Les was born in Cardiff in April 1940, his father Arthur was a member of Military Intelligence working at Bletchley park.His mother was Florence Francis. Leslie grew up in a comfortable middle class home his father was in senior management at the then Guardian Insurance Offices. The family later moved to Camarthen where Leslie attended the local high school, completing his A levels. His involvement in martial arts began as a young teenager when he got the Judo bug. Les like many young men of that time joined the Armed Forces in 1958 1st Batallion The Royal Rifle Regiment and was sent to North Yorkshire for training.Having been a long time member of the Carmarthen Rifle Club he faired well on the shooting range and was subsequently trained as an armourer under Staff Sergeant John Pelham he became very knowledgable on Russian firearms.Les saw service in Cyprus and Aden and came back home to Carmarthen a Lance Corporal having been seconded to a Specialist Unit who found his firearms skills and knowledge useful. Les found it difficult to settle and threw himself back into Judo with the Cardiff Judo Society who located near Clifton St Police Station.Here he met Frank Baldwin, and ultimately Sensei Kenshiro Abbe who's influence profoundly changed Les by introducing him to Aikido. Aikido remained Les' passion for the rest of his life, he travelled to Kyoto in Japan in 1963 at the suggestion of Sensei Abbe to further study at the Kodokan, he worked his passage via Osaka on board ship.Les became proficient in many Martial Arts disciplines, 8th Dan Aikido,7th Dan Judo, 4th Dan Karate, 2nd Dan Kendo 1st Dan Iaido. He held numerous titles Welsh Judo Open Champion,Finalist in the British Kendo Championship 1966, Midlands Area Karate Champion 1966 and many more.He has trained a myriad of individuals across those disciplines many of whom are now senior Dan grades themselves. He remains a much loved and respected character in Martial Arts not only in the UK but overseas where his teaching tours took him regularly. Les lived many lives, he was a Policeman in Rhumney Cardiff and affectionately known as "Oddjob" by his collegues a reference to his formidable skills. A musician and chorister a senior college lecturer,a loyal friend and a devoted husband. Whatever he did it was with great humour, endless patience absolute committment and love, he is sorely missed by everyone who was fortunate enough to know him.