Northamptonshire-born Lee signed professional terms with his home county in 1967 and played 44 first-class matches for them before heading to Old Trafford.
During a successful spell at Lancashire, Lee twice took more than 100 wickets in a season, in 1972 and 1975.
His haul of 112 wickets in 1975 at an average of 18.45 saw the bowler nicknamed ‘Leapy’ chosen as one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the year.
His career was affected by a shoulder injury in 1978, before it ended four years later. His final first-class wicket turned out to be that of Sir Geoffrey Boycott in a Roses match in Manchester in August 1982.
Never capped by England, Lee was a fine county player and his contribution for Lancashire was recognised by his induction into their Hall of Fame in 2004.