Westward Ho! Man celebrates 100th birthday

A Westward Ho! man has celebrated his 100th birthday with a surprise motorbike rally at his care home.

Leslie Walter Wallace Whillock, although officially born in December, had his centennial celebrations on Sunday, June 9, to take advantage of the warmer summer weather. 

The event was organised by Georgie Merchant and the staff at Bluebell House Care Home, where Leslie resides.

The surprise birthday celebrations included a special gathering of motorbike enthusiasts. Leslie, a keen biker in his younger days, owned his own business and has extensive knowledge of classic and vintage bikes and their engineering.

Organisers were keen to assemble a group of bikers where they met at the Bideford Quay Car Park at 11am to head onto Leslie’s care home. 

Born in 1924 at York Terrace, Cross Street, Northam, to parents Walter and Elsie Whillock, Leslie moved with his family to 26 North Street in 1930, the same year his sister Christina was born. 

They lived together there for 86 years. 

Influenced by his father, an Engineer in Charge at Bideford Power Station, Leslie developed an early interest in engineering. 

He helped his father build a mini traction engine and trailer, now owned by an enthusiast in the Midlands.

Leslie's academic excellence earned him a scholarship to Bideford Grammar School. 

At 19, he joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) and served in Egypt until 1946, maintaining and repairing military equipment at the largest Military Workshop in Europe and the Middle East.

After returning home, Leslie started his own repair business on Honey Street, Northam, fixing everything from garden tools to motorbikes. 

His passion for engineering extended to building a working model of a Pacific Class 6-4-2 locomotive, LNER 113 (Heian Lassie), now owned by a collector in Warrington.

Leslie's hobbies included motorbikes, astronomy, fishing, and snooker. 

He owned a show-winning Norton, now with Doug Bushby, and a fast Rudge Ulster, which he rode on the Isle of Man TT course.

He also built a telescope and observatory in his garden, enjoyed fishing with his sister Chrissie at Westward Ho!, and played snooker regularly in Fore Street, Northam.

In 2018, Leslie and Chrissie moved to Bluebell House Care Home due to declining health. Chrissie passed away in 2021 at the age of 91, a loss deeply felt by Leslie. 

Despite this, he continues to enjoy reading and watching anything related to steam railways, astronomy, and snooker.

Reflecting on his 100 years, Leslie fondly remembers his time in the Army 80 years ago and cherishes the memories of a life filled with passion, adventure, and cherished hobbies.