Michael joined Blackwood Town Cricket Club when his company relocated to the area. He told us he was a quick bowler but when his first ball in practise missed the wickets by about two yards we wondered what sort of quick bowler.

 However, that first delivery must have been nerves for he quickly established himself as the first team opening bowler. Probably more important, his sense or humour fitted in extremely well as we were a group of young men refusing to grow up as we would hide towels, exchange kit, put extra shampoo on people’s heads in the shower (although that didn’t last long with Mike’s hair style)…….we never knew what was going to happen next.

 He loved his tours, mainly to Torquay, in fact the Club still go there each year, and he was a member of the legendry ‘Swamp’ which is still talked off today when we reminisce of tours. He also liked his football but we used to tell him that football & the Blues did not fit but he always had a retort for Leeds & Spurs who we supported.

 We even converted him to rugby and winter Saturdays were spent first with a game of indoor football followed by a rugby game. Despite Wales having a great side at the time he still supported England and on one occasion when England were victorious he came out in the evening with a picture of a big red rose sellotaped to his Aran jumper.

 He loved his ‘Welshisms’ as he called them. A couple is two he would insist for in Wales a couple is anything between two & a dozen. He even said that when he went home to Brum for a visit, people would say he had a Welsh accent which really amused him.

 He was sorely missed when he left the area, moving eventually to Canada but it was wonderful when he got back in touch via the internet and we were able to exchange banter once again. He was held in the highest esteem within the Club, and as sadly some of his team mates have already passed away, we can imagine his arguing with ‘Sugar’, ‘Spill’ ‘Yanto’ ‘Knotty’ as they discuss last weeks games.

 Unfortunately, we cannot be with you today, but our thoughts are with Val & the family & we will hold our own wake in Blackwood Town Cricket Club toasting ‘one of the very best’.

 BLACKWOOD TOWN CRICKET CLUB