Les Benton

Born in Altofts, West Yorkshire in 1944, Les was the third of four children and son of a milkman. He helped out on the morning round and would still proudly demonstrate how many milk bottles he could hold in one hand years later. Once the working day was done he attended Normanton Grammar.

He joined the Inland Revenue as a tax officer at 18, working for them until he retired in 2004.

He married Andrina in Kirkstall in 1968. Work took them to Tottenham, but he was always a proud Yorkshireman at heart and they took the first opportunity to return to Bradford

(in case one of the children was going to play for Yorkshire Cricket Club), before settling in Baildon in 1981.

His dedication to public service extended well beyond his immediate job. He was the welfare officer for colleagues at the Inland Revenue who found themselves in difficulty, and his willingness to listen to those who needed help was seemingly limitless.

A big smile, eagerness to muck in, and love of being with (and chatting to) other people made him a keen community volunteer in retirement too. He worked at Wesley’s Cafe Community Hub and food-bank, drove people to hospital appointments for the Red Cross, and as Chairman of the local Scouts helped young people take trips as far as the Swiss Alps.

His socialism was rooted in personal action and compassion rather than noisy protest. Boycotts of companies that didn’t meet his ethical standards were strictly and eternally observed, even if they rarely had the desired impact.

But he was anything other than a defeatist. He saw the best in everyone and was imbued with an innocent kindness and generosity of spirit. His greatest pleasures were the simple things in life: family gatherings, fish and chips, cakes, rugby league, liquorice, and days at the coast.

He was a member of Yorkshire CTC cycling club and, with a bit of electrical assistance, was

still completing 50km rides a few weeks before he died. In his final days he was promising his Sunday morning cycling pals and his Ukulele group that he’d be back practising with them soon.

He is survived by his wife Andrina, children James, Elise and Jessica, and grand-children Jack, Harry, Lottie, Eve and Nina.