Alan Leather — long-time GEDS member, actor, director and friend to all – sadly passed away on March 3, 2019 after fighting a long illness.  He leaves behind a son and daughter, Jack and Amy, and 3 cherished granddaughters – Cecilia, Miriam, and Tess.  Alan’s beloved wife, Sue, passed away in 2015. Losing both so soon upon one another was a difficult blow for all.

Alan’s passions included politics, humanitarianism, world travel, trade unionism, and the arts – particularly theatre.  Alan was born 21 September 1941. Starting from a working-class background, he started a 6 year apprenticeship at the age of 16 as a compositor at Odhams Press, Covent Gardens, London.  Eight years later he became head  of the printing department at St. Martin’s School of Art, London.

Alan was a true internationalist and humanitarian. His world travels began  in 1963 when he was an overseas volunteer in Zambia, working as organizing secretary for the Lusaka  YMCA. He later worked for OXFAM in India and Western Asia from

1967-1971.  Alan became involved in trade union work when he served an assistant organizer for OXFAM’s Co-operatives and Trade Unions Department in 1966. In 1971, he completed a diploma course in Development Studies at Ruskin College, Oxford, and two years later he completed an M.Phil in Development Studies at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex. In 1975, he was Lecturer of Development Studies at Ruskin College.

He eventually served almost 30 years as the Director of the Trade Union International Research and Education Group, and Assistant General Secretary of Public  Services International.

Throughout his life, Alan had a deep love of music and theatre, and participated whenever he had the chance. He joined GEDS in 1986. A gifted actor, he appeared numerous times on the GEDS stage, his last performance being Friar Francis in Much Ado About Nothing in 2017. In addition, he directed many staged readings – often in partnership with his wife, Sue.

In addition to his work with GEDS, Alan was a founding member of Theatre Someone, a smaller theatre group located in Divonne, France. With Theatre Someone, Alan performed in Someone Who’ll Watch over Me (Frank McGuinness), Waiting for Godot (Samuel Beckett) and The Devil and Billy

Markham (Shel Silverstein). He performed the latter play at the Edinburgh Fringe Theatre Festival in 2016.

Anyone who  knew or worked with Alan knew what a special man  he was.  Talented, intelligent, warm- hearted and funny – he was a good friend to all who  knew him.  And we are all a little richer for having known and worked with him.  One thing we can count on: He and Sue are reunited and joyfully putting together some theatre project wherever they are. – Gary Bird