The remarkable Leslie ‘Les’ Winslade QSM celebrated his 105th birthday last weekend, surrounded by family and friends, cards from luminaries and photographic memories of his life.
Les Winslade with his son-in-law and daughter Wolf and Alison Hucke, left, and daughter and son-in-law Pat and Kevin Davey who came up from Palmerston North for the occasion. Photo: Viv Posselt
When asked by The News how he had managed to reach such an advanced age, he said simply: “It’s just luck, I think …”
The News first did a story on Les when he moved into Cambridge Resthaven in November 2022, joining daughter and son-in-law Alison and Wolf Hucke as the facility’s first ‘dad and daughter’ duo on campus. Les had just turned 100 then, and he brought with him a feast of information on his life.
Alison Hucke reading some of the many birthday cards with her dad Les. Photo: Viv Posselt
Cambridge RSA president Tony Hill with Les Winslade. Photo: Viv Posselt
He was born in Birkenhead, England, and migrated to New Zealand in 1926. During his Lower Hutt childhood, he joined the Scouts and helped raise money by making soap. He left school at 15, becoming a telegraph boy and postman before World War Two, then ended up joining the RNZAF as a wireless operator. After the war, he joined National Mutual where he remained for most of his working life.
Helping others was central to Les’ life. He was a foundation member of the Dunedin Budget Advisory Service. After moving to Taupō in 1983 he joined the Lions and set up the local neighbourhood watch, got involved with the Taupō Hospital, raised more than $2 million for medical improvements in the district, fundraised for the Tūrangi Community Health system and won plaudits for his advocacy around geothermal heating for Taupō Hospital and supporting the town’s arterial bypass.
Les Winslade, 104. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
He was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal in 2009 for community service and was given a memorable farewell by Taupō District Mayor David Trewavas when he left to come up to Cambridge.
Les also received the Paul Harris Award through Rotary International and was declared a Melvin Jones Fellow through Lions International – to achieve both is rare.
His wartime experience, some of it spent in Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, was outlined in a television interview aired during the birthday celebration.
Among guests were Cambridge RSA president Tony Hill, who said his own grandfather also served at Guadalcanal. He is also district president for Waikato, King Country and Bay of Plenty, and told The News that as he understands it, Les is the oldest surviving veteran in the region.
Wearing his third hat – as one of two vice-presidents with the national RSA body, he commended Les for his service during the war and said that New Zealanders’ ability to live here had been built on the legacy of people like Les.
Aside from issues with his hearing aid, Les remains in good health and managed to stand for some while during Doug Rose’s performance of The Ode.
Still enough puff to blow out the candles. Photo: Viv Posselt
Les slicing into his 105th birthday cake, with daughter Alison Hucke looking on. Photo: Viv Posselt
