it there, please let Keith have any stories, anecdotes or fond words of farewell that you would like him to pass on to Stephen, to be read out at the service if he wishes. Thank you! 
Thank you Sandra, for these photos of the flowers and of those GOGs who were able to attend 
At the memorial park in Chingford. On the right in the suit is Les's nephew Steven. Centre is Les's ex wife, Kate. On the left is Kate's husband. 
Email from Steven:- I would like to thank all that came on Wednesday for his funeral. If anybody is interested, instead of flowers you can donate to Alzheimer's research. Jacqui has fond memories that she'd like to share:- I met Les in 2012 at the Jolly Up, not knowing anyone. Les immediately welcomed me and sat with me offering his strange herbal drink - turned out to be Sarsaparilla! I will always remember Les for his kind friendliness, and of course his quirky, eccentric, happy ways. I will remember that welcome forever. Les, fly forever... Keith has many memories:- I'm struggling to remember where it was I first met Les "The Bloke from the Smoke" Reed.
Was it Petworth, Brighton, Middle Wallop? I just don't know. He was always there with his VW Camper.
I don't know how many awnings he had for that Camper, there was alway a new one.
He loved his Indian fighter kites and always had some to offer for raffles and auctions. His favourite was the Mac Fighter. He loved his coffee and you could always count on the kettle being on. Any new camp cooking aid, Les was always ready to try and happy to share it's outcome. Cadac Pancakes? I should think every kite flyer has had one or two of Les's Pancakes! Les was generous to a fault, but he did have a blind spot regarding his unruly kites. Les didn't mind how may kites he got tangled with or cut out the sky as long as his kite was still flying. I'm going to miss untangling mine and other kites from his lines. No matter how much you shouted "LEEESSSSS!" If he was drinking a coffee, he would not hear. I still remember when my Workshop Cody was cut out of the sky at Jolly Up. Les was the one who helped me search, the morning after, he would not give in. climbing over fences, squeezing though gaps in the hedge, over fields even onto the M3. Only finally giving up, when Breakfast was mentioned. Happily, my kite came back. I still don't know to this day who it was that returned it. Sarsaparilla, Les loved to share his sarsaparilla, always a teetotaller but he would join you for a drink in the pub, never understood how he could do that. Thank you Les, life is full of Characters, you were someone so very special, not there in your face, but just quietly making life a little more bearable and memorable. The Bloke from The Smoke is in all of us, and I'm thankful I was part of what made Les Les. Rest in Peace my old friend, we will remember you with much affection. |
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