CHarles Ley Court

Charles Ley (1903-19770) was a founder member in 1934 and the President of Fawley Royal British Legion Club

The Man behind the name

Charles Ley history research

Terri & Sveta July 1977

About the Authors - Terri and Svetlana Gagarin-Rawlings

Terri was born in Stratford Hospital, London, UK July 4th, 1939. Svetlana was born in the Central Maternity Hospital, Volgograd, USSR September 4th, 1966. It would be thirty years before they met on Terris birthday in 2006 in Heysham, Lancashire. Terri has been smitten with the local history bug, since undertaking a part time six month local history work experience contract with the Hampshire Rangers based at Victoria Country Park. The remit was to research the areas of Westwood Woodland Park and Netley Common to discover further items of historical interest. At the end of the first of the first day the part time work went to full time and eventually overtime. The first monthly presentation of his research notes and journal, led to a request to produce a draft book suitable for publishing he could and did. The In-definitive History of Netley Common and Westwood Woodland Park, published in 1996 with a print run of two copies. The Rangers copy became a training manual for new Rangers. Terris copy was donated to the Hampshire Archaeological Records Office. Where, he was given to understand and later confirmed, it was used to update their original records. In 2008, after Sveta and Terri had met, married and set up home in Volgograd, Russian Federation. Terri and Sveta, using superior computers to the original Sinclair QL Quantum copied a hard copy draft without photographs. After Sveta proved herself a superb proof reader, it was published as an updated and corrected edition to Scribd. http://www.scribd.com/doc/10064351/The-Indefinitive-History-of-Netley-Commonand-Westwood-Woodland-Park-1994 2

Charles Ley history research Terri also began to re-research the In-definitive History on the Internet with a view to a second edition and a preliminary local history of Tulaka, Volgograd both are still a work in progress

Charles Ley Court Denny Close, Fawley

Charles Ley Court from Denny Close

Since I moved here in March 2010, I have wondered who Charles Ley was. Read on to discover how I found out as a result of happenstance. Friday 6th May 2011. A chance encounter, with my upstairs neighbour, Frank, was the start. He asked me if I liked to read and offered me some British Legion magazines he had in his hands. I took a couple and asked him if he was a Legion member and knew of Charles Ley. He did, mentioning that he was a work colleague at the refinery and had been involved in with the British Legion, when he was younger. Saturday 7th May 2011, I visited the Fawley Royal British Legion at Blackfield and talked with Roger, the receptionist. He did, informing me that in 1934 Charles Ley with a work colleague Ernie Chapman at Fawley Refinery. Between Charles and Ernie they created the Fawley branch of the British Legion, which met in a backroom of the Falcon Hotel, Fawley. Over the next four years the Fawley branch of the British Legion grew and prospered and in 1938, moved to a rather beautiful and purpose built club house in Exbury Road, Blackfield. Rodger told me there was some family and I left a Waterside Heritage flyer, with my name and telephone number.
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Fawley Royal British Legion Club

Our Club.......

We have been established for over 80 years with humble beginnings in a small facility in the village of Fawley to our current impressively sized location 'just down the road' at Blackfield where we relocated over 50 years ago! We have always been accredited with our friendly welcome for visiting legion members (especially those on holiday in our enviable area) and also for offering that 'home from home' for the many visiting contractors. http://www.fawleybritishlegion.co.uk/1.html

A subsequent search of the Internet was more fortunate and I found the article below.

