OZZIE

Len, you were only 18 when we met. Little did I know that your firm handshake and our exchange of names would be the introduction to a friendship that would grow to be as great as it was. 

Your character was just unique, ambitious to achieve, eager to be involved in anything, and always there to help out one of your friends. Many of my best university memories involve a Josh, Luke, Will and off course, a Len.  

Over our time together we have created countless stories, many of which will never fail to make me smile or laugh at times when I’m missing you most.  Just because we are unable to make new memories together doesn’t mean that our old ones will ever be forgotten. I am extremely honoured to of been a part of your life and I can truly say I am proud that you will forever be in mine.

LUKE

Knowing Len over the past 4 years has been such a pleasure and I am blessed to be able to call Len one of my best friends. 

I always looked up to Len, not just because he was taller than me, but because of what a gent he was to everyone he met, his manners were always impeccable and so, Lynda and Andy, you should be extremely proud of the man Len had become, he was a credit to both you and your family. 

Len has been a best friend to all of us and many others. We are so lucky to share the memories we have with him and they will be cherished for the rest of our lives, and for that, I thank you Len.

JOSH

It would be easy for me to be upset about all the things he didn’t get to experience. On my bad days, I am angry that he was taken from us too soon. But as time has passed, I have found that it’s easier to hold him in my heart during every moment I move forward and as time goes on I believe that he’s going to be sharing our experiences along the way; and it is because of this that our victories are his victories because we all carry a piece of Len with us as time goes on. 
One of my most enduring, and endearing, memories of Len through the years was in our second year of university Len came home with me for a shoot one weekend. We had a great day, Len hitting some amazing birds and in traditional style me saying I hadn’t seen them, to stop him getting ahead of himself. 
However, on the Sunday I sprung it on him, that we had to spend an hour in church with a slightly sore head followed by a meal with my entire family who he had never met. Len in typical style didn’t have one complaint, and took it all in his stride spending a solid proportion of the afternoon talking about farm machinery with my uncle. After the meal several family members rang me to say it was nice to see me etc, but the take away comment was, all of them had said how nice it was nice to meet Len, ‘he was pleasure to talk to’ and ‘is welcome back any time’.
Len Eadon was a true brother to us and a gentleman to those lucky enough to know him and he accomplished so much in his time with us, and Len wherever you are watching us right now, we are truthfully grateful for those memories.

WILL

Leonard, we’ve been through a lot together at university. We’ve laughed and we’ve certainly cried, but we’ve always stuck together. From the first assignment in our first year right through to our dissertation’s I can’t think of an assignment that we hadn’t done together, albeit, usually handing them in at 5 minutes to the deadline! 

I was lucky enough to work with Len for the harvest of 2021, I was at first sceptical of working and living with such a close friend. But it quickly became apparent that we were like two peas in a pod and it would only bring us closer! 

When speaking to Lynda and Andy in the weeks following Len’s passing one memory stuck out to me; on the 13th of July 2021 we were both stood in a ditch, draining in Lincolnshire, eagerly awaiting our much-anticipated final university results. At around 11am we both jumped in the farm’s Kubota mule and high tailed it back to the farmyard to use the WiFi. 

Not a lot was said on the journey, not a lot needed to be said, we were both extremely nervous. After several minutes of us both not understanding how to read the page, we eventually got our results, we both ran round the farmyard with excitement, we’d got the 2:1’s we were aiming for, I still remember the look on lens face and how proud he was to ring home and tell them of his news. Such talent, taken from us far too soon.

I really will miss you always Lenny 

Finally, to finish, Josh has found a lovely poem that he’d like to share with everyone.

JOSH

It’s been a month now since we lost Len. Not a day has gone by where he hasn’t been sorely missed. However, I know I speak for all of us when I say I feel like he’s with me in everything I do. I recently found this poem I would like to share with everyone.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush,
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry;
For I am not there. I did not die.