A year ago life changed forever. You left us physically 💔 but your light, spirit and love will stay with us always ♥️ 🌟 I love you xxx

You were always on my mind and will be forever in my heart. It was a privilege to know you Michael

Memories I will hold dear to my heart . Family Christmas and Boxing Day teas at Alvista Avenue , Walpole rd and Maypole rd . Such happy times and the most amazing spreads laid on by Auntie Peg and Auntie Dot x How thrilled I was when I found out that Sarah had been named after me and the joy that gave you all these years later when I shared that memory with you at the Oak and Saw in Taplow village . When you met me at the hospital to visit dad and how he lit up when he saw you x Watching the two of you chat of the old days over a couple of bottles of beer you produced from your bag and consumed like two naughty school boys X When you visited mum with me in the hospital and how the kindness you showed her made her so calm x Your many visits to mum and dad even though you were looking after your mum at the time x For calling dad to your mums side to say goodbye xx For that precious walk on the beach and the one we were about to do xx Always in my heart x Sarah ❤️

"All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts." (As You Like It, Act 2, Scene 7) “Hold to the now, the here, through which all future plunges to the past.” Mick will always be Shakespeare and Ulysses.

Michael was beautiful unique friend ..such a sense of fun, an inspiration to myself and Hope. Loved our chats as we were dipping in the sea trying to pretend it wasn’t cold. You’ve left a special place in our hearts ..

Such a lovely man Mick. Calm cool and collected and so easy to talk to. It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

Mick I knew you for 65 years you were always a constant. Integrity, faithfulness and your word was your word, rare qualities that are hard to come by and even harder to replace. God bless you Mick you will always be in my heart.

All that they were. All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts. This Shakespeare funeral quote is from the play 'As You Like It'. It reflects how in our lifetime, we can be many things to many people – a child, a friend, a lover, parent, sibling and so much more. I though it apt as Mick was lots of things to lots of people. He was a rare gem that really touched the lives of people he met. This can be seen in the family he had known all his life, the friends from day 1 at school, the people he met on holiday that becames frinds for life, the 'new' family he met starting in 2006, the colleagues who he meant a lot to, our most recent neighbours in Exmouth, and the group (of mainly ladies!) that did the sea dipping and held him in such high regards due to his positivity and sense of fun.

'We are such stuff as dreams are made on And our little life is rounded with a sleep' William Shakespeare Sleep tight my darling 💕

How do we do justice to Mick in a 30 minute funeral slot? We can't, it's impossible. There was so much to him; love, warmth, fun, nonsense, intelligence, humour, spirit, passion, compassion, his thirst for knowledge, his memory, zest for life, positive outlook and gratitude. Those last two were a major part of what kept him, and all of us, going over the last couple of years. He was truly 'stoic' in the way of the original philosophy, and was trying to encourage me, Michelle and Sarah to really grasp that concept because he knew we would need those skills. So many times I heard him remind me that all we can really ever try and control is 'what's between our ears', meaning how we think about and react to situations, how we have to chose love and chose to be happy. Especially in times of adversity. Mick was so appreciative of the care and treatment he had received here in Devon. He told the teams at the hospital, the pharmacy, the surgery so. He was 'grateful to be alive' he said to Frank just shortly before his passing. I want to say that it's unfair, and rail against so much that's hurting me, but Mick would not approve. So instead, at an attempt to follow his lead, I will say that I am grateful he was alive and that even with his recent health issues, he carried on being alive , right to the last moments. Living and loving.

Thank you for setting up this memorial to Mick. We hope that you find it a positive experience developing the site and that it becomes a place of comfort and inspiration for you to visit whenever you want or need to.

I am I and you are you, whatever we were to each other that we still are. Speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? Life means all that it ever meant, it is the same as it ever was.