30 March 2025

Lee Montague 1927-2025

We are deeply sad to announce the death of our beloved President for Life, Lee Montague at the age of 97.

Lee was a highly respected actor.  He trained at the Old Vic School and worked in the early part of his career in the Royal Exchange Manchester, the Old Vic, Bristol Old Vic and Oxford Playhouse.

Moving into film he worked with great directors (such as Zeffirelli) appearing in some 30 films including Moulin Rouge in 1952, Bill Budd, Brother Sun, Sister Moon, and Jesus of Nazareth with Robert Powell.

In the 70s in television he had long runs The Sweeney, Bergerac and Seconds Out with Robert Lindsay.

He was the first storyteller on the BBC children’s programme Jackanory on 1965, narrating 15 episodes, for which he won a BAFTA.

He was a huge Arsenal fan and a formidable tennis player!

But to us, he was the saviour of the library. He saved it once before from closure by Camden, but in 2011 they closed it before announcing it, so it was Lee who formed a committee of neighbours to set up the Keats Community Library charity it is today.   

He continued to be vital to our success as he wrote many literary and  biographical evenings which he performed with his fellow actors, Michael Palin, Robert Powell, Simon Callow and Janet Suzman. These were played to a full house, as is befitting!

He will be greatly missed.