Tributes paid to Charles Boughton-Leigh

Charles Boughton-Leigh, from East Preston, was made an MBE in June for services to the community within Mid and West Sussex

It is not yet known how Charles died, but numerous tributes have been paid to him.

Barry Pickthall, from the Don’t Cut Us Out campaign which Charles supported, said: “The elderly and disabled across West Sussex, lost a valiant champion last week, with the untimely death of Charles Boughton-Leigh, less than a month after he had been honoured with an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.”

“The award was well overdue”, added close friend and fellow rugby fanatic Bob Rodgers.

“Charles has done more than anyone over the past 30 years to improve services and care support for the elderly and disabled.”

Charles and his wife Ann have cared for their twin sons Andrew and James, who have Downs Syndrome, for the past 41 years, and worked tirelessly to improve the lives of many other disabled and elderly people within West Sussex.

Three decades ago, Charles co-founded the Ferring Country Centre, to provide a horse riding centre and training and work experience for more than 100 people with learning difficulties.

He also Chaired Worthing Mencap, and for 12 years, served as chief officer of Age Concern Haywards Heath, and as a board member of Age Concern South East (now Age UK), and instigated the Saturday Dementia Clubs across the region.

The Herald will publish more tributes in Thursday’s paper (August 2).

To leave your own tributes, comment below or email [email protected]