DAVE LEE'S FUNERAL

THE funeral service for Dave Lee took place at Canterbury Cathedral on Monday January 30th, with over a thousand mourners present to pay their respects. 

Dave was never a man who struggled to find an audience and his funeral attracted a number of stars, including Jim Davidson, Bobby Davro and Richard Digance, all of whom spoke warmly of a man who was both a friend and a mentor.

In a gag that could have been scripted by Dave himself, Digance quipped: "It was ironic that on the very same day, it was announced that 67 Little Chef restaurants were to close!" He also said Dave had once thrown his golf bag into a lake in frustration - but only after removing a cheese sandwich from it first. 

Dave spent several years with Lashings and was hugely admired and respected by everyone in the organisation.

Dave was a comedian with a phenomenally quick wit, who had a one-liner for every possible occasion and a put down for any heckler - not that there were many people ever rash enough to take him on. 

His last match with Lashings was the World XI's game with the House of Commons select team at Sutton Valence last September. At the game Dave spoke about how much he was looking forward to returning to Lashings in 2012, but shortly afterwards he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and he passed away last night, just days after it was announced he was to become a freeman of the city of Canterbury.

Scott Charlton, who was Dave's co-commentator at hundreds of Lashings games, said he was "heartbroken" by the news, while Ed Giddins said the world "was a poorer place" for his passing.

Chairman David Folb, who successfully fought off bowel cancer a couple of years ago, said: “We’re all desperately sad. Dave was a great comedian one of the good guys, a very funny man. I was in touch with him in the past few months and he was really buoyed up despite the diagnosis, but that’s cancer for you. I had it and recovered, Dave didn’t.

“We’ve lost a very good man. He did an enormous amount for worthy causes and everyone in the Lashings family will miss him tremendously.” 

Dave will be sorely missed by everyone involved with Lashings. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family.