My father-in-law Les Benton, who has died aged 78, spent most of his working life in the civil service as a tax officer with the Inland Revenue, but his dedication to public service extended well beyond his job.
Les was the welfare officer for colleagues at the Inland Revenue who found themselves in difficulty; he was always willing to listen to anyone.
A big smile, an eagerness to muck in, and a love of being with (and chatting to) other people also made him a keen community volunteer in retirement. He worked at Wesley’s Cafe community hub and food bank in the Yorkshire village of Baildon, where he lived, drove people to hospital appointments for the Red Cross, and as chair of the local scouts helped young people take trips as far as the Swiss Alps.
Les was born in Altofts, West Yorkshire, the third of four children of Lillian (nee Lowden), a telephonist turned housewife, and Frank Benton, a milkman. As a youngster he would help his father on his morning round, and many years later could still proudly demonstrate how many milk bottles he could hold in one hand.
Once the working day was over, Les attended Normanton grammar school, and having left at 16, worked for two years for Wakefield council before becoming a tax officer at the Inland Revenue, where he remained until retiring in 2004.
He had met Andrina Stockwell, also a tax officer, when they worked together in the same office in Leeds, and they were married in 1968. Their work soon led them to Tottenham, north London, but Les was a proud Yorkshireman and took the first opportunity to return to Bradford to ensure that any sons would be eligible to play cricket for the county. Eventually he and Andrina settled in Baildon in 1981.
Les’s socialism was rooted in personal action rather than noisy protest. Boycotts of companies that did not meet his ethical standards were strictly observed.
He saw the best in everyone and his greatest pleasures were the simple things in life: family gatherings, fish and chips, cakes, rugby league, liquorice and days at the coast.
A member of Yorkshire CTC cycling club, with a bit of electrical assistance he was still completing 50km rides a few weeks before he died. In his final days he was promising his Sunday morning cycling pals, and his ukulele group, that he would be back practising with them soon.
He is survived by Andrina, their children, James, Elise and Jessica, and grandchildren Jack, Harry, Lottie, Eve and Nina.
