Leonard Wright aged 8 years old
My husband Leonard William John Wright was born on 25 June 1932 in Hoxton the north-east area of London. He was a son of Lilian Margaret and Leonard William Wright and an older brother to his 16 months younger sister Ann Margaret. Mum looked after the family while Dad worked as a skilled craftsman for John Jaques of London.
The family soon moved south of the river into the terraced cottage in Stockwell, so Dad could be closer to his workplace.
According to Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaques_of_London
The popularity of chess during World War II helped MI9 hide items in chess games sent to British and American prisoners of war, because the chess sets were made of wood, especially the Staunton chess sets by Jaques of London. The inside walls of the chess pieces box were hollowed out “…to secrete maps, currency, documents, hacksaw blades and swinger compasses.” The large chess boards were perfect for supplying to prisoners “…counterfeit documents, maps, currency and other contraband.” The chess pieces themselves were hollowed out and used to hold messages, compasses, maps and dye to help turn uniforms into civilian attire. The base of the piece was often screwed in with a left turn screw, so any attempt to unscrew the base normally would only make it tighter.
In later years both Len and Ann liked to think that their dad might have been involved in espionage but he never talked about it!
Florrie Wyatt at Verbena Terrace, Radway Street
When the war broke out and the bombing of major cities started, just like many other children Len and Ann were evacuated into the country.
In 1940 and 1941 they came to the village of Bishopsteignton. Sadly, the children did not stay together and their experiences were very different. Ann was looked after by a childless couple and she missed her Mum very much.
Len was billeted with the Wyatt family, with Florrie and Mabel Wyatt, at number 5, Verbena Terrace. The row of houses still stands to this day. It was one of the pretty red brick cottages across from the top of Radway Hill. The current address is 15, Radway Street. The views from his window over the Teign estuary would have been unforgettable.
Although there were no boys in the family Len soon made friends with Dougie Dawe and Stevie Evans, whose mum ran the village shop next door to where he lived.
It was a small shop but it sold everything that anyone might need and Mrs Evans always seemed to be busy.
View from Radway Street
Like all the village children Len attended school which was located on Shute Hill. He was in the class of Miss Hawkins. Miss Hawkins was kind and gentle and very patient. If children worked hard and did well they would often be rewarded with sweets. She also played the piano for the children to sing.
After school, there were games that boys would play in the fields staying out until late. They could go off quite happily without any adults.
The boys would go exploring or go on a search for the source of the stream on Dougie Dawe’s dad’s Ash Hill Farm, on the edge of the village about 10 minutes walk from Verbena Terrace. Len always remembered banks of primroses which were growing there and they remained his favourite flower. The image of clumps of primroses by the stream was the desktop background on his computer.
Len also remembered the bluebells and foxgloves and dog roses, which grew all around.
Ash Hill Farm
Occasionally, he boys kept guard in the nearby barn where the white barn owl had a nest. They would wait patiently for the beautiful bird to fly out so they could get a glimpse of it.
Life in the country for a little London boy seemed quite magical. These were unforgettable experiences and Len always held those happy memories dear, which is why, later in life when the time came to leave London he, would come back to live and settle in Devon.
After the war
After the war the family continued to live in their cottage in South London where Len attended Clapham Secondary Central, finishing at the age of 16 with excellent grades in all major subjects.
In 1948, straight after leaving school Len began his apprenticeship with the General Post Office to train as a Telephone Engineer. He first attended Training School at Sydenham. Later, during his employment he trained at the GPO Engineering Central Training School in Yarnfield in Staffordshire.
In 1950, turning 18 Len was conscripted to the National Service. As a GPO trainee technician he served with the Royal Corps of Signals and for two years was stationed in Malaya. He attained the rank of Sergeant and was highly respected. He was discharged with an exemplary record and awarded a General Service Medal.
Leonard Wright at the Sydenham Training School 1949, seated centre of third row from top.
Leonard Wright just before going on leave and Dixie the dog Malaya 1950s
In 1952 after returning to civilian life, Len was appointed a fully qualified GPO Technician. The whole of Len’s working life was connected with the General Post Office, later BT. He enjoyed his work very much.
In early 60s Len and a group of 11 colleagues set up a GPO Gliding Club. They trained at Wycombe Air Park known locally and nationally as “Booker”.
Leonard at Booker Air School
In later years when on duty Len was responsible for the functioning of the trunk cable network for the whole of the UK including the Irish Republic. He was based in London in the Faraday Building until his retirement as a GPO Higher Technical Officer (HTO).
Len always remembered an idyllic time he spent in Devon as a youngster. After his retirement, in 2009 he decided to move from London.
Once again, as in his Bishopsteignton evacuee days, he had a great good luck to find another ideal Devon spot to live in, which was a secluded cottage in Okehampton located on the former woodland plantation, reminding him of his childhood experiences of wildlife, beautiful countryside and views of rolling hills.
He soon made many new friends and got involved in local projects, including placing and the unveiling of the historical plaque, dedicated to the Polish Navy which stationed in town in 1940s.
Since the war Len visited Bishopsteignton only once.
This was shortly after he returned home from his military service in Malaya, during one of his trips on his beloved Vincent HRD Rapide motorbike. He saw Florrie Wyatt and his young friends.
Len on a Vincent HRD Rapide motorcycle
After settling in Okehampton Len was thinking of visiting Bishopsteignton again. However, after exploring the map on Google Earth and discovering how much the village has changed over the years, he decided that it might be better not to come. Len felt that his special memories might be lost forever and replaced by new images and he would never want that to happen.
Instead he spent sometime in Teignmouth and he looked at Bishopsteignton from a safe distance.
We lost Len to a stroke on 3 November 2023. He left behind four children, two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.