The HERALD incorporating The Carrier Magazine

29th October 2009 The HERALD Page 53 CHARLES LEY COURT FAWLEY - 30 YEAR CELEBRATION On 19th September, residents of Charles Ley Court, a sheltered housing scheme for older people in Fawley, celebrated the fact that the building opened 30 years ago. Originally built by the British Legion for retired service personnel, it is now owned and run by Housing 21, also a charity,
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who provides low cost rented housing for the older generation, and tenants no longer need to have a military connection. Amongst those attending were Councillors Alexis McEvoy and Bob Wappet, with three daughters of the late Charles Ley who was Chairman of the Blackfield British Legion and after whom the court is named. After a buffet, the birthday cake was cut by the oldest and youngest lady tenants, Mrs Jessie Rough and Mrs Linda Wells. This was followed by an evening of entertainment by Lora, with a grand finale of everybody singing all the old songs. On Friday the 13th of May 2011, I received a phone call from a Betty Locke, daughter of Charles Ley, who runs a Senior Citizens club at the Legion. Betty added a few details and said she had some newspaper articles from 1974 and would be happy to meet me at the Club at 12.30 today and arrange for copies. Sveta and I met Betty Locke at the Fawley British Legion Club, Exbury Road Blackfield. Betty had brought a dozen documents and we learnt that Charles was born on the 18th March 1902. That he had been a Sergeant in the Royal Gloucester Regiment and a 2nd Lieutenant in the 9th (Forest) home Guard. Charles had been honoured with a Gold badge and a lifelong membership of the Legion. Charles was a keen supporter and Vice President of the Blackfield and Langley Football Club and supported the Langley Lions Cycle Speedway Team circa 1947-8. Bettys brother has come up with a photograph of Charles with a team line up.

Charles Frances Ley

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1902 - 1977

Silence Honours War Hero

The funeral took place yesterday of 74 year old Mr Charles Ley. One of the most popular members of the Fawley Royal British Legion Club, he died last week. Club members stood for two minutes silence on Sunday in memory of Mr Ley, who only last autumn was made one of the first life members of the club. A World War I veteran, he joined the club in 1934 when it was little more than a tin hut. He was secretary for many years and a member of the benevolent committee. He was buried in Fawley Church Not far from his home in Hampton Lane Blackfield. He leaves a widow Girlie

Charles Francis Ley was born on the 18th March 1902 I have been given to understand that Charles worked in the Refinery at Fawley and on the 17 March 2011, I phoned Refinery enquiries on 02380892511. The operator advised me that records of past employees were kept at their Leatherhead Office and that a Barbara Knowles was the person to speak to. I was transferred and got connected to the Leatherhead Office where a answerphone message advised me that Barbara Knowles was not in the office and I could leave a message or try her Home number 02380813141. Same challenge an answerphone and I left my number and a short message.

Fawley oil refinery and chemical works

Charles Ley history research

Fawley oil refinery viewed from Southampton Water

An oil refinery was first established at Fawley in 1921 by the Atlantic Gulf and West Indies Company. The site was chosen because a large amount of land was available for development, as the area was not heavily populated, and because of Fawley's position on the Solent. This provided access to the large amount of water used in the refining process, and also made it possible for crude oil to be brought to the site in ocean tankers by sea. Proximity to Southampton was also a factor, as at the outset much of the plant's output was used to supply liners using Southampton docks. The refinery is now owned by Esso, which acquired the site in 1925. It was rebuilt and extended in 1951 and is now the largest oil refinery in the United Kingdom with a capacity of 326,000 barrels a day.[3] The site also houses a chemical facility operated by Exxon Mobil and Nalco. As in earlier years, crude oil is brought to the site in tankers, making use of the docks which extend for 1.5 kilometres and are the largest independently owned docks facility in Europe. Over 3,000 people (including many contractors) are employed at the site. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fawley,_Hampshire#Fawley_oil_refinery_and_chemic al_works

Betty Locke also informed me that Charles Ley was a Sergeant in the Gloucester Regiment in the First World War.
The Gloucestershire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army. Nicknamed "The Glorious Glosters", the regiment carried more battle honours on their Regimental colours than any other British Army line regiment. The origins of the regiment lie in the regiment formed in Portsmouth in 1694 by Colonel John Gibson. This was named the 28th Regiment of Foot in 1751 and renamed the28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot in 1782. After the Childers reforms, the regiment amalgamated with the 61st (South Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot to form the two-battalion Gloucestershire Regiment on 1 July 1881. The regiment saw active service in the Second Boer War from 1899 to 1902. World War I began in August 1914 and during the course of the war, the regiment raised 25 battalions, seeing service on the Western Front, Gallipoli, Macedonia, the Middle East and Italy.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloucestershire_Regiment

