Mr. Leslie Dawes

LESLIE Dawes, who has died aged 92, was a much-loved Ulster Television presenter and, formerly, a journalist with the Down Recorder.

He passed away peacefully in the Downe Hospital last week and was laid to rest in Struell Cemetery on Friday following requiem mass in St. Patrick’s Church, Downpatrick.

An Englishman by birth, he came to the Downpatrick area at the start of World War 2 when he was stationed at RAF Bishopscourt where he trained as a navigator.

He quickly developed a deep affinity with Downpatrick and its people. He cemented his ties when in January 1945 he married Isabel, his beloved wife for 68 years, who died last year.

Originally from Norwich, Les, as he was known to his friends, had played professional football in the English Football League, including for his home club, Norwich City. He later played for the Downpatrick team, Rathkeltair, where his skills earned him the accolade ‘Dazzler.’

Having studied journalism in England, he joined the Down Recorder in the 1950s and his editorial duties included covering courts, council meetings and stories of local interest.

However, his first love was sport and it was as a sports reporter with UTV that he made his name.

He was a regular fixture presenting sport on the early evening news programme and on Saturday evenings when he relayed the day’s sports results.

He enjoyed meeting people which meant that he could also turn his hand to interviewing celebrities, or anyone with a story to tell.

Injury had put an end to his football career, but there were other sports to fill the void. He was a keen and talented table tennis player and was one of the founder members of the Lecale Table Tennis League, which is still going strong almost 60 years later.

He also had a great interest in golf and was a member of both Downpatrick Golf Club and Bright Castle Golf Club, of which he was a former captain.

Les’s career in UTV ended in the 1980s, but he continued to keep himself busy working with Belfast Community Radio.

Away from the camera or the microphone, he was a private man, who lived for his family.

The sympathy of the community is extended to his son, Michael.