In Memory of
Ian Leavey
21 . 12 . 1945 – 12 . 08 . 2008
Wick Newsletter November 2008 carried the following, written by Ray Hopper
It is with great sadness that we have to tell you of the death of Ian Leavey.
Ian died on Tuesday August 12th, from cancer.
Ian was the son of the vicar of Southwick, the Rev. Jack Leavey, living in Southwick vicarage, which was a very handily placed for Wick’s HQ at 26 Church Lane, a few doors up the road. Ian’s talents were mainly backstage.
He first helped out set building for the production of Gigi in 1966. For a number of years in the late 60s Ian was among a stalwart production crew, but was also involved in the great second flowering of the Under-21s, where he made friends he was to keep for the rest of his life. He also timidly ventured onto the stage a couple of times – firstly in a concert celebrating the re-opening of the Barn Theatre after its 1967 refurbishment. Poignantly, our part of the concert was devised and directed by Tony Sellwood, himself the victim of a tragic car crash last year.
He then played the small rôle of Hopkins in our award winning production of The Crucible, whilst also being stage manager.
Ian was renowned for his ‘laid-back’ personality – not as extrovert as the rest of us, but with a quietly wicked sense of humour, which was well remembered at his well-attended funeral at the isolated West Grinstead church, where he is laid to rest in a quiet corner of the churchyard.
