Leese, Dr Thomas Kenneth James
1923- 2001

Medical missionary in China, born in Ancoats, Manchester, where his father was a PM local preacher. He was educated at Manchester Grammar School and Manchester University, where he qualified as a doctor. As Medical Superintendent of the Lingling Methodist Hospital in Hunan, China 1947-1950, he largely rebuilt the hospital. Returning to England when the Chinese Communists took over, he became a General Practitioner in Bury, Lancs and was also Schools and Industrial Medical Officer. He was closely involved with the St. John Ambulance Brigade, and was appointed a Commander of the Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem in 1977. He had a passion for social justice and was national president of the Band of Hope. He was a local preacher from his teens and held many offices in the Church, including that of circuit steward. For many years he was medical officer for the connexional Candidates Committee. He was co-chairman of the Churches' Council for Health and Healing. He was Vice-President of the Conference in 1969 and was a British representative at the World Methodist Conferences in Denver (1971), Dublin (1976) and Hawaii (1981).

Sources
  • Conference Handbook, 1969
  • Methodist Recorder, 3 July 1969; 26 July 2001