Tributes paid to 'inspirational' Shrewsbury musician
Tributes have flooded in to one of Shropshire's best loved musical figures after he died following a battle with cancer.
David Leeke has been described as "truly inspirational" following his tireless work with church choirs, including the choir at St Chad's Church in Shrewsbury, after he continued with his work until shortly before his death.
His wife Kathryn said she was deeply touched by the hundreds of messages after David died on Sunday aged 57. The couple had married in an emotional ceremony last year.
David recently received a mayoral award which was brought to his home after he was too ill to attend the event, and he directed choirs at churches all over the country.
Kathryn today paid tribute to her "soulmate in every sense."
She said: "We were together for eight years and we finally decided to get married last year in a ceremony in Oxford.
"It was always something we wanted to do and David's illness made us see that we wanted to do it there and then.
"David had been desperate to get married for a very long time, long before his diagnosis but he was so busy with everything he did.
"We also held a ceremony for all our friends in Shrewsbury, but David missed most of it because he needed a blood transfusion.
"He made a dramatic entrance and rushed from the hospital straight back to the church.
"He came right at the very end of the service during the last hymn, to rapturous applause from everybody who was there.
"Obviously the chemo affected David's hair and he never wanted to act or look poorly.
"He never let his illness stop him from doing the things that he wanted to do."
David, who grew up in Shrewsbury, sang in St Chad's choir as a young boy and also learned how to play the organ.
One of the happiest periods in his life was as director of music at Maidstone Grammar School in Kent, before he moved back to Shrewsbury 14 years ago and was swiftly appointed director of music at Shrewsbury Abbey.
He took up the same role at St Chad's in 2006 and was also director of Shrewsbury Cantata Choir.
He was also heavily involved with The Royal School of Church Music, and was given an honorary award from international director Andrew Reid.
Kathryn thanked Lingen Davies, the Hamar Centre, and Severn Hospice for their care of David.
She said: "I hope people will remember him for being kind, generous, fun and enthusiastically dedicated to everything in which he was involved.
"He was passionate about people, music, education, St Chad's and Shrewsbury - all of which were hugely important to him throughout his life.
"David was a great man and a great character - he really did love life and made the best of every moment, as well as drawing out the best in everyone else too.
"David died at home with me just after 6.30am on Sunday morning. How fitting it was a Sunday - the most precious day in the week to him."
Father Mark Chadwick, Vicar at St Chad's, said: "David's passion and commitment to the musical life of St Chad's has made an outstanding contribution to the church. He has contributed to St Chad's in so many vital ways. Through David's talent and aspirations for St Chad's, he leaves a musical tradition we can all feel proud of and enjoy."
The funeral will take place at St Chad's Church on June 9 at noon.
