When asked where his favourite place in the world is, Leo simply answers, ‘Home. Lacock’.
We met by chance in November 2018. Sat against the wall next to Lacock Church, his friend sat beside him. It was the beautiful bicycle next to them which drew us to approach. Before we knew it, we were immersed in his stories of Lacock village, a place he calls home and has done for the past 85 years.
I was welcomed in from the cold, to be greeted by the warmth of the fire in his quaint cottage at the heart of the village. As we talked, I saw an old photo of a young woman, with a necklace hung upon the frame. “That’s my lovely Norma”, he said “she passed away three years ago”.
Norma was the love of his life and he often speaks about her. They were married on the 27th December 1958, the day after Boxing Day, in a snowstorm with a bouquet of snowdrops. For his own funeral, Leo wants to record himself singing two songs, because he wants ‘to raise the roof one final time’.
Whenever I visit Leo, he tells me the incredible stories of his life. Together we decided to create a piece of work that would serve as a glimpse into his extraordinary journey.
“Have no enemies and count everyone as your friend”.