Tributes have been paid to Lesley Grossett, of Dundee business Grossett Butchers, following her death at the age of 58.
She became unwell around 14 weeks ago, was diagnosed with cancer six weeks later after returning from holiday in Rhodes and died peacefully at Ninewells Hospital on July 28.
Lesley and husband Gilbert were both huge motorsport fans and had planned to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary next year at the Dubai Grand Prix.
For many years, Lesley played an important behind-the-scenes role in the family business.
She would handle the accounting side, influence the business direction but also helped out in the shop and made deliveries when needed.
Gilbert said: “It was impossible to fall out with Lesley.
“She was one in a million; the love of my life.”
Publishing career
Lesley had also headed the newspaper home delivery team at DC Thomson for six years before retraining as a financial adviser.
She was born in Dundee in November 1964 to Thomas Mudie, a marine engineering superintendent in the Royal Navy and his wife, Jeanette, a medical receptionist.
Lesley grew up in Elgin Gardens together with brother Bruce, two years her junior, and attended Clepington Primary School.
In 1973, the family moved to Bramley, Surrey, for her father’s job but five years later, the family returned to live in Barnhill and Lesley was among the first intake of pupils at the newly-built Monifieth High School.
Student days
She then went on to study at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design and, in 1984, married Mark Lindsay. Son Michael was born in 1989 and although the couple later divorced, they remained good friends.
Lesley later met Gilbert and they married at Mains Castle in 1999. Son, Aaron, was born the same year followed by Harrison in 2002.
Over the years she held a number of sales manager positions including at McCurrach and Maxxium before joining DC Thomson in 2012.
After she left in 2018, she retrained and joined the Mortgage Finance Store, where she worked with her daughter-in-law, Claire, wife of Michael.
Motorsport
Outside work, Lesley was sociable, loved a party and followed F1, MotoGP and British Touring Car races together with Gilbert.
Michael said: “They were regulars at Knockhill for various track days and she supported Gilbert when he had a phase of racing Mini Coopers.
“She would always take our youngest brother Harrison, who was big into Motorcross, to his practice circuits in Cupar and Leuchars as well as for some races across Scotland.
“Her own cars were almost always a little flashy; she loved a convertible and hated when she had to go through the sensible phase to accommodate child seats.”
Michael said his mother was the go-person to ask for advice.
“I don’t think any of us really realised how much she did until now,” he said.
“She was just an always-there mum, loved her late night television and would always have one of the sons on the couch with her from me all the way down to Harrison – and now even her grandson Josh – until way past our bed time.”
Lesley, grandmother to Josh and Kasper, was remembered at a service at Parkgrove crematorium, Friockheim.
You can read the full announcement here.
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