Leslie Deans

Leslie was the epitome of a true Jambo, following the Club from boyhood when he was accorded the privilege of  sitting on John Harvey’s bench during matches.  The pinnacle of his many achievements with the Club came when he was made Chairman.  During his tenure, Hearts went on to an historic Scottish Cup victory in 1998 bringing the first Scottish Cup to Tynecastle since 1956.

Leslie’s brother, Jeffrey, paid tribute to a character who was known to so many as a five-foot giant of a man.

“It is with sadness and immense pride that I can say that Leslie left us in some style, full of funny stories, thinking of and thanking all of the huge number of people who had touched his life and made it so wonderful: his mother and father of course who pushed him to use all of his abilities in the place they thought best for him, George Watsons College, but also all the people he met in business, clients, strangers on a train or a cafe in Spain, and of course the friendships forged over sixty years on the terraces and Board Room of Tynecastle.

His partner Carole, the family and the Solicitors firm he founded are glad to have had him in our lives and thank the staff in Royal infirmary High Dependency Unit for their outstanding care and humanity They helped Leslie to find celebration and dignity in his last moments.”