Graeme Leech

WORK HISTORY

ABOUT GRAEME LEECH

I have been a Property Manager for approaching 40 years. Initially I worked for both independent and corporate Estate/Letting Agents and then more recently, my wife Gill and I owned our own Letting Agency for 10 years before selling it in 2017. We also previously owned a Block Management business which we sold in 2018. I have been able to provide knowledge and advice to others who feel that they need some guidance from start-ups to more established businesses looking to grow. I now involve myself in the management of our own properties.I am a non-exec Director of Newbury Business Improvement District (BID) and enjoy being involved in governance with my fellow directors and also keeping in touch with business life in a Town which means a great deal to me.I am proud to be non-exec President of West Berkshire Mencap where we help Children and Adults with a learning disability to get the most out of life. I also have a great affinity with another local charity, Young People and Children First who Gill and I support with ‘Hope House’ a property that we own in Thatcham.The Rotary Club of Newbury became an important part of my life from when I joined in 2010. In short, the work that we do to support our community has been an inspiration to me. I had the honour of being President in 2016-17 which not only gave me greater knowledge of our work locally, but also in the wider community including internationally. Becoming a Paul Harris Fellow in 2021 was a proud moment.In recent years Gill and I have provided supported lodging to young unaccompanied teenagers. Having never had children, this has been both rewarding and sometimes challenging in equal measures and new skills have had to be learned. I also include the immigration process in our learnings and seeing the process from the other side of the fence has been eye opening!To relax we enjoy travelling which once included a cycling trip of miles around Europe. Now we are a little more sedate and have two dogs; Frank, a 3-year-old border collie and Bacchus, a 5-year-old rescue from Romania. I also have a Morgan car and enjoy track days which is a good alternative way of getting the blood circulating!