Leigh & Jean Blackwell

In conversation with Robin Harvie

Leigh and Jean Blackwell and their children, Robert, Michael and Kathy, came to All Saints in 1965, and became active members.

Leigh and Jean both taught Sunday School which the children attended. Leigh usually ran the games at the Sunday School Picnic, and was M.C. at many of the social gatherings.

Leigh served in the vestry for many years, was People's Warden when Canon Howes and Bishop Ford were incumbents. He was a synod delegate. He was on the Building Committee for Ford Hall.

In January, 1983. having directed the choir for some time, Leigh was presented with a hymn book in appreciation.

Jean was a member of the Altar Guild from 1968 through to the 90s, acting as directress from 1975 - 89. Many hours of sewing and embroidery were spent on linens and hangings.

Leigh served on a committee discussing the possibility of the Roman Catholic and Anglican congregations joining. Rev. Alan Howes and priest Father White were incumbents at that time.

Leigh's best memory of his years at All Saints was the construction of Ford Hall in 1984.

His worst memory concerned the Sunday School, when it was held in the Community Hall. Sunday mornings after a Saturday night social function started with cleaning up empty bottles and garbage. No one cleaned up on Saturday night, so there was an unpleasant stench and it was always cold. When Ford Hall was built in 1984, Leigh, Bob Thomas and Clayton Edgelow laid the bricks in the courtyard.

Leigh always filled the role of Handy Andy. He built cupboards, rewired the sound system, made trays for the freezer to support the apple pies that were made. When Canon Hill donated two flags to All Saints, Leigh welded brackets for them to be hung on the wall either side of the altar. For years, Leigh, along with Peter Hunziker and Tom Ashton, brought the equipment and peeled apples for the ACW ladies' project.

Daughter Kathy was confirmed in 1976 by Bishop Goodman, and was married to Kim Courtney by Bishop Ford in 1985.

While Jean was ill in Foothills Hospital in 1998, Leigh began attending St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Calgary because it was nearby.

After Jean passed away, Leigh continued on at St. Andrew's, as he had developed a close relationship with the congregation over many difficult months.