Les Clyne: a tribute
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HORSEMAN, actor, soldier, comedian – George Leslie Clyne was all these things and many more besides.
Les, as he was known to many, left Forres Academy at14 to become a milkman.
Just too young for wartime service, he was called up in February 1946 and posted to Egypt.
Spotting a vacancy with the 259 Horse Transport Regiment, he was soon promoted to NCO and bore responsibility for issuing rations to 240 military horses and 56 mules.
The Egyptian desert is a harsh environment. On top of that, looking after horses is one of the most demanding jobs in the British army.
Les thrived, however. At 5am before getting any breakfast himself, he would turn out to groom and feed his charges.
During his five years in the military he also learned all the skills of horsemanship as well as basic equine medicine.
Coming home he worked for William Reid engineers and as a railway fireman, amongst other jobs.
But missing horses, Les set up Forres Pony Trekking and Riding Centre where many local children learned to ride.
The centre was immensely popular, with Les charging less than half the national average. He also helped pioneer long distance trekking in the Highlands
The bond between human and horse was sacred to Les. On some of the coldest winters days – Christmas Day included – Les could be found up at the Clovenside fields.
He continued to look after horses until a couple of years ago.
Leslie also had a lifelong affiliation with the church and often took on duties as a Sunday School teacher at St Leonard's.
Rev Donald Prentice said: "I am sure those who attended classes with Les, never found them dull.
"Among his many gifts Les was a gifted entertainer. If horsemanship was in his blood, then so too was the stage."
Indeed, Les was a one-time winner of the Bothy Ballads competition in Elgin.
In addition, he appeared with Tommy Buist on a Grampian Television competition called Top Town, and both were regulars on the stage of Forres Town Hall.
He was a stalwart of the Varis Players and Forres Drama Group, and was in great demand among the local Burns societies
While amongst his civil duties was the annual role of Herald on Horseback, announcing the newly appointed Gala Queen each year.
Other commitments included the Masonic Lodge St John, the Northern Working Horse and the Horse and Carriage society.
Leslie Clyne has passed away at the age of 91.
His service was held at St Leonard's Church and his horse-drawn funeral cortège was led by Mr Kelpie, one of his equine friends.
