Custard is secret to Aylesbury WWII veteran's long life

BBC News

01-07-2025

When centenarians celebrate another landmark birthday, it is traditional to ask them what they attribute their long lives to.Early nights, or perhaps a favourite tipple, are among the common answers, but 106-year-old Leslie Lemon's is more unusual: custard."That's my secret to a long life: custard, custard, custard; rhubarb from the garden and custard," said Mr Lemon, a great-great grandfather, from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire."You can't beat it. I have it every day and I want it every day."
He said he still had no "aches and pains", slept well and was not currently taking any medication or seeing a doctor. Mr Lemon served in the army throughout World War Two, having joined in 1939 and left as a corporal in 1946.About five years ago, he received the Légion d'honneur medal from the French government in recognition of his contribution to securing France's liberation during the war.
Mr Lemon, the fourth of five children, was born in Ealing, west London, in 1919.He said he had a "bossy sister, who taught me right from wrong" and loved playing cricket.When his father realised war was coming, he encouraged him to sign up.Mr Lemon joined the Royal Engineers, and said he still remembered the "comradeship"."In the trenches, we had a young lad. He was scared, he asked me to pray and that saw me through, looking after him," he said."We were all scared, but we took it in our stride and accepted it. We were lucky we came through it - it was touch and go at one time."As the end of the war approached, he was stationed at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp."It was terrible. The Germans left and the British soldiers took over. We helped as much as we could," he said.
While stationed in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, he met his future wife, Doreen.They were married a year later, and his lifelong friend Leslie Grey was best man at the wedding. The couple remained together until 1999, when she died from dementia.They had three children: Michael, Mary and Richard. Mary died aged 10 from hepatitis, contracted from polluted seawater "You never get over it," said Mr Lemon.
When he was demobbed in 1946, he said he got the only job he could: "office boy" at the Inland Revenue office in Luton, where his wife worked at the Vauxhall car factory."Somebody's got to do it; nobody likes it. I worked my way up," he said.The family eventually moved to Aylesbury and he retired in 1979, aged 60. He had now been retired longer than he had worked, he said.His family - including eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren - visit him often, which he loves, and play cards with him, including whist.
Mr Lemon, a Luton Town fan, said his mindset may have helped his longevity."I've been there, done that, bought the T-shirt," he said.For anyone else hoping to live to a ripe old age, he had the following advice: "Take things as they come and be prepared to adjust; not to be too set in your ways. "I am quite happy as I am."
Mr Lemon's younger son Richard, 73, said: "He takes on a bit of stardust through his longevity. We're all very proud of him."He said just two days before his father's birthday, on Tuesday, the family gathered together for a special barbecue.When they hosted his 100th birthday celebrations, 60 relatives came. "It's an opportunity to recognise another year and it's the only time we all get together as a family," he said.
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