I first meet Mike some forty years or more ago at the Cutty Wren Folk Club when it met in the Royal Hotel Redcar, were Hollywood actress & gob shite June Laverick was Landlady at that time. Our paths cross again later when I moved to Billingham where he was a regular at the Smiths Arms, before he moved to Marske. When ever I was over East Cleveland I always knew if I visited the Guisborough or The Cutty Wren Folk Clubs, as I did a lot last year I'd always get a warm welcome from him. Its going to be really hard to imagine him not been there when I visit again..

Mike not only contributed great songs to any session, but his witty anecdotes were something else. He will be greatly missed by all that knew him, but will never be forgotten. RIP old mate.

"But I'am glad that I have known you
Since the time that I was young
The stories that we've shared
And the countless songs we've sung
So if one day I'm missing here as missing I shall be
Just raise a glass & sing an old old song for me."
Lyrics Matt Armour.

Brian C