John Victor Leafe (17 Nov 1932 - 18 Feb 2025)

In loving memory of John Victor Leafe who sadly passed away on 18th February 2025

John, known to all as Jack, husband to Annie, Dad to Marie, Grandad to Charlotte and George, brother to Tom. Jack loved animals and cared for many throughout his life, including dogs, cats, geese, ducks, hamsters and the many birdlife who visited the garden of Wheatfield Crescent. He and Annie not only cared for their own pets but often those of their friends and neighbours too. Animals knew they were on to a good thing with Annie and Jack's hospitality.

Family holidays were spent in Scarborough at the Clifton Hotel when it was quite a spectacle to see in its day. In later years he and Annie graduated to warmer climes, spending time in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, for some winter sun. Saturdays were spent walking in Derbyshire, Lathkill Dale being a favourite, as well as exploring stone circles of the area (another fascination he held) and fossil hunting. Jack loved foraging for mushrooms and chestnuts followed by cooking them (thankfully he knew what he was doing and we all lived happily after eating them!)

He spent many an absorbed evening watching The Sky at Night, fronted by the monacled, charismatic Patrick Moore. He enjoyed star gazing, pointing out the constellations that could be seen by the naked eye.

Apart from his trade, decorating, he had numerous DIY skills, undertaking many tasks that most of us probably wouldn't tackle ourselves, he built his own conservatory for example. His claim to fame was gold leafing the dining room ceiling at Chatsworth House.

Everyone who knew Jack associated him with the numerous Robin Reliant vans he owed, every colour except yellow! It never ceased to amaze us how many gallons of paint and building materials he could fit inside them.

He spent time in the air force, being a long range rifle-man. He had a fascination for air-craft enjoying air
shows with his family, he loved to see the red arrow display team perform their aerobatics.

Of all the idiosyncracies that made up Jack's life, most of all he was my Dad. I loved him for who he was and he will never leave me because he is part of who I am.