Lou Sladen

Lou Sladen
Born
Louis Sladen

1918 or 1919[1]
Died (aged 77)
Littlebredy, Dorset
Other namesUncle Lou
Occupations
Years active‒1980s
Known for
Spouse
Peggy Harrington
​
(m. 1945)​
Children2[2]

Louis Sladen known as Lou Sladen (died 1 January 1996) was a senior youth leader in the United Kingdom and member of the British Red Cross.[3]

World War II

Warrant officer Louis Sladen flew as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II.[1] While piloting a Vickers Wellington bomber on 20 April 1941 he was shot down over North Africa[4] or the Middle East.[5] By 3 May 1941 he had been reported missing.[6] After being captured, Sladen was held at various German prisoner-of-war camps in World War II.[5] He met Douglas Bader while held at Stalag Luft III.[4][5] Sladen had been organising sports at the prisoner of war camp.[4]

Youth work

Kendal

Between 1947‒1949 Lou Sladen was leader of Kendal Lad's club.[5]

Leamington Spa

By April 1951, Sladen had been working at as the club leader at Leamington Boys' Club for 21 months.[1]

East London

During the mid-1950s, Sladen was general secretary of Mansfield House University Settlement for seven years.[7][2][5]

Wales

In the late-1950s Lou Sladen had trained the first trial round of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) gold award winners in Monmouthshire, Wales; and on the Brecon Beacons.[8][9]

From 1959 Sladen was field officer of the Welsh Association of Youth Clubs (later: Youth Cymru),[8][10] responsible for arranging lectures and training programmes.[2] In June 1960 The Duke of Edinburgh's Award was expanded for girls and led by Kathleen Ellum in Pontypool, with Sladen directing the programme for the Monmouthshire Federation of Youth Clubs.[8]

From January‒May 1961 Sladen ran a young leader training programme in Newport.[11]

In mid-1962, Sladen left the Welsh Association of Youth Clubs,[12] and took up a similar post covering Devon and Cornwall.[10]

Dorset

In 1964, Sladen was working for the National Association of Youth Clubs, including covering the Wiltshire area.[13]

In 1965, Sladen was the leader of camp activities during a conference held at Butlin's Minehead.[14] During the visit of Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon and Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon, Lou Sladen and Billy Butlin escorted the royal visitors.[14]

As of 1966, Sladen remained South West Regional Officer, of the National Association of Youth Clubs.[15]

Dorchester

During the mid-1970s Sladen was the leader at Colliton Street Youth Club in Dorchester.[16] In 1979[17] he retired as leader at the Colliton Street Youth Centre in Dorchester.[18] In 1980 Sladen returned to the Colliton Street Youth Centre to present medals.[19]

In 1999, a room at Dorchester's new youth centre on King's Road, was named "The Lou Sladen Community Room".[20][21] The room features a four-square-metre giant chess board.[21]

Red Cross

During September 1979, Sladen was appointed by the Dorset branch of the British Red Cross Society as its youth and junior's officer.[5]

Family

Louis Sladen's parents worked in confectionery in Llantrisant, Glamorgan, Wales.[6] His father was J. Sladen,[22] who on 9 June 1906 father rescued an unconscious five-year-old child from the Glamorganshire Canal.[23]

After the end of World War II, Sladen was engaged to Peggy (née Harrington), also from Llantrisant, in June 1945.[22] Sladen was married to Peggy Sladen until his death at the beginning of 1996.[24] Peggy Sladen had been matron at the cottage hospital in Lyme Regis from 1962‒1974.[24] They had a daughter Janie Gray and grandson Simon Baines;[20] plus another daughter Nerissa Douglas, and granddaughter Clare.[25] The Douglas part of the family emigrated to Canada in 1973. [26]

Lou Sladen died aged 77 on 1 January 1996 at home in Littlebredy, Dorset.[27] A thanksgiving service was held later on 12 January 1996 at St Michael and All Angels Church, Littlebredy, with a collection for the RAF Benevolent Fund.[27] Sladen's wife Peggy Sladen died aged 79, at Dorset County Hospital, on 26 June 2001.[25] Their daughter Nerissa died on 13 January 2026, also aged 79—in Guelph, Canada, where Nerissa had lived since 1975.[26][28]

