Mistral. Journal of the Mersea Island Society. January 1996. Page 10.
A Real Mersea Character. Leslie French, who died in August 1995. This article by Cassell Johnson was written 1989/90.

A man of 85 who has hardly been off this island, he is the most contented I have met. He was born into one of Mersea's well known families in 1903, and so remembers much of the First World War. One event which stands out in his memory is the night in 1916 when a Zeppelin crashed at Wigborough, and he remembers the brightness with which it burned - enough to read a newspaper in Mersea High Street. The German prisoners were marched from Wigborough to Mersea and all the lads stood at the gates and watched. He also remembers hearing the big guns in France echoing across the channel.

Like many of the local boys he went into the oyster industry, and also did a bit of fishing and winkling. He told me of how poor families were, and how we was lucky to be one of just two children. His great Grandfather had been drowned bringing oysters from Burnham river; the book knocked him overboard. The two boys on board were unable to save him and they always felt sad about it.

As the years passed he was able to buy his own oyster layings and the fishing smack HYACINTH, for the princely sum of £175. The smack is still in Mersea, and does well in the Town Regatta.

Leslie always had a gift for painting boats and marine scenes. He was also keen on walking, and walked round the Island (about 12 miles) several times a year until he was 80.

After his father died, he cared for his mother for 20 years. When she died, he was very lonely, and took up painting again. He has painted hundreds of pictures, but would nevery sell them, though he has given many away. He has poor eyesight, but still does fine work in water colour. He listens to the radio, but has no time for TV. He is keen on riding his bicycle and takes a weekly ride to East Mersea to buy fresh vegetables. Quite a trip at 85!

Until six years ago he lived in the family house... the only house in Mersea without electricity, using oil lamps and a paraffin stove. He now lives in a fifties bungalow with electric light, a cooker and a refrigerator... he is still very wary of "the electric".

He does a bit of gardening and visits his elderly sister. He insists that he will never leave his home, and I do hope he will not have to. Last year he had a spell in hospital which he did not enjoy. He hadn't seen a doctor for 60 years, and was not even on the doctor's list. The day he crossed The Strood to come home, his face was one wide smile.

One could say of Mr Leslie French that he is a real Mersea character. In his own words "I have really got everything I want, and the days are not long enough for all I like to do".

That is true contentment !

[Leslie French wrote a book "Schoolday Memories", now republished by Mersea Museum as "The Memories of a Mersea Oysterman".]
Date: January 1996