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.