Michael was born in Guy’s Hospital during the war years, while his father served with the Metropolitan Police. The family first lived in Brockley, South London, before moving to Beckenham (Kent, in those days). Their house suffered bomb damage, requiring a temporary move for repairs. Upon returning, Michael enjoyed a happy childhood there, with a large garden and a park opposite to play in with his friends and two sisters, Mary and Sandra.
A civic-minded young man, Michael was a member of the Boy Scouts and lined the route for the Festival of Britain in 1951 and the Queen's Coronation in 1953.
After leaving school, Michael put his technical drawing skills to good use, first at Bennets Architects office in London and later at the Ordnance Survey Office in Southampton, where he helped produce maps. During this time, he bought a motorbike for weekend travel—much to his mother's dismay!
Michael was called up for the last batch of National Service—an obligation he'd hoped to avoid. He was posted to Germany, where he not only began to enjoy the experience but also started running for BAOR "British Army of the Rhine running club" connected with his cousin, Barry, who was already stationed there.
Michael was an enthusiastic runner, a passion he continued when he returned home and transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fish and Food in London. He joined the Herne Hill Harriers, even going through a phase of running to work daily in London (in the shorts his sister had kindly made for him). He excelled, running the 800 meters on the track in 1 minute 55.3 seconds in 1964, and competed in cross-country and road relays, making many lifelong friends at the club. The family was often there to cheer him on.
This running passion also allowed him to meet up with family for the annual camping trip to the Mediterranean. True to form, Michael was never quite where they expected him to be. Once, they waited at the wrong Opera House in Mönchengladbach until a kind German escorted them to the correct one. On another occasion, they searched for him at Lille station, eventually finding him and travelling on to the South of France and Yugoslavia (now Croatia).
The mid-1960s brought a life-changing encounter. Mabel moved from her home in South Africa to train as a nurse in England, and she was lucky enough to lodge with Michael's family. Not long after, his sister Mary introduced Michael to Mabel, and the rest, as they say, is history. Love blossomed, and they were married on March 24, 1966.
They became proud parents to Karyn, born three and a half years later, in September, and then welcomed Clayton almost four years after that, completing their beautiful family.
In 1970, the family moved to their dream home in Aldington, where they remained for the rest of their lives.
Michael and Mabel shared a deep passion for flowers and trees. This interest was inherited from Michael’s father and grandmother, who was raised by parents who owned a market garden in Norfolk. This passion was so strong that they went on to win Gold at the Chelsea Flower Show on a few occasions, even appearing on TV after their first win. This love eventually led Michael to open a Japanese Maple Nursery upon taking early retirement from his long career at Ashford Borough Council.
Karyn and Clayton have vivid memories of being taken across Kent and beyond to countless flower shows. While Michael and Mabel were admiring the gardens, the children assure us this was "torture!" It became a long-standing family joke that days out would invariably end with a "thrilling trip to a Nursery," with Great Dixter near Rye often being the destination of choice.
Even the grandchildren didn't escape this passion, with pictures of them from babies upwards helping to set up for shows at Hampton Court and Tatton Park. As Clayton says, these long trips and the hard work of setting up and taking down will be memories that last a lifetime. Today, with a garden full of plants, the family will greatly miss Michael's guidance and advice, but they are confident that Clayton will step into his shoes and keep the gardening advice flowing.
Both Karyn and Clayton cherish great memories of their dad. Karyn remembers his unwavering presence at their sporting events, with swimming galas being his speciality. While sorting through his papers, she even found race times he had meticulously kept from her school years—and yes, she was faster than her children!
Some of Clayton’s memories from his teenage years may have caused his dad a little worry! Like the time Michael, with his friend Rodger in tow, tracked him down to a party in Mersham in the early hours. Or the time Clayton dented Michael's new car and later got pulled over on the A20 (while asleep in the passenger seat). The point, however, is that no matter how many times boundaries were pushed or help was needed, their Dad was always there to get them out of trouble. For that unconditional love, Karyn and Clayton thank him from the whole of their hearts.
Michael and Mabel were blessed with three beautiful granddaughters from Karyn and Nick: Ashleigh, Georgia, and Freya. Georgia was a brilliant birthday gift, born on Michael’s birthday. They absolutely adored the girls, providing boundless love and care. Michael was then a proud great-grandfather to Ashleigh and Freya’s beautiful babies: Eli, Everlie, Emilia, and Cody. Clayton and Julie brought three step-children to the family: Elizabeth, Georgia, and Harry, who gave Michael four more wonderful great-grandchildren: Noah, Michael, Aurora, and Nancy, all of whom adored their Grandad Mike. The solace and joy the grandchildren and great-grandchildren gave him cannot be measured.
Michael loved taking the grandchildren out during holidays, to Theme Parks and fun days, with not a garden centre in sight! And he never failed to provide chocolate and biscuits for the short car ride home from school pick-ups.
He was a keen competitor who loved a board or card game. On one holiday in Wales, he famously beat everyone at Crazy Golf using a crutch and a prosthetic leg—a moment followed by the unforgettable family comment, “We have just been beaten by a cripple!” He was also competitive enough to once spin Freya's go-kart out just to overtake her, laughing hysterically the whole time! He spent many hours at the swimming pool with the girls, encouraging them at lessons and galas. Eli, who has just gone from reading phase 2 to phase 4, told Ashleigh that "Grandpapa would be very proud of him, because now he will be able to read to his sisters like Grandpapa did to him.”
Michael loved a family occasion and was very much looking forward to Ashleigh and Dan's wedding and Cody's christening earlier this month. He was there in our hearts and minds throughout those special moments.
The last eight years were challenging. While cycling on the A28 to Hamstreet, Michael attempted to "T-bone a car," resulting in the loss of his right leg and multiple broken bones. The only thing he didn’t break was his head—a great time to remind everyone: always wear a bike helmet.
Karyn and Clayton remember travelling to London in the police car, believing they had lost their dad that day. Despite a remarkable recovery, doctors said he would never walk again. For a person whose whole life was defined by being active—running, cycling, and gardening—this was a devastating blow. But Michael was not willing to give up, and he didn't! Within a short time, he was walking again.
The family then sadly lost Mabel, which was another massive blow. Michael, now learning to manage on his own, was as determined as ever, pushing on with physiotherapy and a new bionic leg. He coped well with independent living, even attempting to get back on a bike—a static one, thankfully, so everyone knew where he was and he was in no danger of T-boning another car. Everything that was thrown at Michael, he dealt with with dignity, strength, and determination.
His recovery was set back by a series of strokes, leading to prolonged hospital stays and a slow road to rehabilitation. The fact that we are all so shocked Michael has passed away is a true testament to him and his sheer stubbornness to not give up. After everything he had been through, it truly seemed like he was going to go on for years.
Clayton reflects that, as kids, you don't always appreciate what you have. Dad often said it was wonderful how he and his friends had grown up together and remained close. "I look back now, thinking how on occasion, I tried his and Mum’s patience to the limit, sometimes, maybe a little further still! The support Dad gave me over the years was ever-present; his confidence in my ability far outweighed what I thought I could achieve. He was always there to pick up the pieces when things hadn't gone to plan. That unconditional love of a parent, that failsafe, has now gone."
I'm confident that both Mum and Dad will have passed away happy in the knowledge that both
Karyn and myself are going to be alright! We have our own ever expanding families and of course, each other.
It's safe to say that Mum and Dad did an alright job, although I may be a little biased, you will always be missed, and never far from our thoughts.