LENI CRUICKSHANK. MBE - 1945 - 2022

Leni was born into a circus family and must be one of the few people who ran away from it !!!

Seen on the folk scene for nearly 60 years I can’t remember when I first met Leni, it must have been in the very early days at the Spinners club. Leni was a very good guitarist and singer, he played with several different groups and people. He was a founder member of the Everyman Folk Club and came most weeks during its 20 years.

Leni had many different sides to his life and earned his MBE for services to the community being on many committees but mainly helping young people to make something of their lives, employing them in his landscaping business and encouraging them to value themselves.

Leni will be missed by many people in Liverpool.

Chris Jones

Leni Cruickshank came into the lives of myself and singing partner the late and much missed Bridie O’Donnell in the late 60’s and early 70’s when we ran a folk club at the Methodist Hall on Mill Streets in Toxteth, Liverpool 8 on a Monday night.

Leni came to the club every now and then and was always willing to perform accompanying himself on guitar.

There were very few dark skinned people into folk music at that time and that helped Leni integrate very quickly. He had a quirky, ready wit and often brought his friend Oswald along who claimed to be a Nigerian Prince!!!

Slowly but surely Leni became a regular visitor to the club and had so much to offer and for more than 50 years was a regular on the wider Liverpool folk scene. He will be sorely missed by so many.

Jacqui MacDonald