Leslie Welch
Encyclopedia
Leslie Welch was a British radio
and television
entertainer known as the Memory Man.
. Educated at The Latymer School
where he was an excellent student who was addicted to sport and spent much of his free time studying sports almanacks such as Wisden
and Ruffs Guide to the Turf
On leaving school he was employed at the Royal Small Arms Factory
, Enfield Lock
in the accounts department.
During World War II
he served with the Eighth Army
in the Western Desert and it was here that his encyclopaedic knowledge of sport was recognised and was signed up by ENSA
.
After demobilisation he became popular on radio shows such as Variety Playhouse and In Town Tonight
, he was also a regular on TV's Kaleidoscope
and made many London Palladium
performances.
For his act he simply stood on the stage and talked sport before accepting 'challenges' from the audience,who would call out all kinds of questions which he would normally answer immediately and adding few more facts and figures.
Unfortunately, he found the rigours of his career too great and in 1963 turned his back on the stage and became a civil servant and settled in Ruislip
, Middlesex
where he died.
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
entertainer known as the Memory Man.
Early life and career
Leslie was born in EdmontonEdmonton, London
Edmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, north-north-east of Charing Cross. It has a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield.-Location:...
. Educated at The Latymer School
The Latymer School
The Latymer School is a selective, mixed grammar school in Edmonton, north London, England.- Examination procedures :Approximately 180 pupils are admitted to Year 7 annually. Places are awarded on the basis of competitive examination, though 20 are reserved for students with exceptional musical...
where he was an excellent student who was addicted to sport and spent much of his free time studying sports almanacks such as Wisden
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack is a cricket reference book published annually in the United Kingdom...
and Ruffs Guide to the Turf
On leaving school he was employed at the Royal Small Arms Factory
Royal Small Arms Factory
The Royal Small Arms Factory was a UK government-owned rifle factory in the London Borough of Enfield in an area generally known as the Lea Valley. The factory produced British military rifles, muskets and swords from 1816...
, Enfield Lock
Enfield Lock
Enfield Lock is an area in the London Borough of Enfield, North London. It is approximately located east of the Hertford Road between Turkey Street and the Holmesdale Tunnel overpass, to the River Lee Navigation, including the Enfield Island Village. The locality gains its name from the lock on the...
in the accounts department.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served with the Eighth Army
Eighth Army (United Kingdom)
The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations of the British Army during World War II, fighting in the North African and Italian campaigns....
in the Western Desert and it was here that his encyclopaedic knowledge of sport was recognised and was signed up by ENSA
ENSA
ENSA may refer to:* ENSA, the Entertainments National Service Association* ENSA * École Nationale des Sciences Appliquées d'Oujda, an engineering school in Morocco* EC-Council Network Security Administrator...
.
After demobilisation he became popular on radio shows such as Variety Playhouse and In Town Tonight
In Town Tonight
In Town Tonight was a BBC radio programme broadcast on Saturday evening from 1933 to 1960 . It was an early example of the chat show, originally presented by Eric Maschwitz.Its theme music was the Knightsbridge March by Eric Coates...
, he was also a regular on TV's Kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscope (TV series)
Kaleidoscope was a British television programme, transmitted on the BBC Television Service from 1946 until 1953. A light entertainment show, it was one of the most popular programmes of the immediate post-war era....
and made many London Palladium
London Palladium
The London Palladium is a 2,286 seat West End theatre located off Oxford Street in the City of Westminster. From the roster of stars who have played there and many televised performances, it is arguably the most famous theatre in London and the United Kingdom, especially for musical variety...
performances.
For his act he simply stood on the stage and talked sport before accepting 'challenges' from the audience,who would call out all kinds of questions which he would normally answer immediately and adding few more facts and figures.
Later life
Welch never considered himself special and he once saidUnfortunately, he found the rigours of his career too great and in 1963 turned his back on the stage and became a civil servant and settled in Ruislip
Ruislip
Ruislip is a suburban area, centred on an old village in Greater London, and is part of the London Borough of Hillingdon.It was formerly also a parish covering the neighbouring areas of Eastcote, Northwood, Ruislip Manor and South Ruislip in the area. The parish appears in the Domesday Book, and...
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
where he died.