Unfortunately a search of the online records at www.glosters.org.uk failed to find any reference to Charles Ley.
Betty also provided a three page copy of the:

Battalion Orders by Lieutenant Colonel F E W Venning CB, CBE, DSO, Commanding the 9th (Forest) Battalion Hampshire Home Guard, Part II Orders Serial No 17. 31st March 1944.
The orders show the promotion of Charles Ley, To be 2/Lieut wef 14/1/44. Authority SCO List 81 dated 16/2/44. A search of the online Hampshire Records Office failed to find any additional information. An enquiry to the Hampshire Records Office for further information also failed to find any additional information. See their email response below. Dear 19th May 2011 Thank you for your email sent to my colleague Rhian Dolby. I have had a check on our archives catalogue and unfortunately we don't seem to have any archives deposited here on the Fawley Royal British Legion, the Blackfield and Langley Football Club or the Langley Lions Cycle Speedway team, I'm afraid. A check on the catalogue using Charles Ley as a name search also didn't reveal anything. You might find looking in local newspapers to be a one source of information for you, the places you mentioned all seem to be in the Southampton area, so perhaps a newspaper like the Southampton Evening Echo, which is held in Southampton Central Library might be of some use to you. You might also like to contact Southampton Record Office to see if they hold any information on Charles Ley, their email address is city.archives@southampton.gov.uk. I believe my colleague has told you that we hold very little here on the Home Guard. I'm a little unsure where you found the information about the promotion of Charles Ley to 2nd Lieutenant? The National Archives are the repositors of all military records for the World War One, so you might like to contact them to see if they hold his service records etc. I do hope you find this information useful; if we can be of any further help; please do not hesitate to contact us. With best wishes Carol Linton Archives and Local Studies Assistant Terri

Charles Ley history research Email: enquiries.archives@hants.gov.uk Tel: 01962 846154; Fax: 01962 878681 Text Phone: 0808 100 2484

Charles Ley and the Blackfield Minors Football Club

Charles Ley was a founder and manager of the Blackfield Minors FC here pictured with the team in 1947, front row left is R.Ley Charles Leys son. This photo is part of a collection of photographs of the estate of Charles Ley, believed taken by Mr Mudge The copyright permission to these picture are available from the Waterside Heritage Centre. The staff at the Gang Warily Sorts Centre gave me the name of the Chairman of Blackfield & Langley Football Club, Owen Lightfoot 0795o673189. Owen advised me
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that about 1955 their was an amalgamation of teams, including Langley Juniors and Blackfield Minors who were still playing at this time. Owen said he would pass my name and number onto their oldest member, Norman Digwood.

Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia Blackfield & Langley

Full name Blackfield and Langley Football Club Nickname The Watersiders (s) Founded Ground 1935 Gang Warily Community Recreation Centre &

Chairman Andrew Hartmann Manager Jon Gittens

League 2010-11

Wessex League Premier Division Wessex League Premier Division, 14th

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Blackfield & Langley F.C. are a football club based in the village of Blackfield, near Southampton, England. Their first FA Cup appearance was in 2001 when they were knocked out in the preliminary round. They are currently members of Wessex League Premier Division. They play at the Gang Warily Ground in Blackfield. Their colours are green and white and their local rivals are Fawley and Hythe & Dibden. On 3 May 2007, it was announced that former Southampton player Jon Gittens had been appointed as the first team manager. The current manager of Blackfield and Langley FC is Louis Bell. The club colours for 2010/11 are Green and White hoops. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackfield_%26_Langley_F.C. Following up on the football club I was given a contact number of Owen Lightfoot 07950673189 who has passed my number onto NormanDigwood, their oldest member,

