Leckie joined his father's wholesale saddlery and leather goods manufacturing business, which had branches in Glasgow, London and Walsall.
Secretary to the Walsall Victoria Nursing Institution, and he took an active part in temperance, social and religious works.
[5] Leckie first stood for election to Walsall Council in the Bridge Ward in 1903, describing himself as a Progressive candidate.
Elections to the council were suspended because of the First World War and when in April 1916 a sitting councillor in Hatherton Ward resigned to devote more time to his business, Leckie was proposed for co-option and chosen over a candidate put forward by the Labour Party and Trades Council.
He retained his seat comfortably at the municipal elections of 1919 and went on to a distinguished local government career.
An agreement was made with the Conservatives, and Leckie got a free run against the sitting Labour Member of Parliament (MP) John McShane.
[9] The by-election in Walsall which followed Leckie's death resulted in a win for the Liberal National (government) candidate Sir George Schuster.