Charles Legg (7 Dec 1944 - 6 Jan 2021)

In loving memory of Charles Legg who sadly passed away on 6th January 2021

Charles Richard Legg was born on the 7th of December 1944 to Rose and Richard Legg. His brother James was born 11 years later in September 1955.

Charles attended Earls Hall Primary School and then went onto Westcliff High School for Boys, where he studied his O and A Levels.

Carole remembers Charles telling her of a childhood memory, when he and his friend Terry thought it would be a good idea to stew some apples over a candle. It must have taken a while as Charles and Terry only used one candle to cook them with!
Maybe they should have used 4 candles?

After leaving school, Charles went on to study at Kings College London, achieving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering.
While at University, he lived in Balham, London during this time with Mr & Mrs Bolt.

As James is 11 years younger than Charles, James mostly remembers family holidays that were taken after Charles had already left home to go to University. However, James fondly remembers one holiday to Scotland in 1966, with Charles and their Mum and Dad.
Charles and their Dad shared the driving in their Dads new car, which was a Wolseley 16/60.

James remembers a life lesson he learnt at Charles’s expense. One day, during his time at University, Charles and a friend were getting into his car and Charles still had his thumb in the car door frame by the windscreen, which he was cleaning. The friend went to close the door, accidentally nipping Charles’s thumb. This then involved a trip to the hospital where his thumb was dressed, after removing the nail.
James remembers that lesson, to always keep your digits clear of any doors!

After University, Charles’s first job was at ST&C (Standard Telephones and Cables) in Basildon.

When Charles was 22, he met 19-year-old Carole at Victor Silvester Ballroom Dancing classes, in Southend High Street. It was located above the old Odeon cinema – which is now a Barclays Bank. Charles remembered first seeing Carole on the steps of the dance school and has been smitten ever since.

Charles and Carole were engaged on Carole’s 20th birthday and then they married here at St Laurence & All Saints Church on the 6th of September 1969. Their Honeymoon was celebrated in Carla Bona, Majorca.

Charles was both loved and valued by both his Mother-in-law and Father in-law and was a tremendous support to them throughout their lives.

Shortly after their honeymoon and because of house prices and a new job opportunity, Charles and Carole moved to Bingham, a village outside of Nottingham. Charles worked for Plessey on Transmission Equipment, very similar to his work at ST&C.

While living in Bingham, Charles and Carole were blessed with two daughters, Sarah was born in June 1971 and Angela was born in June 1973.

The family moved from Bingham to Arnold – also near Nottingham - and Charles changed jobs and worked for IBM Nottingham as a programmer. He later became a Systems Analyst.
When IBM closed their Nottingham office, in the spring of 1975, Charles moved the family back to Leigh-on-Sea, so he could commute to London to continue working for IBM.

After many years in London, Charles decided he wanted to spend more time with Sarah & Angela, so got a new job in Southend working for C E Heath, which is where Sarah also later worked.

Charles then worked for Datasure in Baxter Avenue. Datasure changed it name to Rebus Insurance Solutions and Charles transferred to Basildon as a Client Manager until he retired at the end of March 2006.

When Sarah and Angela were children, they both remember enjoying family holidays. They started off with a small caravan they nicknamed ”the Egg” which was a touring caravan and they stayed at Cliff House Caravan Park in Suffolk. This area was already a favourite of Carole’s, after her Mum and Dad took her there on family holidays.

The family continued to stay at Cliff House on a regular basis over the years, staying in a number of different caravans, the last one was a marvellous static Caravan they owned which had decking, and all the mod cons. The family enjoyed many happy years there together. Charles was delighted to have remained dear friends with Lesley and David who they first met at Cliff House over 35 years ago. Charles would often talk of their friendship and Sarah remains friends with their children Zoe and Karen.

Before finding their ‘home from home’ in Suffolk, Charles took his young family on a number of different holiday destinations throughout Europe and America.
Angela, Sarah & Blane especially remember their trip to Florida staying in a Villa. They recall visiting all the theme parks in Orlando, as well as the shopping malls!

Charles and Carole later went on holidays with Sarah and Blane to Gran Canaria and Angela and Graham to Tenerife.

Other holidays Carole fondly remembers included a Norway Cruise to see the Northern Lights – unfortunately taken at the wrong time of year, so the lights were off…. This trip also took in Finland and Sweden.

Another memorable holiday for Carole was their 25th Wedding Anniversary trip to Hong Kong, Singapore, Bali and Java and then their 40th Wedding Anniversary trip to Sorrento, Italy, taking in the Amalfi coast.

Sarah married Blane in 1995 here at the family church and at the wedding reception during the Father of the Bride speech, Charles referred to when Sarah was first born. The Midwife asked Charles what the name of the little girl was, “Sarah Joy” he replied, “that’s nice”, said the Midwife "share our Joy" and that’s all Charles wanted, for all loved ones, family and friends to share his joy of Sarah and Blane getting married.