Langley Lions Cycle Speedway Team

circa 1947-48

Back Row,

K Harris, K King, D hall, Alf Hyland, (popeye), R Ley. N. Digweed, B Reynard, C Aldridge, D Meadows Mr Barnes, J Birkett, R Birkett, R Orchard, B Forder Mascot, Charles Ley, Ray Night, Mr Appleton, all members of th committee

Front Row

Above we have the full team and management committee line up of the Langley Lions Cycle Speedway Team, with Charles Ley and his son R. Ley I understand 11

Charles Ley history research they were not in a league, but had friendly competitions with East Boldre Spitfires, Holbury Hawks and the Dibden Purlieu Pirates and perhaps some other local teams.

Copyright Mr Gregory courtesy Waterside Heritage Centre 09.06.2011 Met Betty at the Legion at 4.00pm. Charles Leys son has come up with a photo of Charles with the Blackfield Minors FC and with the Langley Lions Cycle Speedway Club. Bettys Husband remembers the Boldre Spitfires, the Purlieu Pirates and the Holbury Hawks. A Goggle search produced the following information. 12

Charles Ley history research Cycle speedway is a form of bicycle racing on short oval dirt tracks, usually outdoors, occasionally indoors, typically 70-90 metres long. Like motorcycle speedway, riders use machines without brakes or multiple gears but, unlike motor speedway, the object is not to slide bikes round the turns. The origins of cycle speedway are obscure. It existed by the 1920s[1] but appears to have taken off in the wreckage of post-war cities in Britain. With tracks cleared through the rubble, on bikes not otherwise roadworthy, and under the influence of motorcycle speedway, cycle speedway grew haphazardly as a way for young people to enjoy themselves in cities. London, with most bomb sites, led in organising races, in 1945[2]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycle_speedway A further search and I discovered the

Veteran Cycle Speedway

Archives.

A search of their archives was unsuccessful and an email to Colin Booth secretary VCSRA produced the following:Hi, I am researching the history of Charles Ley (1902-1977). I have been promised a photograph of Charles Ley and the start line up of Langley Lions Cycle Speedway Team circa 1947-48. Langley is a village near Fawley on the west side of Southampton Water, Hampshire. I have browsed your web-site without success and I wonder if you had heard of them. Any information would be appreciated. Even if you have not heard of them I will forward a copy of this photo for your site. Hi Terri I have forwarded your email to 4 members we have in your area; hopefully they may know something about Langley Lions. Regards Colin Booth - Sec. VCSRA Hello, your email was passed on to me, as I was riding cycle speedway in the Southampton area from 1954. But I'm afraid I have never heard of a team at the village of Langley. There was certainly not a Langley team in the Southampton or Hampshire league in 1954. I would have certainly ridden against them! Only suggestion is the Hythe/Waterside/Fawley Historical societies. Good luck -David .
http://www.cyclespeedwayvets.org.uk/ - colin.booth@tiscali.co.uk

An enquiry of Graham Parkes at the Waterside Heritage Centre, Hythe produced nearly a dozen photocopies that were handily to hand. The original photos belong to a Mr Gregory a friend of Gordon Chambers and were mostly of the East Boldre Spitfires Cycle speedway team with a single photo of Langley Lions above.

East Boldre was obviously the next direction to search and I found a web-site and a section on local history led me to Tony Johnston 01590623827. Tony also has a 13

Charles Ley history research dozen photocopies of the East Boldre Cycle Speedway team and very little other information. Tony directed my further research to the Lymington Times Archives. http://www.eastboldre.talktalk.net/history.html I had already contacted the Southern Daily Echo and been directed to Keith Hamilton 02380424492. Keith deals with Heritage articles and information. Keith was out of the office attending a cruise ship naming ceremony the MV Adonia by Dame Shirley Bassey, Saturday 21 May 2011 which coincidently Sveta & I viewed from the MV Alison Macgregor that day.

