Wherever people have lived there is a story to be told — a unique story. And when someone special to us all dies, we begin to tell that story. Today it is Len's story that we are telling. It is a story of a good and faithful servant of God who was our dear friend. But it is a story for which we can all give thanks. Today Lens life story passes before the eyes of our mind and we recall how we had known him, and how he became such a special person to each of us.

Leonard was born on the 3st December, 1922. His early years were spent in and around the Falmouth area. Len used to affectionately tell the story about how his Mother with him and his family would walk from Lanner to Penryn to see the Grandparents, and how when it used to get dark walking home he used to feel frightened.

At the age of sixteen Len entered the Merchant Navy, where he worked as a steward in the officer's mess. He served in the Navy for many years. On leaving he then took lodging at Penponds with Mr & Mrs Ben Treloar who was a farmer / coal man. Len worked for Ben for a while. During this time he met Mary and they were married in 1954 in Treleigh church by the Reverend Hawthorne. After which, for a while they lodged with the Treloar's. Later they moved to Trelissick Farm nr Carehayes where Len worked as a herdsman working for the owner Mr Hawkins and where Mary stayed the devoted housewife. He never approved of Mary having to work, he was the breadwinner. Some nearly three years ago after Mary died I offered to take him off out for the day, and he took me all around Carehayes, and I saw where they both set up home, the little farm cottage, the farm and we visited the little church which gave Len such pleasure and comfort to visit again except he would I'm sure have rather been with Mary.

In those years at Trelissick Farm they were very happy, he worked hard for little pay, but they had each other and that devotion to each other was to remain with them for the rest of their lives. After working on the farm for many years they later moved back to Penponds where Ben Treloar sold them their little home in Fore Street. Len then began working for Holman's, again where he worked for a good few years.

They both settled in Penponds and began a long association with the village church there, and remained faithful members of it for many years. Later they became associated with this church here in St Day Len had

been for over twenty years. Here he remained Head server, MC at the Mass, lay administrant of the chalice, and member of the PCC. He loved this little church, and it is his families wishes that all donations from his funeral will be given for the life and work of this parish church. When St Day church was united with St Paul's, Chacewater he would follow me down to serve at the Mass there also each Sunday. You could always rely on him, and he would help in any way he could in his usual, quiet, polite way. One of the first people I met on my first visit the then vicarage just after I was appointed here thirteen years ago was Len who with paintbrush in his hand was painting the vicarage entrance.

Len and Mary were also very involved in the community at Penponds. I understand that they restarted the horticultural show there, and children's horticultural show. They also founded the Old Peoples club. Len was also involved in the mens institute in Penponds. And had been until relatively recently.

Of course many of us will remember him for his long association with organising the Cornish Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady Walsingham assisted by Mary. This year would have been his thirty first year as organiser. But it had been become a huge struggle, especially this year. Things had never been the same since he lost the help and support of his dear love and companion Mary. But we shall all miss him dearly for being such a faithful organiser of the pilgrimage. That devotion to Our Blessed Lady will go with him on his journey to be with God. Len had been involved in many church organisations among them he was a member of the Guild of servers and Society of Mary.

Leonard and Mary spent a lot of time at Treveth, North Country with May and Bill, Nigel, David and later Lisa, Tracy, kirsty, Jemma, Ryan, Daniel, Thomas.

Mary's death knocked the bottom out of Len's life he gave up in so many ways However, he would meet up with his sister Laura each week travelling to Falmouth then travelling back up to Camborne for lunch with her at the Donald Thomas centre.

Now we must bring Len's earthly life to a close and place it into the Christian context in which we shall lay him to rest.

For a good a faithful servant of God there is no greater epitaph than these words from St Paul: `I have fought the good fight to the end, I have run the race to the finish, I have kept the faith'. Leonard had indeed kept the

faith, and what we do here today in this Eucharist he participated in all his life. Today we offer the Mass for him.

The book of Wisdom says: `but they are in peace those who are faithful will live with him in love; for grace and mercy await those he has chosen'

Our faith, and indeed Len's faith in the risen Christ, assures us that Len is now at peace and enjoying eternal life. And we must ask Len today to pray for us as we pray for him.

For those of us who are left, we have those special memories of Leonard to treasure. Those memories can never been taken away. Our Christian hope is that one day we shall see him again and share in his love and friendship.

Each one of us is a tenant. Anything we have been entrusted with in this life has been entrusted by God. We hold only temporary possession. Len has gone to be with God, what he did while he was here on earth was to show us all the goodness of God. As we give thanks for that today we pray that God will give him eternal rest.

Leonard fought the good fight to the end, he ran the race to the finish and he kept the faith.