100 years of Ideal with the Leat Family 

1910 
 
Freddie and Nancy Leat moved from the Kimberley (now the First and Last Pub), to Rockhampton (84 Withycombe Village Road ) and started Ideal Hand Laundry in February 1910. 
1918 
 
On demob from the Army Air Corp after World War 1 Stanley joined his father. The laundry was delivered by horse and cart to Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton area. 
 
 
1936 
 
Stanley bought the first motor van to cope with the increased turn-over. 
 
 
1938 
 
On Freddie's retirement Stan and Vera took over the Ideal Hand Laundry to modernise the "Hand" with machinery to do the washing and pressing. 
 
 
1948 
 
On his demob from the Royal Corps of Signals, Trevor then joined his parents to make further modernisation. 
 
 
1955 
 
Acquired the turnover of the Budleigh Salterton Laundry and amalgamated it with Ideal at Withycombe. 
1960 
 
Purchased the Exmouth Steam Laundry Ltd. in New North Road Exmouth, and moved Ideal at Withycombe to be run together in New North Road. 
 
 
1965 
 
November 12th 1965 A fire almost destroyed the whole premises, and a new building was found in Pound Lane. Two new bays were constructed. 
 
 
1966 
 
On March 16 the first loads of laundry were processed and we were up and running. Plus the new Dry Cleaning part of the business was started. 
 
 
1973 
 
On leaving school Simon became part of Ideal, the 4th generation of the Leat family!! 
 
 
1976 
 
Sold the van rounds to Victoria Laundry Sidmouth, to concentrate on the Dry Cleaning. Opened Ideal Freezer Centre in the middle bay which Simon managed. until sold to Ansteys of Sidmouth, then he moved back to the Dry Cleaning and Laundry. 
1985 
 
Andrew Leat joined, opening Ideal Photo Express which he ran for 2 years until sold on. 
 
 
1993 
 
Trevor retired and sold the business onto Simon. 
 
 
2010 
 
James Leat the 5th generation starts work for Ideal. The Leat Family are now looking forward to the next 100 years! 
 
 
2011 
 
Ideal Cleaners invests in Lagoon wet cleaning technology. 
 
 
2012 
 
All Ideal Cleaners members of staff graduate NVQ qualifications, as fully qualified laundry technicians. 
 
 
2014 
 
Installed the latest environmentally friendly Lagoon Advanced Care wet cleaning system. Zero solvents or toxic chemicals are used in this cleaning process. 
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