In 1976, Sladen was fined £20 for driving over the speed limit.[29]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Club suspends 21 boys—had wrong attitude". Birmingham Gazette. 28 April 1951. Retrieved 1 February 2026. Twenty-one out of 25 18-year-olds have been suspended from the 130-strong Leamington Boys' Club in a campaign to beat the "something for nothing" attitude of modern youth. … Mr. Louis Sladen, 32-year-old club leader … Mr. Sladen, war-time R.A.F. pilot, went to Leamington from a Lake District club 21 months ago.
  2. ^ a b c "Mr. Louis Sladen". Personalia. Pontypool Free Press. 2 October 1959. Retrieved 2 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com. appointment with the Welsh Association of Youth Clubs … planning of training programmes and organising of lectures. … connected with youth services for 15 years and for the past seven … University Settlement in the East End of London. … native of Llantrissant … married with two daughters who attend Pontypool Grammar School for Girls. During the War he served as a pilot with the RAF Bomber Command and for four years was a prisoner of war.
  3. ^ "Awards for cadets". Dorset Evening Echo. 12 September 1980. Retrieved 1 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Pictured are Bridget Sims (16) left and Clare Conroy (17) with Mr. Sladen after receiving their proficiency badges. … from county youth officer Mr. Lou Sladen at the presentation night at the Small Sidney Hall, Weymouth. Afterwards Mr. Sladen was presented with a first-aid kit by Mr. Fred Lovering in appreciation of help given by the Red Cross to his late wife, Mrs. Rosina
  4. ^ a b c "Wooden Horse sports". Western Daily Press. 16 November 1968. p. 7. Memories of the famous Wooden Horse escape from a German prisoner-of-war camp were revived when Group Captain Douglas Bader … visited Dorchester yesterday. … met ex-bomber pilot Louis Sladen, who was origanising sport in Stalag Luft III when … Bader arrived after being shot down in France in 1942. Warrant Officer Sladen found himself in the camp after his Wellington had been shot down in North Africa a year before.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Former pilot grateful to Red Cross". Dorset Echo. 28 September 1979. p. 19. Retrieved 1 February 2026. former Royal Air Force bomber pilot who was shot down in the Middle East on 20 April 1941 ‒ Hitler's birthday ‒ has been appointed youth and junior's officer with the Dorset county branch of the British Red Cross Society … Louis Sladen of 1, Stonehills Cottages, Littlebredy … since 1967 has been warden of Dorchester Youth Centre. … piloting a Wellington when … shot down and taken prisoner … rest of the war in various prison camps in Germany. … Stalag Luft 3 at Saigen … fighter ace Douglas Bader … leader of Kendal Lads' club from 1947 to 1949 … leader-secretary of Leamington Boys' Club from 1949 to 1951 … general secretary of Mansfield House University Settlement … deputy superintendent-bursar of Dr. Barnardo's School in Wokingham, from 1958 to 1959 … field officer to the Welsh Association of Youth Clubs from 1959 to 1962 … South-West regional tutor and programme adviser to the National Association of Youth Clubs from 1962 until 1967
  6. ^ a b "Missing". Llantrisant & Talbot Notes. Pontypridd and Llantrisant Observer. 3 May 1941. Retrieved 1 February 2026. Mr. and Mrs. Sladen, confectioners, Llantrisant, have received notification that their son, Sergt. Louis Sladen, of the Royal Air Force, is missing.
  7. ^ "The Lucky People of Mansfield House". The Tatler and Bystander. 28 May 1952. p. 495. Retrieved 2 February 2026. Mr. Tommy Trinder, the comedian, presented a "Lord's Taverner" wicket to the Mansfield House University Settlement … handed over by Mr. John Snagge, the B.B.C. annoucer, President of the Traverners … Mr. I. M. Horobin, M.P. (right), Warden of Mansfield House … Mr. Martin Boddey, chairman and founder of the Lord's Taverners … with Mr. Frank Lawton … Brig. H. A. Hambleton, C.B.E. and Lt. Col. L. M. Wilcockson, M.B.E. talking to Mr. Louis Sladen at the Burges Road sports ground
  8. ^ a b c "Duke's Award scheme: A chance for local girls". Pontypool Free Press. 3 June 1960. p. 4. Retrieved 1 February 2026. Monmouthshire Federation of Youth Clubs … Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme for Girls will be available to all girls in Pontypool and district ages 14 to 20 … The scheme is not a competition … more difficult gold level … journey to Buckingham Palace to received the certificate and gold brooch from Prince Philip. … The scheme will be directed for the Monmouthshire Federation by Mr Louis Sladen, field officer of the Welsh Association of Youth Clubs … closely connected with it since its beginnings for boys almost four years ago and who trained the first gold award winners. … led by Miss Kathleen Ellum, of Abersychan, who was had considerable experience
  9. ^ "DofE at 70: John's story of being one of the first DofE participants". The Duke of Edinburgh's Award. 2 January 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026. John Green … one of the first boys to receive the first DofE Gold Award in 1958 … Fairbairn House Boys club and I initially went there for boxing until one day the Youth leader, Lou Sladen, asked if I wanted to do The Duke of Edinburgh's Award which is where it all started. … My DofE Leader, Lou was one of my heroes, he was a fighter pilot in the war … most exciting part about DofE was the Expedition … we used to go to the Brecon Beacons most weekends … as the first group to do DofE, we were part of a trial run and twice HRH Prince Philip and Sir John Hunt came out to see us … we were standing there talking to Prince Philip! … presented with our Gold Award on Wednesday 4 June 1958 … Buckingham Palace
  10. ^ a b Davies, David (26 July 1962). "Monmouthshire will miss him". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 2 February 2026. In 1959 Mr. Lou Sladen took up his appointment as field officer for East Wales with the Welsh Association of Youth Clubs. … He recently took a post as programmes adviser for the National Association of Youth Clubs in Devon and Cornwall.
  11. ^ "From skiffle group to "The Merry Makers"". Youth service round-up. South Wales Argus. 29 December 1960. Retrieved 1 February 2026. junior group leader courses … Mr. Louis Sladen, field officer for East Wales, has now arranged for one to commence early in the new year at Newport … course will commence on Monday, 9 January 1961, and sessions will be held every Monday evening until 8 May [1961]. … Further details may be obtained from Mr. Sladen, 30 Manorbier Drive, Llanyrafon, Cwmbran.
  12. ^ "Neath Youth Club Notes". Neath Guardian. 29 June 1962. Retrieved 2 February 2026. It will be Mr. Sladen's final course before leaving the services of the Welsh Association during July [1962].
  13. ^ "Stratton Youth Plans Party for Old Folk". Swindon Advertiser. 23 October 1964. p. 4. Retrieved 3 February 2026. 214-strong Stratton Youth Club, Swindon … financed an annual Christmas party for the old people of the parish … Another charitable, disinterested deed … was sending an anonymous handicapped child to Avon Tyrell … done on the suggestion of the National Association of Youth Clubs with help from Mr. Lou Sladen, one of the chief organisers for the Wiltshire area clubs. Avon Tyrell is an Association holiday camp
  14. ^ a b "Ashchurch group at Church Youth conference". The Tewkesbury Register, and Agricultural Gazette. 2 February 1965. Retrieved 3 February 2026. talks included … Mr. R Nethercott, the regional secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union, … Dame Joan Vickers, M.P. … Alan Brash … Rev. Geoffrey Brown … 20th Century Church Light Music Group … Princess's Visit … Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon were guests of Honour … attended by Sir William Butlin; the Bishop of Bath and Wells … and Lou Sladen, the south-west regional tutor of the National Association of Youth Clubs. … the light-hearted and inspiring leader of camp activities.
  15. ^ Dale, John (1996). Silver Jubilee 1941‒1966 (PDF). Annual Report. Printer: Albert E. Smith. Glouchestershire: Glouchestershire Association of Youth Clubs. p. 7‒8 – via Young Gloucestershire. joint week-end meeting with Club Leaders and Mr Lou Sladen, South West Regional Officer, of the National Association of Youth Clubs. … lead sessions on Modern Techniques and Presentation … Lou exhorted us to be "professional" and Members' Council has remembered this … closer association between the "Youth Service" and Members.
  16. ^ "Memories of Red Cross day trips". Dorset Echo. 5 October 2010. pp. 3‒4. Retrieved 3 February 2026. Thelma Wills from Dorchester … town's British Red Cross. … Detachment 22 … sometime in the mid-1970s. … "… The Crossroads Club for older people … held monthly in Icen Way … Dougal Club for disabled children which was held in the youth club at Colliton Street, Lou Sladen was the leader and he was a great help with the children. … Red Cross members occasionally took these children on trips using Red Cross ambulances … Weymouth, Lulworth Castle … Winterbourne Abbas."
  17. ^ "Bader Sports Club said farewell". Dorset Echo. 20 July 1979. Retrieved 1 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Bader Sports Club said farewell and thanks to Mr. Louis Sladen of Colliton Street Youth Centre, Dorchester, when he retired after 12 years. … opened by Sir Douglas Bader, wartime air ace. … Club member Mr. Cliff Butler presented Mr. Sladen with a cut-glass vase, engraved with the Red Cross crest, and a certificate to mark his meritorious service. … Mrs. Peggy Sladen seated on the left … held at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Prideaux at Preston
  18. ^ "Motor cycle club say 'thanks'". Dorset Echo. 30 July 1980. Retrieved 1 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Members of the 71 Motor Cycle Club of Dorchester have a lot to thank former youth leader Mr. Lou Sladen for. Mr. Sladen who recently retired as leader of the Colliton Street Youth Centre, Dorchester … presented him with an engraved tankard
  19. ^ "Judo club successes". Dorset Echo. 2 August 1980. Retrieved 1 February 2026. Mr. Lou Sladen, former warden of the Colliten Youth Centre at Dorchester, returned at the invitation of the Mon Dori Judo Club who meet at the centre to present certificates and club medals to members
  20. ^ a b "Former leader Honoured at Youth Centre ceremony". Dorset Echo. 30 March 1999. p. 3. Retrieved 1 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Peggy Sladen cuts the ribbon to open The Lou Sladen Community Room, named after her late husband, at Dorchester Youth Centre. … daughter Janie Gray … grandson Simon Baines … youth group leader has been formally recognised at Dorchester's new state-of-the-art youth and community centre in Kings Road. Lou Sladen, … known as "Uncle Lou" … was full-time leader at the Colliton Street youth centre for 15 years before stepping down the 1980's.
  21. ^ a b "County town's stylish youth centre all set for take-off". Dorset Evening Echo. 27 February 1999. Retrieved 3 February 2006 – via Newspapers.com. purchased from Royal British Legion by Dorset Youth and Community Service in 1996 … will open officially on Monday 8 March [1999] … Community room named after past leader Lou Sladen including large chess board measuring four metre square
  22. ^ a b "Engagements". Pontypridd and Llantrisant Observer. 30 June 1945. p. 4. Retrieved 1 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Sladen‒Harrington. — The engagement is announced between Louis (W/O, RAF), younger son of Mr J. and the late Mrs Sladen, High Street, Llantrisant, and Peggy (S.R.N.), only daughter of Mr and Mrs. A. T. Harrington, Penygawsi, Llantrisant.
  23. ^ "Gallant Rescue at Cardiff". Western Mail. Wales. 11 June 1906. Retrieved 2 February 2026. on Saturday evening [1906-06-09] … Thomas Morgan, aged five, the son of a seaman living at 41, Hill's-terrace, fell into the Glamorganshire Canal. … Mr. John Albert Sladen, employed by Mr. Lewis Halewood, 11, Bridge-street noticed the child's body in the water. … Mr. Sladen plunged into the canal, which at that spot is 8ft. deep, and … managed to save the child … unconscious, but first-aid methods were resorted to
  24. ^ a b "Peggy's break in a familiar 'home'". Lyme Regis News. 8 November 1996. p. 18. Retrieved 1 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com. former matron of the old Lyme Regis cottage hospital … Widower Peggy Sladen, 74, … whose one-time Youth Leader husband Lou died on 1 January [1996] after a long illness … was matron at the Lyme hospital from 1962 until 1974
  25. ^ a b "Sladen ‒ Peggy". Deaths. Lyme Regis News. 29 June 2001. p. 29. Retrieved 2 February 2026. on 26 June 2001 … peacefully at Dorset County Hospital aged 79 years. Former matron of Lyme Regis Hospital … widow of Lou … mother of Nerissa and Janie … grandmother and great grandmother. Funeral service at St Peter's Church, Dorchester … 4 July [2001] at 2pm.
  26. ^ a b Kasstan, Marg (14 May 1990). "Waterloo, Guelph women get awards". Kitchener-Waterloo Record. p. 15. Retrieved 2 February 2026. Clare Douglas, 20, of Guelph, … presented with certificates and silver pins from Lieutenant-Governor Lincoln Alexander … Only after applying to participate in the program did Douglas learn that her grandfather, Louis Sladen, a social worker in London, England, helped set up the criteria. "My father did the original work on the Duke of Edinburgh awards. Clare didn't know that," said Clare's mother, Nerissa Douglas. The Douglas family moved to Canada in 1973 and settled in Guelph in 1975.
  27. ^ a b "Sladen". Deaths. The Daily Telegraph. 4 January 1996. p. 18. Retrieved 3 February 2026. 1 Jan 1996, peacefully at home in Dorchester, Lou aged 77 years. … Service of Thanksgiving to be held at Littlebredy Church, on Friday, 12 Jan [1996] at 2 p.m. … donations … for R.A.F Benevolent Fund
  28. ^ "Douglas, Rissa (Nerissa)". Obituaries. Guelph Today. 15 January 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026. Rissa (Nerissa) … 13 January 2026. … husband Olly (Oliver) Douglas, daughters Clare and Liv (Olivia) Douglas, and grandson Haydon Douglas-Jaynes … worked at Linamar (Spinic) in Guelph from about 1990 to 2008 … in HR, … a celebration of life in the spring.
  29. ^ "Too fast". Dorset Echo. 13 May 1976. Retrieved 2 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Speeding in a car cost Louis Sladen, of Stonehills, Littlebredy, a £20 fine at Blandford Court.

Further reading

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