Tributes to '˜wonderful' friend and father '˜Len'
LOVED ones have united to pay tribute to Leonard '˜Len' Russell, who died last month aged 94, ahead of his funeral tomorrow afternoon.
Long-time friend and chairman of the city’s Dickens Fellowship, Tim Suffolk, used to meet Leonard at the Manor House in Cosham for a cup of tea every Friday.
Their tradition followed on from one the late pilot shared with his wife before she died in 2014.
Remembering his pal, Mr Suffolk said: ‘I will miss Len very much.
‘He was a very good-hearted, generous and kind man and he was a wonderful friend.
‘He had a great sense of humour – often self-deprecating – which did not fail him until the final days of his life.’
Leonard and Jean’s only son, John, 70, praised his parents ‘unconditional support’ for him.
He said: ‘Dad was open to anything and as parents he and my mother ticked all the boxes.
‘Myself and dad’s contemporaries – and even their children – will be there to show our support tomorrow.’