Leslie Harmer was born on July 30, 1905 in southern England, and from a very early age knew that he wanted to become an engineer. Apparently his father had a vast collection of electrical stuff that fascinated the young Leslie. During one of his "experiments" with a magic lantern slide projector, a gas generator borrowed from his father's car, and some matches, he nearly blew up his mother's sitting room. Luckily, she was out on the lawn reading at the time when the glass windows shattered. From then on Leslie's researches were confined to the garage!

In 1916 Leslie spent a year in a London nursing home after being found lying unconscious by the roadside, apparently having been hit by a bicycle. To pass the time and alleviate boredom he became an avid reader, devouring the books his father brought him every evening on his way home. His passion for reading turned into a love of story telling and he became famous for his ability to spin an amusing tale.

After training as a traffic engineer in the telephone industry, he went out to Shanghai in 1928, and after eight years went on to British East Africa where he spent the war years. After the Second World War he returned to England as Financial Controller of the family business, H.R. Harmer Ltd., International Stamp Experts.

By 1952 this job and the English climate were getting to him, and he put out feelers for a telephone position in Bermuda. As it happened, the Bermuda Telephone Company was trying to deal with system deficiencies caused by the shortages of the Second World War. Leslie came to Bermuda as development engineer & technical advisor to the Board in June/July of that year. He guided the development of the Bermuda Telephone Company through a rather critical period. In 1962 he was appointed as general manager, and he served in this capacity until his retirement in 1970.

At this same period, he was very involved in the development of the engineering profession in Bermuda. He was instrumental in the setting up of the Bermuda Technical Society and served as its President from 1959 to 1964. Overseas members of the British Engineering Institutions were allowed to form into Engineering Groups where numbers were large enough. Leslie was part of the formation of the Bermuda Group of Professional Engineers, and served as its President from 1966 to 1968. This was the period during which the engineering profession in Bermuda was growing to the point where it could stand on its own feet. The Bermuda Association of Professional Engineers resulted.

Leslie's community interests were wide and varied. He was very involved in the operation of the Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society, an interest shared by his wife Nesta. He served as its president in 1971 and was a Life Patron. A member of the Bermuda Branch of the Royal Commonwealth Society he served as chairman in 1974. Leslie was a keen squash player and was President of the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association 1962 to 1968. A strong swimmer, Leslie used to swim from Coral Beach out to the reefs and back most days during his lunch hour.

Walking was a big part of Leslie's life, and, up until his move to Westmeath earlier this year, Leslie could be seen trudging along East Broadway waving his cane at friends as they passed by. He was a mainstay of a walking group led by the late Major Steve Vincette, and wrote an amusing poem about this group in his little book of memoirs entitled "Bits & Pieces".

This little book was published a few years ago at the insistence of some of Leslie's friends and contains many wonderful stories of his life, some humorous and some sad. Ann Smith Gordon, his dear friend, wrote in the foreword that for years she had given Leslie the honorary title of "Bermuda's Poet Laureate".

The proceeds from the sale of the book were donated to PALS, his favourite charity. During his long battle with cancer, PALS became Leslie's lifeline and he in turn was an example to other cancer patients of the amazing power of his will to overcome and to survive. In site of facial disfigurement, Leslie continued to go out to restaurants and socialise, whereas most of us would be too embarrassed to be seen in public with a black eye or a missing tooth. This must have taken a lot of courage and those of us who knew Leslie know just how brave he was right up to the end.

About the same time as Leslie was dealing with his illness, St. Paul's church was setting up a healing Ministry with laying on of Hands. Every Sunday that he was in Bermuda he and his dear friend, the late Vicki Jensen, would stop for prayer after receiving communion. No matter how awful he looked and felt, he always gave us a cherry "Hello Darlings" and a cheeky little hop before we started praying. Leslie believed in the power of prayer and often remarked that our prayers had helped him.

Leslie's little book describes his relationship with God. I believe it is because of this relationship that he asked me to speak at his funeral. I also believe that his friend Vicki put him up to it. God bless them both.

I could talk all afternoon and longer about Leslie's interesting 97 plus years on this earth in which he touched so many lives. I know that each of you have your own special memories of our good friend. So I will close with Leslie's own words taken from his book and titled "Our Goodbyes".

"Let us not be sad - with our goodbyes

The inevitable part of life's unfolding plan.

But think of them as fragrant flowers

Rising from the garden of our love'

And be joyful with the happy memories

Our roses in December.

Know that for every fond farewell,

There may follow a joyous greeting - Yet to come."

@EDITRULE:

Mr. Harmer was a Member of the Order of the British Empire, a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, a Sustaining Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, a Fellow of the British Institute of Management, a Registered Professional Engineer of Bermuda and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts