Football legends join hundreds honouring the life of Leon Crouch
AROUND 600 people gathered to pay tribute to the life of Lymington industrialist and philanthropist Leon Crouch.
Stars from the world of football mixed with family, friends and former employees at the memorial service at St Thomas Church.
Some attendees dressed in Southampton FC shirts – Leon having been a life-long supporter of the club, twice serving as chairman.
FA Cup-winning former Saints manager Lawrie McMenemy gave a reading in memory of Leon, who died recently aged 70 after a short battle with cancer. His three daughters also paid touching tributes: Hannah read the eulogy, Lara a poem she had written and Louise movingly reminisced about him.
Joining them at the service, which was led by the Rev Canon Andrew Neaum, was ex-Saints striker Mick Channon and recent former managers Nigel Adkins, Nigel Pearson and Dave Merrington.
Other attendees included Patrick Trant from Trant Construction who shared a box at Saints’ St Mary’s home with Leon; Tom and Betty Moorcroft, who were close friends and business partners of Leon at Accurate Section Benders; and staff from Leon’s Lymington-based firm Sea Talk Systems, where he worked as chairman until his last few weeks.
Town councillors, including mayor Cllr Anne Corbridge, were also there.
Hannah told the A&T: “It was a great privilege to say goodbye and honour our father today surrounded by so many family, friends and supporters.
“As a family we are immensely proud of his success and achievements during his lifetime, but most of all for the incredible kindness and generosity that he showed so many people. Leon’s generosity was simply endless. He will forever be in our hearts and memories.”
She added: “One thing I know for certain: there will never be another man like Leon Crouch.”
As reported last week, Leon was the youngest of six children and, despite leaving school with no qualifications, he became a successful businessman. At the age of only 22 he took over the S.J. Fullers company and he went on to become a multi-millionaire after founding the Fullers Group of engineering firms and creating the Gordleton Industrial Estate.
Away from the boardroom he gave his time and money freely to worthy causes – donating millions to Lymington hospital and Oakhaven Hospice, both being very close to his heart.
He also helped lead the drive for funding to establish Lymington’s recreation centre, was on the committee that stopped the closure of the New Forest community hospitals, an active and prolific campaigner for the establishment of Lymington New Forest Hospital and the chairman of its League of Friends, the hospital itself and a patron of Oakhaven Hospice. He was also a town councillor for 12 years.
Leon had been active in sporting circles as a young man: he was a cox at Lymington Rowing Club, played football, was a keen skier and sailor, and a member of the Lymington Water Polo team. He also loved boxing at the Lawrence Boys Club in the town.
In his later life he ploughed money into Lymington Football Club and Bashley FC, and also bought a boat for Lymington Rowing Club.
A passionate Southampton FC fan, he was a popular figure among many supporters who heralded him as the club’s saviour when it hit financial troubles in 2007.
Leon ploughed hundreds of thousands of pounds of his own money into the club to save it when its very existence was threatened, and paid some of the players’ wages.
That involvement led to him having two short spells as the club’s chairman, while he was also cherished among fans for paying out of his own pocket for a bronze statue outside the ground of club legend Ted Bates, which remains at St Mary’s today.
Fittingly, Leon’s thanksgiving service concluded with the attendees clapping and singing When The Saints Go Marching In.
