Tributes paid to Burgess Hill businessman Graham Fleet, co-founder of long-running Sussex PR firm Lea Graham Associates

Graham Fleet, co-founder of Lea Graham Associates, one of the oldest PR companies in Sussex, bravely coped with cancer for three years and lost his life at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea from Covid-19. He was still working throughout his treatment at the Royal Marsden Sutton and is greatly missed by his wife, mother, brother, family and countless friends.

He met his wife and business partner Susan in New Hampshire, USA in June 1973 and shortly afterwards discovered they both lived in adjacent roads in Burgess Hill. Their mothers still live there today.

Graham’s career brought him into contact with some high profile clients – Rolls Royce, GEC Aviation, St Thomas’s Hospital and Buckingham Palace. As an electrical designer, he worked on diverse and challenging projects ranging from the runway lighting system at Kai Tak in Hong Kong and various Iranian airfields; research projects in Scotland to an ingenious electrical device in the desert which doubled up as a scratching post for camels.

At the age of 20, Graham and school friend Leo Routledge took a two week tour around France, Switzerland and Italy with Graham driving his open-top Spitfire...and all without the help of sat nav.

His very first vehicle was an Austin pedal car which he took for a spin around the Worthing suburbs at the tender age of two and a half. He almost managed to find his way home before being picked up by his father. Clearly that Austin fuelled his passion for driving.

Classic cars were a big part of Graham’s life and also one of his favourite hobbies. TVR, Frog-eye Sprite, GT Scimitar, Lancia Fulvia Zagato and Triumph Spitfire were all treasured and meticulously refurbished by him.

Sport has been another of Graham’s interests, especially football and motorsport, although most of the time a spectator hobby.

Known by family, friends and colleagues for his wonderful sense of humour, Graham was also a good impressionist. Most were derived from radio programmes such as The Navy Lark, Round the Horne, Beyond our Ken and TV shows such as Steptoe & Son and Are you Being Served.

His DIY skills were legendary. He completely refurbished two homes in Burgess Hill, the latter of which involved a complete redesign of the entire interior structure including loft extension and assisted with the building work. Until the time of his death, he was still working on house and garden projects.

Sally Wells, friend and former colleague said: “Graham fought so hard, particularly in the last few weeks, and bore his illness with characteristic stoicism. I never heard him complain about his situation or the treatments he had to endure. In fact, this really sums up the Graham we knew and loved. He was always gentle, kind, good-humoured and consistent in his behaviour. During all the stressful moments, I never saw him lose his equilibrium. He just carried on calmly and took everything life threw at him.”

Cheryl Barber, a former news editor of the Middy and close friend said: “Graham was a gentleman on so many levels - a rare human being who never sought the limelight but in fact deserved its full beam for his kindness, empathy, wit and generosity of spirit.”

A private family funeral has taken place but a celebration of Graham’s life will be held later in the year in support of the Royal Marsden Charitable Trust.