He was born in Ealing Broadway, West London, in September 1931 to Queenie and Miles Harrison and was the eldest of eight children.
 
During the war years he was evacuated to a farm in Kessingland, Suffolk. He often recalled riding the farm shire horses to and from their ploughing duties.
 
In 1951/52 he served his National Service at RAF Hendon as an aircraft electrician. He worked on many aircraft including the Avro Lancaster. Chasing wires in the airframe was made particularly challenging as he was colour blind.
 
In 1952 he married his beloved Patricia and they went on to have three lovely daughters: Lea, Diane and Dawn.
 
After a period working in a family business in London he decided he wanted to work for himself, and in 1964 he made the brave decision to move his family to Southend, where he opened a newsagent and souvenir shop on the seafront.
 
In 1971 he exchanged the frenetic seaside life for tranquil semi-retirement in Norfolk: Les and Pat purchased Riches Stores in Market Place, Reepham (lately Very Nice Things; now Norfolk Print & Design).
 
While running a busy, award-winning supermarket and raising a family, he managed to find the time to volunteer for the local fire brigade and also served as a parish councillor for a short time.
 
Les and Pat retired from Riches Stores in 1988. Les, however, was itching to keep working so in 1990 he purchased the lease for the Reepham Fish Bar on Back Street. He finally retired in 2000, and with Pat they enjoyed seeing their family grow and develop.
 
Les spent his time scanning the world on his radio transmitter, building and crashing radio-controlled aircraft, and freshwater fishing, while Pat concentrated on playing her electric organ and writing novels.
 
After Pat passed away in 2014, Les spent his remaining years watching his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren flourish.
 
Les passed away on 10 July 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He leaves behind his three daughters; six grandchildren: James, Jade, George, Eve, Thomas and Amy; and eight great-grandchildren: Rex, Herbie, Evelyn, Betty, Alfie, Jude, Matilda and Phoebe.
 
His funeral will be held at St Faiths Crematorium on Monday 4 August at 9.30 am. It is his wish that attendees should not wear black. Please do not send flowers; donations can be made in his memory to Children in Need.
 
Paul Smith