Leonard, who died suddenly at home on July 31, was the daughter of Major Samuel Macomber Churn, a leading businessman who launched Union Trading in the early years of the last century, and was later chairman of several firms including China Provident, North Point Wharves and General Improvements - leading companies in their time.

She was educated at Diocesan Girls' School, but the outbreak of war meant she was unable to continue studying medicine at the University of Hong Kong. She became an auxiliary nurse during the invasion of Hong Kong.

Leonard's father in the meantime had been appointed government rice controller, responsible for ensuring the city's supply, and was in India negotiating shipments when Hong Kong fell.

After spending some time in Hong Kong, Leonard followed members of the medical faculty to the mainland, hoping to renew her studies. But ill health forced her to give up and she left to join her father, then a captain in a British intelligence unit, in Calcutta.

After the war, she left for London, where she completed studies in physiotherapy before returning to Hong Kong, where she married Norman Leonard in 1950. She met him in London when he was a member of the Hong Kong contingent of the Volunteers taking part in the victory parade. Leonard set up a practice in the Gloucester Building and attended to hundreds of patients, young and old. As one who had taken her share of knocks as a hockey goalkeeper, she was one of the first sports physiotherapists in Hong Kong.

Following further studies in Australia and Taiwan, Leonard developed procedures using, among other techniques, acupuncture.

Later she and her husband moved to London to oversee the education of their three children, Joy, Dawn and Keith. She continued practising physiotherapy at Barnet General Hospital, where she helped pioneer Chinese techniques in the west. One of Leonard's patients was a giraffe from the London Zoo with neck problems. The giraffe was one of her many satisfied clients.

After her children's schooling, Leonard and her husband moved to Canada and spent their time between Vancouver and London.

Leonard is survived by her husband, children, three grandchildren, two sisters and a brother.

A thanksgiving Mass was held at the Church of Christ the King, Enfield, England, on August 12, attended by a large gathering.