Another story;another life!

Len Warner Dad died when I was eight and as I was one of five so life was not very easy for my mother. In order to become a breadwinner I left school at fourteen. I then studied at Wellingborough technical college in evening classes and spent a lot of my time doing this. I was determined to do something with my life and decided at that time to study draughtsman ship and building.
I have always been interested in architecture and would have loved to have made a career as a architect but due to financial implications coupled with the fact that it would have taken seven years to complete I followed up my second choice. I worked at Hunter and Penrose in the drawing office .I was then called up to do my National Service and went into the R.A.F. 1946. Whilst there I went into the Clerical Dept and continued as a draughtsman.

After I came out of the Air Force I saved enough money to be able to go to the Art and Design College in Northampton for two years. During this time I collected a portfolio; from this I was chosen to go and work at a studio in Northampton; it did not satisfy me totally though. I felt that I needed to be doing things for people so I became an officer in the Salvation Army. I moved to Finedon in 1965 soon after finishing my career in the Salvation Army. During this time I must have had twenty four homes in different places including Northern England and Northern Ireland.

I also worked for a time at Bournemouth where I was a Youth Officer and I worked there for two years.
I decided to return to live locally as I wished to offer support to my family who were caring for my elderly mother. I felt though that I wanted to live on the outskirts of Wellingborough. When a house came up in Church Street that I liked I decided this would be a good place to live. I did not, however, think that I would be living here for long as I was looking for a social work job at the time.

I had been in the Labour League of Youth since my youth. Soon after arriving in Finedon I heard that the Labour Party needed a Secretary and I agreed to take on this post. This then stood me in the position of being able to stand for the Urban District Council and the three of us who stood were returned unopposed and this was in the sixties.

I feel that I have been quite active working in the community and have helped people where I can. When I was on the Urban District Council I became more aware of what was needed. I had lots of requests for help. It tended sometimes to be difficult meeting the needs of everyone as I was working at Greenwich at the time and I left for work in darkness and returned at home in darkness.

I have been on the Parish Council since its inception and that has been eighteen years and I am now in my second year as Chairman. I was Secretary of the Carnival Parade Committee this was for two carnivals. I unfortunately had to resign from everything when I went to work abroad in 1971.I returned from abroad in 1973 and worked in the Borough of Brent for social services but by this time I had a car so I was able to drive down to London I had kept on my house in 1974 in Church Street.
I was a founder with George Henderson of the Community Association.

We did all the hard graft of seeing it set up and saw it inaugurated at the Co-op Hall. I was the Acting Secretary and George was the Acting Chairman. I was also Secretary of the Community Centre. I was the Area Officer of the Stroke Association after retiring from social services.
Several people requested setting up a Stroke Club and this happened in 1990.I also became a member of:
Northamptonshire Community Health Council which was a watchdog body and I did a four years stint.

I am a Chairman of Wellingborough Pensioners and Retired Persons Association; covering the whole borough area including Finedon. We meet once a month. I am also Secretary of the Northamptonshire Branch of the Christian Socialist Movement. I am a devout Christian and have been so for most of my life.

I feel that by giving in life I get. I have tried to do my bit in God’s Vineyard. I can't do anymore. I always remember the epitaph on someone’s grave "he hath done what he could" this is what I would like as an epitaph on my gravestone.