Les Ellenor was born in Dawlish, Devon, England in 1935 to his parents, Methodist Minister Thomas Ellenor and his wife Agnes. Les Ellenor received his education at Ripon Grammar School, which he proudly says was founded in 670 AD. He went to Durham University (1954-57) and then served in Germany as a Lieutenant in the British Army (1957-59). Discharged, Ellenor returned to university in 1960 to do a Diploma in Education at Oxford. He taught in England, New Zealand (Wellington College, 1962-1965) and eventually in Port Alberni, British Columbia. In 1969 Ellenor did a Masters degree in English at UBC and began teaching at Okanagan College in 1970.;While teaching at Alberni District Senior Secondary, Les Ellenor met widow Patricia Joan Brown Sedwick. Joan and Les were married in 1970. They have three children, Susan, Geoffrey and Jessica.;Les Ellenor was an English instructor at the Salmon Arm Campus of Okanagan College from 1970 to 2001. Ellenors interests include cross country skiing and singing in the United Church Senior Choir.