Dedicated to the memory of Len Down
This site is a tribute to Len Down. He was greatly loved, we miss him terribly but he will always be in our hearts and memories.
Recent Donations
3 months ago
Anonymous
Thank you for the care to our friend Len Down .
3 months ago
Laura, Neal and family
What a wonderful man Len was, always great fun and we were blessed to have known him. We are sending Nora and family all our love at this sad time.
3 months ago
Elaine
Thinking of you all and sending much love. Your darling Len will be in your hearts forever xx
£25.00 (+ £6.25 Gift Aid)
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Thoughts
I have many very fond memories of Len, especially from my childhood. I was lucky enough to spend quite a bit of time at Godshill Park House and always felt so welcomed by both Len and Nora. Whether Len was preparing the cricket pitch on the front lawn for James and I to get in some much needed practice, or putting us in our place on the table tennis or snooker table, or at supper time somewhat begrudgingly offering up his favourite custard yogurts for pudding, he always did so with a sense of fun and a large dose of mischievousness.
He loved his sport and always enjoyed watching James and his team mates playing fixtures whether that was cricket, rugby or hockey and would frequently offer warm words of advice and encouragement, something I always appreciated after another low score or having been hit for too many runs than I should have been!
I also remember his patience and calm demeanour particularly after yet another ball was dispatched from the garden into his prize rhododendrons or listening to James sing along to U2’s latest album on the school run - the latter requiring ear plugs as well patience!
He was a wonderful family man and that came across in spades - kind, generous, and always interested in your latest news. He will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him and although there is understandably much sadness with his passing, there is also much to celebrate for a wonderful, full, happy and loving life lived.
Olly Scadgell
9th August 2024
Len’s trip to Bollene
Len was captaining Ventnor Rugby Club in May 1979 when we travelled to Bollene for our annual fixture against the French side. This was Ventnor’s fourth fixture against Bollene but having won the two home games in 1976 and 1978 but lost the away game in 1977, Len was determined to get a win on French soil.
Of course we were seriously wined and dined and I was in danger of enjoying the liquid welcome rather too much and Len gave me (and others) a quiet word. This was serious! Jeff Hose and I were housed with a couple where the husband - Patrick - had been banned from playing for a year for thumping a referee (!) so he was determined to diminish our chances by dragging Jeff and me to every party he could find in that very sociable region. We eventually hit the sack at five in the morning of the game. But, with Len’s words still ringing in our ears, we kept our intake to a minimum and many a pot plant ingested beer and Pastis that night!
Come the game, none of us were feeling in top-top shape - a feeling exacerbated by the realisation that our French welcoming committee (who had all claimed to be players) were gathered grinning in the crowd as a completely new bunch of monstrous Frenchmen took to the field which, being so far south, was rutted and as hard as concrete.
I still maintain that nothing brings you back to reality quicker than eight French forwards running over you and we were soon into a battle royal that ebbed and flowed - the only constant being the level of commitment and sheer violence shown by both sides. It was all square deep into the second half with Len keeping us in the game with penalties and his ability to ease pressure with his phenomenal touch finders.
The game turned in our favour after clean line-out work from which Len worked a classic three-quarter move that set Jeff free to arc round and touch down under the posts. Len slotted the extras and it was left for us to repel the evermore desperate attacks of the frenzied French before the final whistle blew and Len had his win on French soil that his captaincy and performance deserved. The changing room resembled a battlefield triage ward with all on us wearing the dual scrapes of French studs and French soil!
Jeff and I experienced a strange evening in which our host, Patrick was so upset by our win that he wouldn’t speak to us at all while we supped the spoils of victory in the form of an extremely ‘young’ product from the local vineyard cooperative!
It was probably Len’s favourite win in his illustrious career as Ventnor’s skipper and it says a great deal not only about his talent on the field but also the force of his character that somehow created a winning mentality among our disparate group.
James Morton
8th August 2024
My clearest memories of Len are from Ryde School and Isle of Wight sporting events; rugby and particularly cricket. Len was an astute observer of our matches rather than being openly vocal as I recall. He was someone I remember wanting to impress with bat or ball. I fear I let down rather than lived up to expectations more often than not, but his presence was always reassuring - even if the look was often one that could be interpreted as either: 'what in the world was that shot, fishing outside off' / 'those half track long hops are always going to get put away....' / 'how have you managed to get run out again!'. He was in many respects an ever present on the boundary, and a genuine supporter of us all.
Other memories include the immaculately kept grounds and wicket at Godshill Park House, and the 'home advantage' provided by the fast top table tennis table.
More recently I recall an afternoon / evening of autumn international watching on the TV in Guildford and really enjoying the comments and insights, which in turn brought back memories of watching (I'm pretty sure) England beat France in Brook, again on TV (HD definitely didn't exist in 1991), it was 21 - 19 and a first English Grand Slam in 10+ years. Philippe Saint-Andre scored one of the game’s greatest ever tries, but it also included a Rory Underwood one for a famous victory (French flair v England's pack). Probably more for James - but a little bit of nostalgia here: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdXDgn62PNg
Len - thank you for the childhood fun, support and smiles.
Freddie (Fred) Scadgell
6th August 2024
