David George Leader (3 Apr 1937 - 17 Jul 2024)

In loving memory of David George Leader, who sadly passed away on 17th July 2024, aged 87.

Born in Yorkshire in 1937, but grew-up in Chatham during the War years, Dad was surrounded by a close family; his parents, Bertram and Joyce, and his older brother, John, and younger brother, William (Bill). His youth focused on his boxing, reaching Southern Counties Champion status and then all-England final. He had a variety of jobs before, in his early twenties, choosing to follow his father's career path as a chiropodist, beginning with several years of study at the Chelsea School of Chiropody. His career spanned five decades, until his retirement, aged 73. He very much enjoyed his career, his patients very dear to him and he worked long hours, and was happy with what he accomplished in life.

He met Sylvia in the early 1960s, and they enjoyed their courtship before becoming married in 1968. They lived in Ordnance Street, Chatham, before moving to their forever-home in City Way, Rochester, in 1978. A large house and a large garden needed to be filled by children. There were initial struggles conceiving and carrying pregnancies, and the greatest blow was the loss of their first son after surviving for just 19 days in 1981. However, joy followed with Ross in 1982 and Zelda in 1985.

Mum's alcoholism blighted the family for several decades, beginning in the late 1980s. Dad came close to walking away many times, and it took its toll on his wellbeing, but he had determination to keep the family together; huge strength of character. This selflessness was seen in other ways, from caring for his brother, John, who had become disabled by Muscular Dystrophy in late childhood, to his commitment to his elderly patients throughout Medway, and he also had a passion for animal welfare.

His goal was to have a happy retirement - after a challenging home life and working six days a week for so many years, he just wanted to enjoy what he had invested so hard towards. Pitifully, this potential was robbed from him, when just prior to his retirement he became diagnosed with cognitive impairment, which worsened to becoming a diagnosis of Alzheimer's with vascular dementia in 2013 (with Mum's dementia diagnosis to follow only a year later). A robust man and a fighter, he beat the odds to survive the onslaught of dementia for another 11 years. We take comfort that we were able to honour his wishes to stay with Mum, in their much-loved home, and not be left languishing in the nursing homes he had become so fearful of, witnessing firsthand through his work what can go on.

Dad hated that some people slowly, cruelly, lose their lives to progressive diseases, and recognised the variety of impacts the disease has on the lives of those closest to them. He would be warmed to know that his friends chose to donate to causes fighting against the two diseases which impacted him and his family. So, we respectfully and gratefully ask that, instead of sending flowers, you donate to Muscular Dystrophy UK and Race Against Dementia (links provided on this page).