Mike was born and bred in Winchester, where his first military experience was in the Signals Section of the Peter Symonds’ School CCF.  He was very proud of his military heritage on his mother’s side, with his grandfather a World War 1 ‘Old Contemptible’ in the Rifle Brigade, and his great grandfather the bandmaster in the same battalion. 

Narrowly avoiding the call to National Service, Mike was commissioned in the Territorial Army in September 1960, joining a Signals Regiment based in Southampton. His TA service lasted for 36 years and finished as a Major and was awarded the Territorial Decoration and 4 bars. Highlights include regular trips to Germany and a camp in North Yorkshire in the early 1970s where he was able to combine another of his passions by locating his Troop at Goathland, which is better known as Hogwarts station in the early Harry Potter movies (as well as featuring in the TV series Heartbeat for those old enough to remember). His troop laid signal cable for the fledgling North Yorkshire Moors Railway, and he retained an affinity with it for the rest of his life.

Mike's final service with the TA in 1996 was to be seconded to the Regular Army for 6 months service at NATO HQ in Bosnia as Operational Watch Officer based just outside Sarajevo. He felt that after 30 years it would be his best and last opportunity to experience something close to real action. It was a very eye-opening and humbling experience for him to be in an area recently affected by war, although he found the military work itself ‘exceedingly boring’ with long periods of inactivity!

On completion of his TA service, Mike reached out to his contacts in the cadet world and joined the Hampshire & IoW Army Cadet Force as County Signals officer, and reacquainted himself with college Combined Cadet Forces. He worked one day a week at Churcher's College, and also worked with units at Portsmouth Grammar School, Pangbourne College and the Oratory School near Reading. 

Mike was initially wary of the prospect of working with teenagers, but having stayed for around 20 years any fears were clearly misplaced, and his dedication and experience was much valued by everyone he came into contact with, students and staff alike. His services to the Cadets was recognised by the awarding of a MBE in 2013, presented by the Royal Signals Colonel-in-Chief Princess Anne at Windsor Castle. 

In civilian life Mike was an officer in HM Customs & Excise, working in Southampton, Heathrow Airport and Central London amongst other places during a 40-year career up until retirement in 2001.

Mike had many and varied interests and hobbies. He was a volunteer at Winchester Cathedral, and a governor at Peter Symonds College and subsequently a Trustee. He swam competitively for the Winchester City Penguins until he was over 80. He took a keen interest in football and cricket, being a season ticket holder at Southampton FC and Member at Hampshire CCC for many years. He collected stamps throughout his life, and over a 40-year period built a substantial model railway in the loft of his Chandlers Ford home. Mike grew his own fruit, vegetables and a myriad of multi-coloured dahlias on a well-maintained allotment. He was a keen ornithologist and enjoyed feeding the many different types of bird that appeared from the woods at the bottom of his garden.

Whilst this might be more than enough to occupy most people, Mike’s greatest passion was undoubtedly his family. He was married to Maureen (Mo) for 52 years, with a son, daughter and six grandchildren, of which he was infinitely proud and always keen to hear about their activities and achievements.