Blane remembers Charles generously giving up his time when his Land Rover had a small electrical fire, Charles spent a week working on the car and completely rewired it for him.

Graham remembers being very nervous when asking for Angela’s hand in marriage. Angela inherited Charles’s methodical manor, always writing lists and ticking off jobs. When Graham asked Charles for permission, Graham thought he would have to have a list of the reasons why he was a good suitor. Much to Graham’s relief he got away with it, Charles just shook his hand and congratulated him.
Charles may have sometimes had a serious exterior, but inside was very generous, thoughtful and good humoured, especially at family teas, meals and parties.

Sarah has fond memories of how organised her Dad was, she remembers he always had a to-do list on the go and one item always on every list, was to make the next list.

Angela knew that Sarah had already been on a Daddy/Daughter day, and not wanting to miss out, decided on her own Daddy/Daughter day trip. Being an accomplished organiser and prolific list maker – like her Dad – Angela decided they should go on a day trip to London. Commuting from Shoeburyness, taking in the Museum of London in Docklands, on to the Cutty Sark and lunch at the Old Royal Navy College in Greenwich. This was followed by travelling to Westminster by boat, visiting The Banqueting House, then the Victoria and Albert Museum, finally having dinner at The Queens Head Piccadilly, then a sleep on the train home. All this in just one day – it’s all in the planning - like Father, like Daughter!

It will come as no surprise that as Charles was so organised, he arranged his burial plot here at the family church 35 years ago.

Sarah and Blane gave Charles two Grandchildren, Ben born in 2000 and Emma born in 2002. Emma remembers tricking her Grandad when they were on holiday in a waterpark in Majorca. Emma called Grandad over to tell him something, and she and Ben then pulled their Grandad into the water fully clothed, where he got completely soaked. Grandad was a good sport - who adored his Grandchildren!

Charles would take Ben and Emma out individually for special trips to London every year. The children have happy memories of their time spent with Grandad.

Charles didn’t have any pets when he was younger, so Carole introduced Charles to dogs and dog training classes. Max, Holly and Amber were among his favourite dogs. For their Golden Wedding Anniversary, they got a retired greyhound called Woody, who Charles and Carole shared. Charles got the front half, so he had to buy the food! That meant Carole got the rear half…. Charles may have got the better deal.

Charles made many friends at St David’s Church and St Laurence & All Saints church.
Reverend Tony Oswin, his wife Val and their daughters Vanessa and Alison sent a message to Carole. Tony wrote “We look back with great affection at our time at St David’s with you all, the girls being part of our girls lives, fun and happy times were had”
Tony remembers Charles being a wise and supportive member of the church and also a loyal Church Warden and Treasurer.

Father Tony also remembers one incident, where the gutters at the church were blocked and water was pouring in. Charles and Carole came rushing over with Henry the hoover, standing ankle deep in rain water, with Henry on full blast sucking all the water away!

As soon as Charles retired in 2006, he was able to spend much more time at the beloved caravan at Cliff House, venturing out across Dunwich Heath, Minsmere and the surrounding area on long dog walks. The dog walks whether at home or away, included the opportunity for the odd refreshment stop. Some of Charles’s favourite stops were for scones at the Coastguard Cottages and for a bacon roll at Gun Hill in Southwold. Southchurch Park with its cafe was also a regular, as was Ady’s Cafe around the corner, its the best part of dog walking!

Other than dog walking and eating, Charles loved bowling. He started Green bowling with his friend Laurence in Leigh-on-Sea, they then both joined South East Essex Bowling Club at Imperial Avenue, making new friends.

Carole remembers a recent Warner’s Holidays break and taking part in the activities like rifle shooting and archery. Charles must have improved over the years, because on a weekend away with a dancing school many years ago, one activity was archery in the ballroom. That time, Charles took aim, completely missed the target and hit the chandelier, breaking it!

Charles cherished family time and looked forward to Sunday family tea. Both Daughters, their husbands and Grandchildren were in regular attendance as was Charles’s brother James and more recently Graham’s mum Jean. A weekly catch up on the family news was followed by tea and games, but more recently, because of Covid-19 this was replaced by Zoom meetings.

Charles also enjoyed regular meetings throughout the year with James and their much-loved cousins for meals and catch ups.

Charles had lots of friends, longstanding friendships from childhood, work, extended family, friends from churches, the Caravan and neighbours. He was a very kind and popular character. He also had particular fond memories of evenings and New Year’s spent with Margaret and Dennis for many years.

Throughout his life – apart from his thumb! - Charles was in good general health until he was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2017. He had hospital appointments and operations at both Southend and Basildon, with – until recently – regular appointments that Angela and Carole attended with him.

Throughout his illness and until the very end, Charles acted with dignity and did not complain once. Charles died peacefully with Carole and Sarah by his side in the early hours of Wednesday the 6th of January 2021 and will be remembered as a wonderful, Husband, Dad, Grandad, Brother, Cousin and Friend.