OBITUARY
by Andrew Smith
Mick was an only child and born in Walthamstow. He was bright and gained a place at Queen Mary College on the Mile End Road in London where he graduated in electrical engineering. During his youth he travelled overland with mates to Spain and spoke of his enjoyment of it which perhaps led to his enthusiasm for overseas travel generally.
Mick took Articles and trained to become a Chartered Accountant during which time his audit work included travel to Northern Ireland. Thereafter he was, for some time, a lecturer at a leading private training college where he taught accounting, company law and taxation. Mick's precise manner must have suited that work.
There followed a time at Iron Trades Mutual Insurance Company, by coincidence it was the owner of the building where I worked with Rob Brock, known to many in our sphere. At that time Mick ran a printing and stationery business of which we had been customers for many years. Mick told Rob of his experience at a Referendum Party meeting so he introduced us because of shared political leanings.
All three of us have been friends ever since and political co-conspirators. Although Mick's reduced mobility limited his activities recently he remained a keyboard warrior to the last; we exchanged emails on local political issues even as he waited for his flight from City Airport for Barcelona where he sadly passed away.
Mick and his wife Sally lived in Loughton where they brought up a son and daughter. These memories are not his complete life but only the person I knew.
I introduced Mick and Rob to the Bruges Group and The Freedom Association where he became Treasurer, Management Committee and Council member of TFA up to his death. Together with Rob and me, Mick often helped drain the wine stock at the end of TFA and Bruges Group events.
He was founder Treasurer for a UKIP branch in Epping Forest and also took part in the London Region. He stood as a candidate several times, once leading to the dismissal of a leading local Conservative Councillor, three times for Westminster and twice for Brussels. He was a UKIP NEC member and adviser on various issues as well as being an early Director of Reform UK.
Mick had an acute mind and a good memory. He would often observe people and draw conclusions about their political sentiment and friendships from their attendance at many and varied political events.
Although his commitment to our freedom was undoubted, Mick took great pleasure from the ancillary activities including rubbing shoulders, invitations to embassies and visits to Brussels where he helped the UKIP group. He will be much missed and I have no doubt that, when learning of Mick's passing, his memory will elicit fond recollection even among those who had not had contact recently.
Mick loved good shoes and good shirts and he knew a great deal about the history and construction of the best brands which he included in his wardrobe as often as possible.
Mick passed away in Barcelona on the first day of his intended holiday with Sally. I imagine he would have thought that appropriate but we wish he was still here.