Mick Lehane (RIP) 1943 to 1946

Jill and Mick Lehane

For those of us who attended St Mary’s GS in the 1970s, or St Mary’s and St Joseph’s in the 1980s, the name ‘Lehane’ is a familiar one. But what most people will not have realised is that the first Lehane arrived at St Mary’s College during the second world war. Mick Lehane, born in 1929, was 14 when he arrived at the school and has pin-sharp memories of his time there under the headship of Fr Jack ‘Cod’ Roe. After leaving St Mary’s in 1946, Mick worked as a chartered accountant in London for two years, before doing his national service. He then worked in a bank before joining Coates Brothers, the inks, paints and varnishes specialists on Sevenoaks Way, where he worked for 44 years. Mick, pictured here with his wife Jill, had four sons, three of whom attended St Mary’s. After first son Paul went to St Thomas More School in Eltham, Kevin, Chris and David started at St Mary’s in 1973, 1978 and 1982 respectively. After St Mary’s Kevin obtained an Engineering Degree and a PhD in Artificial Intelligence; outstanding sportsman Chris became Director of Sport at Merchant Taylors’ School and David became a GP.