The Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane for 2011/12 is Cllr David Leeks
Mayor’s biography
David was born a few hundred yards from the Civic Offices at the Shrubbery Maternity Hospital in 1955. Later in that same year he contracted Polio, which left him with no muscle in his left leg and much weakness in his hip. David has two older brothers.
David went to main stream schools in Tadley where he has lived all his life. He left school without enough qualifications to become a trainee manager with the Co-operative he went to work for them anyway and after a year he was accepted on their trainee management scheme, attending Highbury College in Portsmouth.
Halfway through the three year course he saw a vacancy for a manager’s job with the Co-operative at Brighton Hill, he applied, was successful and took the position against his parents advice as they had wanted him to complete his course. He did finish the course, but by correspondence thus becoming the youngest Manager for the local Co-operative Society. During his retail career with the Co-operative he went to Jersey for six months, moving on to bigger shops and finally became a relief manager, with up to 140 staff, but with such responsibilities came long hours and six and seven day working weeks.
At 25 he made a career change and applied for and was successful in obtaining management positions with the civil service locally and then in London.
David also joined the Basingstoke Samaritans and one day he had a phone call from another volunteer Amanda, whom he knew from church and school, asking if he could change a duty with her, He agreed and invited her down to his new home for coffee. That was on the 20 May 1984 a month later on the 20 June they were engaged and then married in October that year. In January 1987 their first son, Simon, was born and in 1989 their son Graham. Both their sons went to local schools and then to Basingstoke College of Technology. David was working in London when they took the decision that he would stay at home to look after the family. Amanda was and still is a Community Midwife for West Berkshire.
During his time as a trustee of Shopmobility David and Amanda gave a young girl volunteer, with no where to go, a place to stay over Christmas. Michele stayed for a number of years becoming part of their family. She and her husband now have four children who are like grandchildren to David and Amanda and who bring much happiness and laughter to the family.
David became a local Tadley town councillor 18 years ago and a few years after became a borough councillor representing Tadley South and Central ward. This later became Tadley South ward due to boundary changes and he continues to represent them to this day. He is a former Chairman of Tadley Town Council, a founder member of AWE Local Liaison Committee, Trustee and former Chairman of Tadley and District Community Centre, Trustee and former National Chairman of the British Polio Fellowship, Trustee to the Ambrose Allen and Turbury Allotments, Trustee to the North Hampshire Hospital Trust and President of The Tadley Band. The one job he loves most is to be Father Christmas at various events in his ward!
His hobbies are charity work, holidays, and of course spending time with his family.
The Mayoress
Amanda Leeks was born in 1958 in London the eldest of four children. Her parents moved from Dorset to Baughurst in 1968 where she attended the local schools, youth clubs and church. After attending sixth form at Queen Mary’s College she trained as a nurse in Cardiff working at the Royal Berkshire Hospital before qualifying as a Midwife in 1982. Amanda is a full time community Midwife based until recently in Thatcham and now in Lower Earley, Reading.
Amanda met David whilst a Samaritan volunteer and has supported David with his public life and many charities over the years. David and Amanda have been married for 26 years, have two sons Simon and Graham and a ‘foster family’. Amanda thoroughly enjoys being an honorary granny to Michele’s children. When not working Amanda enjoys travelling and reading a good book.
The Deputy Mayor
The Deputy Mayor for 2011/12 is Cllr Martin Biermann
