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.
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