Obituary Charles Leys wife Ivy Ellen LEY IVY ELLEN (GIRLIE) Aged 94 years. Passed away peacefully at Colbury House Nursing Home on May 8th, 2008. Mum lived a long and fulfilled life which will be remembered by her sons Roy and Chris, Nan to Kevin and Angie, Great Nan to Calvin, Nathan, Matthew and Kiera. -----------Beloved Mum to Betty and son-in-law Eric, Nan to Stephen, Gary and Jo, Great Nan to Sophie and Rachel. With fondest memories. -----------Loving Mum to Jean and son-in-law Alan, Nan to Pauline, Graham and Beccy, Great Nan to Ben, Emma, Charly, Milllie and Charlie. Sleeping peacefully after a long fight to stay with us, will be sadly missed. 14

Charles Ley history research -----------Dearly beloved Mother and Mother-in-law to Don and Beryl in Australia, adored by grandchildren Karen (deceased), Joanne and Pete, Mark and Amanda, Louise and Iain, cherished Great Nan of Amy, Robert, Morgan, Sophia and Toby. So dearly loved, so sadly missed. -----------Will be sadly missed by daughter Chris and son-in-law Brian, Nan to Richard, Fiona and baby Toby, Christopher and Emily. Goodnight, God Bless. Que sera sera. -----------Mum to Fred and daughter-in-law Jenny. Will be sadly missed. -----------With a hug, a kiss and a smile, you were always there to greet us. What we have lost Heaven has gained. Love you Nan, Joanne, Pete, Amy and Robert. -----------In loving memory of a dear Sister and Aunty. Will be greatly missed, Peg and Martin. -----------Funeral to be held at Fawley Church on June 9th at 11.30 a.m. Family flowers only but donations of desired to Fawley British Legion Poppy Appeal c/o R. Hallum Funeralcare, Holbury. Tel. 023 8089 3729

Retrieved from Southern Daily Echo Thursday 15th May 2008

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APPENDIX 1
Page one Battalion Orders 9th (Forest) Bn. Hamps. 1944. Home Guard 31st March

Page two Battalion Orders 9th (Forest) Bn. Hamps. Home Guard 31st March 1944. Page three Battalion Orders 9th (Forest) Bn. Hamps. Home Guard 31st March 1944. British Legion Letter Awarding of Gold Badge to Charles Ley 15th May 1969 Royal British Legion Letter Certificate of Life Membership Award to Charles Ley 7th June 1976 Royal British Legion Letter (Fawley Branch) Invitation 19th October 1976 Newspaper Clipping Charles Ley & Ernest Chapman Life Membership Certificate January 1977 Newspaper Clipping Legion Honour for Ernie and Charlie January 1977 Programme back and front Opening of Charles Ley Court 22nd September 1979 Programme inside left and right Opening of Charles Ley Court 22nd September 1979 Newspaper Clipping - Sadness as flats open without Lord Louis September 1979 Blackfield & Langley Letter Re-election of Charles Ley as Vice President 4th July 1975 Blackfield & Langley Letter Re-election of Charles Ley as Vice President 9th June 1976 Newspaper Clipping Silence Honours War Hero Charles Ley Obituary Photo of Langley Lions Cycle Speedway Team - circa 1947-48

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Photo Index 1-6 of six photographs of Blackfield Minors Football Club and the Langley Lion Cycle Speedway Team

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Photograph 1. Blackfield Minors Football Club

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Photo 2 34

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Photo 3

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Photo 5

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Photo 6

Rear of Photo 6 37

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Copyright. The copyright inherent in the photographs itemised in the Appendix belongs to the Charles Ley Estate and his heirs and successor and permission for Fair Use is available from the Waterside Heritage Centre. The Hythe Old Rail Station

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