ONE of the most avid supporters of the preservation of the paddle

steamer Waverley, John Leech, Emeritus Professor of Computing Science at

Stirling University, collapsed and died on board the ship during the

final cruise of the season on Monday. He was 66.

Professor Leech had been a director of the Waverley organisation since

1976. He was standing between the funnels on the return leg of Monday's

cruise between Rothesay and Largs when he suffered a heart attack.

As the steamer made its way back up river to Glasgow, the Red Ensign

was lowered to half mast as a tribute from Captain Steve Michel, fellow

directors, crew, and enthusiasts to a man who made an immense

contribution to keeping Waverley sailing for the pleasure of so many.

Waverley was his ''hobby'' and he was a familiar figure on board. In

the early chequered days of the preservation effort he also supplied

personal financial guarantees to the operating company, always shunning

publicity in the process.

Professor Leech was educated at Trent College, Derbyshire, and King's

College, Cambridge. He was appointed lecturer in the computing

laboratory at Glasgow University in 1959 and joined Stirling University

in September, 1968. Two years later, he was granted the first personal

chair in the university in view of the quality and scope of his work.

He leaves his wife Jenifer, who has shared his love of the Waverley

and the steamer's ''consort,'' the motor ship Balmoral. She is also a

director of the company.

In accordance with Professor Leech's wishes, his body has been left

for medical use and there will be no funeral or memorial meeting.