Leslie
Smith was born in 1920 and finished his school days at F.G.S. in 1937. He had
progressed from Newport Road School, Aldershot in 1931 to Aldershot County High School in its
co-educational days before transferring to Prospect Road in 1936. He was a keen athlete throughout
his life and played football for all three schools.After leaving school he joined the Metropolitan Police and worked as a civil administrator. As with most young men of that era his life was touched by the war. He enlisted in the army and was attached to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers – R.E.M.E. He was among the last British troops to be rescued from Dunkirk in June 1940 having spent 48 hours hiding in the woods evading the German troops who were looking for them.
When the war ended he left the army and met his wife Dorothy to whom he was devoted for over 50 years. During the early years of married life he ran his own business selling household goods. When he eventually decided to sell the business he obtained employment at Shepway District Council in Kent where he remained until he retired. Whilst with Shepway council he was a member of N.A.L.G.O. and was elected to be the local district leader. On retirement in 1981 he and Dorothy moved to Frinton-on-Sea where he passed away peacefully aged 85 in 2005.
