LEIGHTON NOWELL: Obituary

Leighton Nowell : an Obituary.

 It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Rotarian Leighton Nowell on 19^thDecember 2020 aged 75.Born in Newport, South Wales, Leighton remained a proud Welshman, in spite of living in Gerrards Cross for 42 years. He was a passionate supporter of the Welsh rugby team through all their ups and downs.  He and Pip, who is also a Rotarian, met in school, were married for 52 years and have a son, Andrew.

A founder member of Misbourne Matins in 1997, Leighton suggested Helen Phillips be the first president in order to celebrate ladies in Rotary and became President himself in the second year. Leighton was the driving force behind many initiatives taken on by Misbourne Matins.

When South Bucks Hospice needed a van to help move donations between their shops Leighton immediately visited other potential donor clubs and organized several fundraisers in our club so that within 6 months, the Hospice received their van. If Leighton wanted to do something it was done.

It was Leighton who sold us the idea of a dedicated boat, designed for disabled access, to be run on the Thames. With the help of many Rotary Clubs in District 1090, persuaded by Leighton, the boat was launched by Rivertime Boat Trust for whom he became an Ambassador and one of the part time Skippers of the Boat.

Leighton was involved from the start through SBETA with Children in Need collections locally and at Heathrow and showed incredible stamina.  It has been calculated that over the years Misbourne Matins, latterly together with Marlow Thames, have raised over £250,000 for this cause.

More recently in the local Gerrards Cross community, Leighton organised a data base of objectors to the planning application for a multi-storey car park in Station Road, Gerrards Cross.  He worked hard to stay on top of the technicalities and to successfully mobilise local residents to respond to deadlines.

Leighton and Pip were enthusiastic travellers and wherever they went they would visit the local Rotary club and bring back a banner to display at our weekly breakfast meetings where Leighton sat at the ‘naughty table’, so called due to the heckles and witticisms emanating from there at whichever member was speaking. You always knew when Leighton was there. We will miss him. Our thoughts are with his wife, Pip and son, Andrew.