Mike was born in the Lying In Hospital in Lambeth on 9th July 1948 to Ambrose "Arthur" and his wife Rose. As a boy he excelled at sports, particularly cricket and football, which would go on to become lifelong passions. He grew up supporting his Dad's football team, Fulham FC, and regularly used to go and watch matches on the Riverside terrace at Craven Cottage with his Dad and friends. Mike continued to hold a season ticket throughout most of his life and often used to recollect fond memories of walking to the stadium through Bishops Park with his Dad to his youngest daughter Melissa when he used to take her. Mike attended English Martyrs Secondary School in Walworth until he left at age 16 to become an Accounts Clerk at Henry Sykes Engineering. In 1971 he joined Texaco and progressed through various roles including running banking and payroll departments, and ended his career as a financial accountant with the same company, now named Chevron, until he retired in May 2008. Mike often recalled how he used to see Sue in her school uniform getting into the lift at Kennington Underground Station as a teenager. Little did he know that he would go on to marry his friend Michael's sister on 19th August 1978! Mike and Sue had a very happy 31 year marriage and remained devoted to each other throughout. After their wedding they bought their first house together in Bromley, and in 1983 their first daughter Katharine was born into their family. In 1985 they were joined by a new addition to the family, their son Nicholas, and then in 1987 by their youngest daughter Melissa. Mike was a brilliant Dad and used to spend all evening playing and caring for their babies when he came home from work, "Nelly the Elephant" was a favourite song from his repertoire to send them off to sleep each night! Mike's mum Rose enjoyed looking after his children so much she joined them at home to help out each weekend throughout their childhood which has provided very fond memories for all of the family. Mike was always a very hands-on Dad and carried on playing his cricket for Dulwich Hamlet Old Boys each weekend with the whole family in tow! As the children got older Mike started to become heavily involved in youth football and helped to coach Nick's football team, Wickham Wanderers. After doing his junior FA coaching certificate he would set up drills using the teams training cones, for Nick, Melissa and their friends to do in evenings in the park, which was always enjoyed by everyone involved. Through this he became involved with the Tandridge Youth Football League as Mini Soccer secretary for the U7-U11 age groups. Mike quickly established himself as a valuable member of the league committee and continued this work for over ten years, eventually becoming the League Administrator after his retirement in spring 2008. With his kind and enthusiastic nature Mike was well suited to this role and loved coordinating the league from his office at home. Throughout his life Mike continued to play cricket every summer for Dulwich Hamlet until they folded when he subsequently joined Nick's local cricket team, Old Dunstonians (now OD CUACO). Mike continued to play for them until summer 2007, when his first MND symptoms became apparent. He still managed to umpire and score for them occasionally in summer 2008, and enjoyed watching Nick play during summer 2009. Mike always loved watching sport on the telly and continued to watch the England vs South Africa Test Match cricket and Fulham's triumphant 3-0 win over Manchester United, right up until the weekend before he passed away. In November 2007 Mike was particularly proud to celebrate Katharine's graduation (as well as her birthday), with a BA (Hons) in Film and TV Production at the Barbican. Nick and Melissa are still currently studding for their degrees in History and Film and TV Production respectively. In January 2008 Mike was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease after developing a limp in his right foot during the previous summer. He had an inspiring sense of bravery and determination throughout his illness, always continuing to live as normally as possible until each movement was taken away from him. Mike always said that he felt lucky that although he had the illness he was not in any pain. Mike loved holidaying and enjoyed two cruises with Sue during his illness, to the Caribbean and to South America. His favourite ports of call were Antigua in the Caribbean where he enjoyed the stunning views over Nelson's Harbour, and in South America sailing around Cape Horn, the southern most point of the continent, before turning 180 degrees to sail past the spectacular glaciers of the Beagle Canal. The family have many brilliant memories of Mike on holiday, particularly in Spain which was his favourite destination for sun worshipping, and where he owned his timeshare apartments on the Costa Del Sol. Mike passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home with his family all around him in the evening of 22nd December 2009, after a brave and stoical two and a half year battle with Motor Neurone Disease. Mike has given us so many beautiful memories and the void he has left will never be filled. He was an inspiration to us all and will always be loved and missed by all those who were blessed to know him and have him in their lives.